Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 October 2020
30. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the differences proposed for agriculture over other sectors in his categorisation of its special role in the new climate action Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31968/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 (that equates to a 51% reduction over the decade); and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The Climate Action (Amendment) Bill provides for a strengthened statutory governance framework to deliver this commitment. This includes defining a process for carbon budgeting, from which sectoral decarbonisation targets will be determined, ensuring every sector contributes to achieving the 2050 objective of climate neutrality.
Once carbon budgets are adopted, the Government, through a consultative approach, will determine the effort required of each sector and the associated sectoral target ranges in a given five-year period, as well as outlining the necessary actions for each sector in the updated Climate Action Plan. It is not possible to indicate at this time the specific policies and actions for each sector, but they will be developed through consultation, including with all relevant Ministers, having regard to the key principles set out under Section 3 of the draft Bill.
The IPCC Special Report, published in 2018, increased understanding of the global carbon budgets, and distinguished the importance of reaching and sustaining net-zero global anthropogenic COemissions, while concurrently achieving deep reductions in non-COgases such as methane and nitrous oxide. The report provides modelled emission pathways consistent with the 1.5°C goal. While the global carbon budget is focused on CO as the main driver of global warming, the report also enhanced understanding of the required emission reduction pathways for other major greenhouse gases. In pathways limiting global warming to 1.5°C with limited or no overshoot, the report shows CO emissions reduced to net zero by 2050. However, this report also points out that non-CO emissions, including biogenic methane, while being reduced, will not reach net zero globally.
While it is not necessary for biogenic methane emissions to reach net zero, nor would this be an attainable goal, the agricultural sector has an important role to play in reducing emissions as far as is technologically possible, and to contribute to carbon sequestration and fossil fuel displacement. Land use offers significant potential to sequester additional carbon and constitutes an opportunity both for farmers and for rural areas. This potential will be fully explored to curb the emissions, as well as to create jobs and diversify farmers’ income. The Government will evaluate the potential for contributions towards our climate ambition from land-use improvements, and set in train the development of a land-use plan based on its findings.
