A carbon storage payment could be on the horizon for farmers as part of a land use review by the Government, Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan has said.

The news came at the EPA Climate Change Conference 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.”

Minister Ryan also told the conference that farming won’t have the same level of climate targets as other sectors.