The European Commission is moving to recognise reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from soil, not just carbon removals.
Changes made to the EU regulation on Certification of Carbon Removal are understood to pave a course for farmers to be recognised for the better management of their land to reduce soil’s carbon loss.
Up to this point, it was only the sequestration, or removal of carbon from the atmosphere by the soil, that farmers would be rewarded for, under the developing policy.
Essentially, the edits to the regulation made by the Commission mean that it won’t just be the carbon sequestered by the soil that is acknowledged, but the carbon kept in the soil, through improved on-farm measures.
Europe’s agriculture ministers were briefed on the changes, made by the European Commission at the EU’s Agricultural and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on Monday.
The EU regulation on Certification of Carbon Removal will govern an EU wide carbon farming framework.
Demands
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue spoke in support of the proposal on the Carbon Removal Framework.
“I welcome the compromise text proposal which now includes practices or processes that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from soils and not just removals. This has been one of my key demands over the course of these negotiations,” he said.
The carbon kept in soil will now also be acknowledged.
However, the Minister noted that he is still “disappointed that reductions of livestock emissions are not included in the union certification framework”.
Deliver more
Minister McConalogue highlighted that “farmers are constantly being asked to deliver more” on the environment.
“It is our responsibility as governments to ensure that they can access income streams from any evolution of their enterprises. Farmers want to make their farms work for not only the planet but for their families, and this means that they need to be able to earn an income from those enterprises. Carbon farming is one such opportunity,” he said.
Carbon farming
As the regulation change will feed into a carbon farming framework for the EU, the Minister pointed out that he has also recently launched a public consultation to guide the development of a national carbon farming framework for Ireland.
“I am acutely aware that a credible framework is a necessary first step in supporting farmers to generate an income from removing and storing carbon in soils, forests, grasslands, croplands and hedgerows,” he said.
The consultation is still open here.
The European Commission is moving to recognise reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from soil, not just carbon removals.
Changes made to the EU regulation on Certification of Carbon Removal are understood to pave a course for farmers to be recognised for the better management of their land to reduce soil’s carbon loss.
Up to this point, it was only the sequestration, or removal of carbon from the atmosphere by the soil, that farmers would be rewarded for, under the developing policy.
Essentially, the edits to the regulation made by the Commission mean that it won’t just be the carbon sequestered by the soil that is acknowledged, but the carbon kept in the soil, through improved on-farm measures.
Europe’s agriculture ministers were briefed on the changes, made by the European Commission at the EU’s Agricultural and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on Monday.
The EU regulation on Certification of Carbon Removal will govern an EU wide carbon farming framework.
Demands
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue spoke in support of the proposal on the Carbon Removal Framework.
“I welcome the compromise text proposal which now includes practices or processes that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from soils and not just removals. This has been one of my key demands over the course of these negotiations,” he said.
The carbon kept in soil will now also be acknowledged.
However, the Minister noted that he is still “disappointed that reductions of livestock emissions are not included in the union certification framework”.
Deliver more
Minister McConalogue highlighted that “farmers are constantly being asked to deliver more” on the environment.
“It is our responsibility as governments to ensure that they can access income streams from any evolution of their enterprises. Farmers want to make their farms work for not only the planet but for their families, and this means that they need to be able to earn an income from those enterprises. Carbon farming is one such opportunity,” he said.
Carbon farming
As the regulation change will feed into a carbon farming framework for the EU, the Minister pointed out that he has also recently launched a public consultation to guide the development of a national carbon farming framework for Ireland.
“I am acutely aware that a credible framework is a necessary first step in supporting farmers to generate an income from removing and storing carbon in soils, forests, grasslands, croplands and hedgerows,” he said.
The consultation is still open here.
SHARING OPTIONS