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The draft document sets out 29 options for the Irish agriculture and forestry sectors to adapt to climate change in a joined-up approach across Government and industry.
The plan is required under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, which requires the submission of both national adaptation and mitigation plans to Government every five years.
Mitigation refers to actions to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases whereas adaptation is the process of adjustment to climate change and its effects.
The majority of the options for climate change adaption listed fall under the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The plan includes ensuring that the climate change adaption measures are considered when designing policy and legislation relating to the industry. “All policies, strategies, plans and measures for, or related to, agriculture and forest must be informed of the need to adapt to the potential impacts of climate change,” the report states.
Options
Communication with stakeholders through knowledge transfer networks and research on climate change adaption are options also included in the plan.
Other climate change adaption options listed are already ongoing practices by DAFM, such as animal identification and movement monitoring programmes, livestock disease and pest surveillance and promotion of initiatives for improved animal health.
“As well as being an influencing element, the Irish agriculture and forest sector is also reliant on environmental and climatic factors, therefore adapting to changes in climate is crucial for the continued sustainable development of the sector,” Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed said in a statement on Thursday.
The consultation document is available here and submission should be emailed to climatechange@agriculture.gov.ie before Friday 27 January 2017.
SHARING OPTIONS: