Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
27. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to report on the progress to establish an implementation group for a just transition in agriculture, as recommended by the NESC report on the just transition in agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55737/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the Climate Action Plan 2021, the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) undertook research into how a just transition approach to agriculture and land use in Ireland can ensure that climate targets are met in a manner that is socially inclusive, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable. The project was supported by a multi-stakeholder working group, on which my Department was represented.
The NESC report “Just Transition in Agriculture and Land Use” was published in July of this year. It notes that the agriculture and land use sector can increasingly be a part of the solution to address urgent climate change and biodiversity loss.
The research found that there is significant activity already underway which can provide a foundation for further work to support an effective, fair and inclusive transition in the agriculture and land-use system.
The report outlines four areas of action:
1. Socially and Farmer-Inclusive Processes: It identifies socially inclusive dialogue and participation as central to ensuring a fair process of transition.
2. Enabling People to Benefit from Opportunities of Transition: It emphasises that a just transition in agriculture and land use must be opportunities-led.
3. Sharing and Mitigating the Costs of Transition: it also identifies that a key part of the just transition approach is to ensure a fair and sustainable distribution of the effort to bring about transition.
4. Co-ordinating Action: it states that the key to following through on these actions and interventions is to co-ordinate and govern the transition so that it can deliver real change in a balanced, inclusive and just manner.
The NESC report makes 20 recommendations across these four key areas.
Some of these recommendations are already replicated in Food Vision 2030, Ireland’s stakeholder strategy for the agri-food sector, and are integrated or are being integrated into my Department’s policy generally. This is overseen by the dedicated implementation group for Food Vision known as the High Level Implementation Committee which I chair myself.
Food Vision 2030 states that a Just Transition approach will be important, and that in moving to a climate resilient and low carbon sector, policy should seek to ensure that the change is fair for producers, workers and communities. Food Vision sets out a framework within which such choices and decisions can be made.
Regarding the specific recommendation that an "Implementation Group for Climate Transition in Agriculture" be established, this is being considered in the context of the other processes and structures currently in place.
Foremost among these is the initiative by Government, through the Department of Environment and Climate Change, to establish a Just Transition Commission. To establish this, they have first established a Just Transition Taskforce which will make detailed recommendations to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications by early 2024, regarding the role and structure of the Just Transition Commission.
The Taskforce is engaging with stakeholders including those in the agriculture sector as well as representatives of business and employers’ organisations, trade unions, community and voluntary organisations, and environmental organisations in developing these recommendations. The Taskforce is being chaired by Kieran Mulvey, who previously acted as Just Transition Commissioner in the Midlands and three meetings have been held to date.
This is in addition to the commencement of Phase 2 of the Land Use Review and ongoing agriculture environmental policy work generally, including through Food Vision.
Before we move to create another process, it is important to ensure that there will be no duplication of effort as we progress this essential work. I am very mindful of the workload on our systems and those of our stakeholders in implementing the goals of our climate ambitions and am committed to working with my colleagues in Government as well as stakeholders to ensure that we are as efficient as possible in our work.
