Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The climate action plan, essentially, is a reflection of this Government. It is very high on rhetoric, but low in terms of detail and how we deliver upon it. I have heard the impassioned speeches from the Government benches.

I want to deal with one area that is hugely important in terms of how we will deliver or not. That area is forestry, which is unique in this document in that it is very precise in terms of its targets. It intends, through an afforestation programme, to secure the sequestration of emissions by 0.8 Mt of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 and to deliver 2.1 Mt of sequestration of carbon dioxide equivalent thereafter. That is hugely important. It is almost like double counting when you sequester carbon because if you do not meet those targets that means you have to find alternative sources. With the land use, land-use change and forestry, LULUCF, section of this document, that accounts for nearly 45% of the targets that have been set for sequestration. Here is the bad news: that target is not going to be met. It is based on assumptions that we will plant 8,000 additional ha per annum of forestry. This year, we will reach about 2,000 ha. That is down on last year. What is the worst part of this? This is being overseen by a Green Party Minister, who is ensuring that forestry becomes a dead duck in terms of agricultural policy. Over 80% of all new forests planted since 1980 were planted by farmers. The number of farmers who are participating in forestry schemes has dropped by 80% over the past decade. That drop is accelerating under the current Minister and regime. If we are serious, the Government should not be setting targets and producing glossy brochures; it should be working with farmers, the Opposition and local communities to deliver a forestry policy that will secure these targets. The current Minister is failing in that regard.

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