Vol. 512 No. 5
61 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the support, if any, being provided or planned for the agricultural sector to encourage the necessary investment in farming to comply with the various environmental regulations likely to arise from the Kyoto convention and other international commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26335/99]
Climate change is recognised as a most significant global environmental problem. The Kyoto Protocol sets legally binding targets for developed countries to reduce their collective emissions of all significant greenhouse gases, based on 1990 levels, by 2010. The target for the EU is a reduction of 8% below 1990 levels and within that EU target, Ireland has a limitation target of 13% above 1990 levels.
Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in 1990 were 35% of the total national emissions. It is estimated that agriculture was responsible for approximately 80% of both methane and nitrous oxide emissions in 1990. Overall agricultural emissions are expected to fall to about 29% of the total emissions by 2010. While agriculture emissions are well within the 13% growth limit allowed to Ireland an equitable distribution of the burden sharing may require agriculture to adopt all economically feasible measures to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions.
Policies are being looked at which will achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in an equitable manner while continuing to support economic growth. In this context a national greenhouse gas abatement strategy is being drawn up by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government in consultation with other Departments including my Department.
