Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
73. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the extent to which progress is being made towards the reduction of emissions in line with EU and international targets without negative impact on the agrifood sector; if it is possible at this stage to identify enhanced progress in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25026/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis question is self-explanatory. It seeks to identify the extent of the progress towards emission-reduction targets in line with EU and global targets without damaging the agrifood sector.
The next ten years will be critical if we are to address the climate and biodiversity crisis which threatens our safe future on this planet. The programme for Government commits to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030, a 51% reduction over the decade, and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. It also recognises the special economic and social role of agriculture and the distinct characteristics of biogenic methane, as described by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in terms of plans and strategies to achieve these targets.
On Ireland's existing 2030 EU target to reduce greenhouse gases in the non-ETS sector by 30%, the climate action plan written by my predecessor sets out the policies and measures to achieve this, including setting an emissions reduction range for agriculture. This is underpinned by actions aimed at: reducing emissions on our farms by vigorously adopting the abatement opportunities identified by Teagasc; promoting diversification of land use as part of a gradual transition; harnessing opportunities in the bioeconomy; realising the potential of sustainable bioenergy supply opportunities; better management of our peatlands and soils; and developing clusters of exemplar practice.
The European Commission has just presented its plan to increase its ambition to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, from its existing target of 40% to at least 55% compared with 1990 levels. This level of ambition for the next decade will put the EU on a balanced pathway to reaching climate neutrality by 2050. It is intended that the 2030 target will be enshrined in EU climate law. The European Parliament and Council have been invited to confirm this 55% 2030 target as the EU's new nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement and to submit it to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, by the end of this year. Legislative proposals to implement the new EU 2030 target will be presented by June 2021, and additional effort will be asked of all member states, including Ireland, to meet that target.
These developments at EU level, along with the step change in climate ambition set out in the programme for Government, will need to be reflected appropriately in the next iteration of the climate action plan, which we hope to develop next year.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he indicate whether he intends to review progress towards these targets regularly? One of the mistakes we have often made in trying to meet targets has been the reluctance, inability or lack of opportunity to review progress regularly. That was often not done even on a biannual basis.
Absolutely. I hope we will shortly be able to consider such a review mechanism in the context of a new climate action Bill which will amend the 2015 Act. We hope to put in place a framework of three successive five-year budgets which will cover the coming years and further iterations of the climate action plan. These can be reviewed on a rolling basis, just as the Deputy suggests, with reporting mechanisms that allow us to look at how targets are being reached at a sectoral level. This iterative, long-term process, which sets out targets for the next five, ten and 15 years, is where we need to go. It is the framework within which the new economy is going to arise. As I said earlier, we have comparative competitive advantage in many areas. In the case of agriculture, in particular, we have the potential to develop a more environmentally friendly approach and to secure a premium for our agriculture produce which will allow us to pay our farmers better and to retain and restore the family farm.
We must remember that the Irish agrifood sector feeds almost 42 million people, something no other agrifood-producing country in the world is capable of doing in proportional terms. I ask that special attention be given to the amount of food produced by the agrifood sector in this country and the contribution it makes to feeding other nations as well as our own. That must be borne in mind with a view to ensuring the industry is not impeded while, at the same time, seeking to achieve our targets for emissions reductions. I believe both can be done.
A prosperous and secure future for Irish agriculture is best served under our new climate plan. Central to that plan will be a new land use plan which starts, first and foremost, with a vision for the future prosperity of rural Ireland and the family farm. That will be achieved at the same time as we store carbon in the land using some of the mechanisms Teagasc has suggested, as I outlined, and many more. It will also look at the restoration of biodiversity as central to the future role of farmers in helping to achieve key objectives such as the management of flood waters and improvements in water quality. The latter is probably one of the most serious environmental problems we have on this island. We need to see a reduction in ammonia, nitrogen and other pollutants. In doing that, we will reduce the costs to farmers, which will, in turn, help them to achieve the prosperous future to which the Deputy alluded. All of this must be done in an integrated way. It is not about telling farmers what to do or removing their business capability and instinct or their management skills in looking after the land. Farmers will be the front-line heroes in our climate response. I look forward to working with them on delivering a low-carbon, high-value future for farming.
