Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 October 2016
42. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure the forestry sector realises its full potential in assisting the drive on climate change mitigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32122/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn October 2014, the EU agreed on a clear commitment: all sectors, including land use, land use-change and forestry (LULUCF), should contribute to the EU's target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. More recently the EU Commission published its ESR (Effort Sharing Regulation and LULUCF which set out a binding commitment for each Member State and how the land use sector can be accounted. These proposals include the accounting rules which determine compliance.
The LULUCF proposal (Article 4) requires each MS to ensure that accounted CO2 emissions from specified land use categories are entirely compensated by an equivalent removal of CO2 from the atmosphere through removals in other categories. This requirement is referred to as the "no debit rule". For example, if a Member State cuts down its forests and does not replant (deforestation), it must compensate the resulting emissions by removals in other land uses in the Irish case this is mainly in afforested lands or by net uptake in managed forest land, managed cropland or grasslands. In this way the "no-debit" commitment incentivises Member States to take actions that increase the absorption of CO2 in agricultural soils and forests.
Under the proposed ESR there is flexibility for Member States to use net removals from afforested and deforested land, cropland and grassland to meet emissions reduction targets. In Ireland's case the proposal caps this contribution at 2.7 million tonnes/annum.
Within this context the Department's afforestation scheme plays an important role in climate change mitigation. The Forestry Programme 2014–2020 sets out annual planting targets for the 6-year period where the aim is to establish 43,410 hectares of new forest by 2020. In terms of total forest cover the target is 18% by 2050.
Coillte also has a significant role to play in helping Ireland achieve its emission targets. The company will continue its programme of reforestation following harvest, thereby contributing to carbon sequestration over the longer term. It will also work with my Department in implementing a viable afforestation model. Coillte continues to play a key leadership role in delivering renewable energy solutions to industry by providing long term, secure biomass fuel supply contracts to large energy users thorough regional biomass supply hubs. The company's biomass sales business thereby contributes to decarbonising the Irish economy by providing a sustainable and natural substitute for fossil fuels. The company is also active in other renewable areas which will contribute to renewable energy targets with the company's land solutions business on track to deliver electricity to over 300,000 homes by 2017.
Medite SmartPly, Coillte's panels manufacturing business, as one of the largest users of power in the country, has an important responsibility to reduce its reliance on traditional energy sources. Wood-based panels as used in the built environment and elsewhere are an important carbon store in their own right.
Coillte advise that it will take a leadership position in shaping policy around the role that forests and forest products will play in climate change mitigation and will be at the forefront of global and European developments. An example of the company assuming a leadership role in this area was its hosting of the Climate Change and Irish Forestry Conference in Dublin earlier this year, on 29 February, 2016. The conference brought together representatives to address the risks and opportunities that climate change and its mitigation presents to the Irish forest sector.
