Copa-Cogeca has welcomed European Parliament support for establishing a carbon-crediting scheme for farming, with the aim to boost agricultural lands’ carbon sequestration potential.
The support came during the parliament’s plenary vote on the EU climate law, setting the ground for the EU carbon farming model, with 392 votes for, 161 against and 142 abstentions.
The new climate law dedicates a special role for carbon removal potential of ecosystems where agriculture and forestry can naturally bring significant contribution for societal benefits.
The European farmer organisation has called for a swift assessment report by the Commission to design the EU climate policy architecture for the coming decade.
Concrete approach
Copa-Cogeca secretary general Pekka Pesonen said the adaptation in plenary of this amendment is an exceptional opportunity for European farming to harness the carbon sequestration potential of agricultural lands.
Pesonen said: “It will provide farmers with a vital additional market-based income and it will give perspectives for our young farmers. The chosen environmental approach is pragmatic and concrete, we need more tools of this kind.
“The support for carbon farming shows the political commitment on European level to create synergies between food production and climate change mitigation and encourage our global partners to follow precedent.”
Copa-Cogeca also called for the involvement of farmers and other agricultural stakeholders in EU-wide applied research focusing on precision farming to preserve soils.
Regarding an ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target for 2030, Copa-Cogeca underlined the importance of having a net target, where reductions include greenhouse gas removals as well.
Ambitious targets needed to address climate action – Macra