The agreed emissions reduction target for agriculture is “a very challenging but an achievable ambition for the sector”.
That is according to Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, who spoke at a press briefing this evening (Thursday, July 28th, 2022).
The government has agreed ceilings for emissions from each sector of the economy that delivers a pathway towards a 51% reduction by 2030.
The agricultural sector will have to reduce emissions by 25% by 2030, compared to 2018 levels.
The minister said the figure falls within the target range assigned to the sector under the Climate Action Plan 2021.
“The Programme for Government and the Climate Act committed us to strong climate action.”
“The world is facing a climate crisis, so such action is absolutely essential. It also recognises the special economic and social role of agriculture and the importance of sustainable food production.”
“I am satisfied that the agreement we have arrived at today strikes an appropriate balance in this regard.”
“I am pleased to have reached this conclusion as a way of offering certainty to our farm families and their businesses over the next decade,” he added.
Food production
The minister stated that he is confident that farmers will embrace this challenge.
As minister, he said he will “stand full square” behind farmers on this journey to support them at “every” step.
During the press briefing, he said that this is a “good outcome” for farm families.
He believes it will “back them in terms of continuing to do the work they do in relation to food production”.
He stated that food production will be “ever more important in the years ahead” than it has been in recent times.
“The challenge for all of us is to continue the work of food production, which there needs to be more of across the world. We need to do it in a way with fewer emissions in terms of how we produce it sustainably.”
He said Ireland has “one of the most sustainable models internationally” and that is its starting point.
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‘25% emission reduction will lead to a cull of the national cattle herd’
