Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2018
586. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects forestry to play a part in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions annually henceforth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37865/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe national forest estate is an important and expanding reservoir for carbon, at 312 million tonnes. Based on the 2017 National Forest Inventory, Ireland’s forests have removed an average of 3.8 Mt of carbon dioxide equivalents per year from the atmosphere over the period 2007 to 2016. This carbon resource has proven to be of pivotal significance in Ireland achieving its Kyoto target under the first commitment period of 2008-2012.
Removals of greenhouse gases by forests in Ireland cannot contribute to emission reduction targets in the current climate mitigation period (2014 -2020). However, under the now agreed Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) this is no longer the case and Ireland’s existing forest resource is set to play an important part in helping Ireland meet its emission targets in the next climate mitigation period (2021–2030). Flexibilities introduced as part of the ESR agreement mean that Ireland’s forests will be able to account for up to 2.2 million tonnes of carbon each year against our national non-ETS targets up to 2030. In addition, wood harvested from forests is itself a long term, renewable carbon pool and can produce sustainable materials that can substitute emission-dense non-renewable materials and fuels.
