The newly published Ibec report which recommends the introduction of a carbon tax has also recommended the introduction of a stricter carbon budget for the agriculture sector.
The report entitled, ‘Building a low carbon economy – A roadmap for a sustainable Ireland in 2050’, states that sectors outside the Emissions Trading System (ETS) such as agriculture, must have continually reducing short-term carbon budgets applied to them.
Stricter budgets would help to provide an impetus to execute carbon policy and would be followed up with penalties if sectors fell short, the report says.
Emissions
Agriculture is pinpointed as one of the biggest contributors to Ireland’s emissions, however the report also states that reducing the size of the national herd is unlikely to make any major impact on global emission targets.
Emissions from agriculture according to the EPA.
Therefore, the report suggests a more carbon neutral approach to farming. This would include an increase in forestry by at least 64% by 2050 in order achieve a low carbon economy.
Other measures include:
Greater carbon sequestration
Better on-farm efficiency Renewable gas productionSome farmers fear that a switch to more carbon friendly farming could see a reduction in their herd size or the promotion of meat-free diets.
While the report takes into account that Teagasc’s 2017 national farm survey indicated that 40% of cattle rearing farms and 40% of sheep farms are “economically vulnerable”, it also expressed the belief that transition to a more sustainable economy away from some forms of agriculture could “create thousands of jobs”.
“Crucially, Ireland’s emerging bioeconomy should create meaningful work and quality lasting jobs to support local communities and workers in the regions that are most strongly impacted by decarbonisation,” it said.
Teagasc report
The Ibec report references a Teagasc report published by the Greenhouse Gas Working group last June, which said that "cost effective mitigation, carbon sequestration and fossil fuel displacement could deliver between 5.57Mt and 7.70Mt in the year 2030."
While Ibec raises concerns over how EU emissions are counted, it does agree that the Teagasc proposal is the best approach to addressing climate action at farm level.
It also suggests a fully integrated carbon and land-use policy, which was proposed by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action.
The carbon tax they’ve suggested would be set at €30/t in 2020. This could potentially rise by €5/t until it reaches €80/t in 2030.
Read more
Green farming: impact of Green Party surge
You don’t need to wipe out farming to have a green agenda – Coveney
The newly published Ibec report which recommends the introduction of a carbon tax has also recommended the introduction of a stricter carbon budget for the agriculture sector.
The report entitled, ‘Building a low carbon economy – A roadmap for a sustainable Ireland in 2050’, states that sectors outside the Emissions Trading System (ETS) such as agriculture, must have continually reducing short-term carbon budgets applied to them.
Stricter budgets would help to provide an impetus to execute carbon policy and would be followed up with penalties if sectors fell short, the report says.
Emissions
Agriculture is pinpointed as one of the biggest contributors to Ireland’s emissions, however the report also states that reducing the size of the national herd is unlikely to make any major impact on global emission targets.
Emissions from agriculture according to the EPA.
Therefore, the report suggests a more carbon neutral approach to farming. This would include an increase in forestry by at least 64% by 2050 in order achieve a low carbon economy.
Other measures include:
Greater carbon sequestration Better on-farm efficiency Renewable gas productionSome farmers fear that a switch to more carbon friendly farming could see a reduction in their herd size or the promotion of meat-free diets.
While the report takes into account that Teagasc’s 2017 national farm survey indicated that 40% of cattle rearing farms and 40% of sheep farms are “economically vulnerable”, it also expressed the belief that transition to a more sustainable economy away from some forms of agriculture could “create thousands of jobs”.
“Crucially, Ireland’s emerging bioeconomy should create meaningful work and quality lasting jobs to support local communities and workers in the regions that are most strongly impacted by decarbonisation,” it said.
Teagasc report
The Ibec report references a Teagasc report published by the Greenhouse Gas Working group last June, which said that "cost effective mitigation, carbon sequestration and fossil fuel displacement could deliver between 5.57Mt and 7.70Mt in the year 2030."
While Ibec raises concerns over how EU emissions are counted, it does agree that the Teagasc proposal is the best approach to addressing climate action at farm level.
It also suggests a fully integrated carbon and land-use policy, which was proposed by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action.
The carbon tax they’ve suggested would be set at €30/t in 2020. This could potentially rise by €5/t until it reaches €80/t in 2030.
Read more
Green farming: impact of Green Party surge
You don’t need to wipe out farming to have a green agenda – Coveney
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: