The Government has today (Wednesday, June 26) published a new Long-term Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reductions strategy which outlines that “support for farmers and rural communities” will be required to transition to lower-emissions farming in Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The strategy aims to build on the targets, policies measures and actions which the Government has already committed to up to 2030 in a bid to achieve a “whole-of-society” reduction in GHG emissions of 51%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of this objective the sector specific emissions ceiling for agriculture requires a 25% reduction in emissions by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, the new strategy provides a “pathway” for sectors to reduce GHG emissions and ensures that the Government can put in place the “systems and infrastructure” to help Ireland hit its targets and avoid compliance costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“In everything we do over the coming decades, it is absolutely imperative we inform and bring people with us, from large-scale investors to small farmers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAchieving our National Climate Objective of climate neutrality will mean that Ireland will have no further negative impacts on the climate system by the mid-century,” Minister Ryan added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GHG emissions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The strategy document highlights that agriculture was the “single largest contributor to overall emissions, at 38.5% in 2022”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also details a “pathway” to 2030 for the agriculture sector which adds to the key measures set out in the Climate Action Plan 2024 to reduce on-farm emissions which included changing nutrient use, feed modification, earlier finishing for cattle and different breeding practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new Long-term Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reductions strategy also states that additional measures are required to achieve the 2030 target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Enabling a carbon farming framework;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Exploring the potential for methane reducing feed additives for pasture-based solutions;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Incentivising diversification across the sector.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The strategy also highlights that the Government is currently undertaking a “comprehensive” national Land Use Review, covering farmland, forests and peatlands, which will inform policy decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also plans to carry out diversification reviews for income and land use for farmers, including areas such biomethane and energy production, agro-forestry and woodland creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to this the new Government strategy document cautions that the emissions reduction targets for the Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF<\/a>) sector are “set to become increasingly challenging, as the age profile of the forest stock matures and harvesting levels increase in line with projected forecasts”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Agriculture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
However it also points to the “unique capacity of the agriculture and forestry sectors to remove CO2 from the atmosphere”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“While reducing emissions will bring challenges there will also be opportunities for farmers and their communities, including diversification of farm-based incomes, as well as delivery of further benefits in biodiversity, water and air quality” it outlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the strategy document also clearly highlights that “support” for farmers and rural communities will be required in the transition to lower GHG emissions from farming in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Over the long-term, we will continue to build on our engagement with farmers and with the broader sector to help deliver our climate neutral goal,” the Government stated.<\/p>\n\n\n