Dr. Eimear Cotter:

I will address what we can do in the forestry sector to increase our carbon sinks at national level.
Our message is that more carbon sinks exist than just forestry. We would like the land use sector to be looked at in its entirety. At present the accounting framework is very fixed and biased toward forests. We think there is potential in looking at the land use sector in its entirety.
What would need to be done to make that happen? We need to recognise the potential of the land use sector at national level. We have been very focused on a conversation on afforestation, but there needs to be national recognition of the role of the wider sector. We would have to engage at an international level and try to influence change in the accounting rules. That will take a great deal of work across State agencies and Departments over a long period.
Agriculture and transport are the two key sectors for our 2020 targets, accounting for 75% of emissions in 2020. Our projections show us exceeding our annual limits in 2016 so it will be very challenging. Dr. Jonathan Derhamhas stated we do not have sectoral targets and the national target will be split up and divvied out between the sectors. We are awaiting the publication of the climate change Bill which will set us on the path for 2020 and out to 2050.
We have to consider the environmental impacts of the agricultural sector. We would not view working for better environmental conditions for the farmer as mutually exclusive. Dr. Derham referred to smart farming, this is about resource efficiency, by using resources on the land more productively, there are savings and win wins for the farmer and equally environmental benefits.
We sell our products to export markets by telling the story of environmentally compatible agricultural production and that green, sustainable produce is interwoven with Irish agriculture. We have to create a compelling message for the markets.