The upcoming climate action bill must facilitate farmers to be part of the climate solution, IFA president Tim Cullinan has said.

The bill was one the key promises in the programme for government and it will include setting up a new climate action council.

Cullinan has expressed concerns that the changes in agriculture ministers during the first 100 days of the new Government could result in agriculture not getting a fair input to the new bill.

Importance of farming

“Minister McConalogue will need to ensure that the importance of farming is reflected in the bill," he said.

"Farmers will be looking to this Government to support farming and ensure that any targets outlined in the bill are practical, achievable and take account of the work the sector is already doing in this area.”

Minister for Communication, Climate Action and Environment Eamon Ryan has said a first draft of the legislation will be published in the coming weeks.

"The devil will be in the detail in terms of how emissions targets are to be achieved and calculated,” Cullinan said.

Benefits

He stressed that the bill had to take account of the benefits farmers provide in carbon sequestration.

Existing carbon sinks, including grassland, hedgerows, crops, peatlands and forestry, needed to be included, in line with the most up to date science, he added.

Cullinan also said there should be recognition for the cyclical nature of methane in greenhouse gas emissions accounting methodology.

"We have made this case strongly to the Minister for Agriculture and we expect him to be a strong advocate for the sector at the Cabinet table," he concluded.

Read more

Farmers set out their stalls for Minister McConalogue

Agricultural emissions to be treated differently under next government