A carbon storage payment could be on the horizon for farmers as part of a land use review, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan has indicated.

His comments came at the EPA Annual Climate Change Conference 2021 on Wednesday, where the minister said: “Central to the commitment in the programme for government is for a land use review and, out of that, a land use plan which optimises across several different targets.

“Firstly in rural development and getting a new generation of farmers, but also in storing carbon and in paying farmers for storing carbon in the land. Also, for restoring biodiversity at the same time.

“Also a plan to see the reversal of the loss of pristine water qualities. Also the reduction of pollutants nitrogen, ammonia, phosphate and other pollutants. It is a multi-layered land use plan we need.”

Minister Ryan told the conference farming won’t have the same level of carbon reduction targets as other sectors: “Sectors such as energy, where Ireland has a comparative competitive advantage, will achieve a much faster and larger reduction.”

Opening Wednesday’s conference, EPA director general Laura Burke said Ireland cannot achieve its climate ambitions without the agriculture sector delivering its contribution.

“As a nation, we have a clear, cultural, social, and economic interdependency on agriculture and land that for many is part of our national identity,” Burke said. “However, the data shows that policy-driven economic growth in the sector in recent years, is happening at the expense of the environment.

“This is evidenced by trends in greenhouse gas and air emissions, water quality, and biodiversity, all going in the wrong direction.

“Ireland’s reputation as a food producer with a low environmental footprint is at risk of being irreversibly damaged.”

The EPA boss said that developments in farming practices, technologies and efficiencies which present opportunities for greater profitability cannot be a trade-off for the quality of Ireland’s environment.

Burke also suggested it may be appropriate that direct payments be linked to land management activities that focus on co-benefits of ecosystem services.