Lord Deben:

Yes. One of the reasons it is more difficult is that because we have moved to monoculture to a greater degree than has Ireland, we can make changes in that area which Ireland cannot because of its already lower intensity, carbon-based agriculture. No one should argue that we should not attempt to lower emissions for fear that if we do so, someone else will take up the slack. We must all lower emissions, as stipulated by the Paris Agreement. We cannot stop trying to do so because of a fear that somebody else will take advantage of that. All countries, including those that people claim will take advantage of the situation, are going to do it. France, Germany and the UK are trying to do it. I will not accept claims by farmers in the UK that if they reduce emissions, Irish farmers will take up the slack. In the context of decarbonising energy, all industries claim that they cannot make changes because companies in France, China or elsewhere will take up the slack. However, companies in other countries have not taken up the slack because all countries are trying to reduce emissions. It is far better to take the opposite view and to work with those who could potentially take up the slack in order to find how we can all reduce emissions, which is what must be done. I toured New Zealand 18 months ago and attended a very large number of meetings there. The New Zealanders, who face many of the same problems as us, want to work with other agricultural areas to find answers.