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Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (18 May 2021)

Dr. Catherine Farrell: I thank the committee for the opportunity to speak this afternoon about peatlands and, specifically, their restoration. Ireland is a global hotspot for peatlands, with over 20% of the national territory covered by peatland or peat soils. Peatlands are valuable ecosystems that form a significant part of the Irish sociocultural landscape. Healthy peatlands are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (18 May 2021)

...issues in Irish forestry and acknowledge that, although well intended, some forests were located in places they should not have been, resulting in significant carbon losses from blanket and raised peats and considerable habitat loss. We must accept that these mistakes of the past must be rectified and the correct way to do this is not by trying to maintain them as productive or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (18 May 2021)

Brian Leddin: ...member be given two minutes to address questions to the witnesses to ensure that all members have an opportunity to pose questions. Is that agreed? Agreed. I have a question for Dr. Farrell on peat-based soils that are currently used for agriculture. What is the appropriate approach to take to these lands? Does she have examples of good practice where farmers have maintained farm...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (18 May 2021)

Dr. Catherine Farrell: The Chairman has asked me the most difficult question of all. This is an area that is still evolving. The science is telling us that draining peat soils for agriculture leads to emissions in carbon dioxide and also nitrous oxide. There are some new initiatives. New European Innovation Partnership, EIP, projects are looking at addressing this issue. The most recent...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (18 May 2021)

Dr. Catherine Farrell: Yes. On the question about research on peatlands and systems in general, the current research I am involved in is about mapping out the data gaps in terms of assessing ecosystems. The first gap is that we do not have a national peatland ecosystem map. We have indicators of where peatlands might be. The second gap is that we do not even know what depth of peat we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (18 May 2021)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...separate session. I will launch straight into my questions. I have specific questions for each witness, and I will start with Dr. Farrell. Her opening statement was quite strong. She said that peat and bog restoration could be the number one tool in the battle against climate change. I wish to delve into that a little further. Regarding timelines for rewetting bogs, what length of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (18 May 2021)

Dr. Catherine Farrell: The first thing to remember regarding the timelines for rewetting and the associated carbon benefits is that most peatlands in Ireland are drained and are emitting carbon. Rewetting studies undertaken to date have shown we can reduce the carbon emissions. It will take time for these sites to revert to being carbon sinks. Reducing emissions is better than allowing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (18 May 2021)

Richard Bruton: In terms of our Paris obligations, to what extent can peat or forestry contribute to the targets we are setting for 2030 and 2050? Allied to that question, do we need to change the way the inventory is measured at EU level? It is my understanding that neither peat nor forestry falls into the existing inventory. The big question then is how to drive both peat restoration and forestry, which...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (18 May 2021)

...other hazard areas. Many services are returned but we have not heretofore recognised the value of these services. They are almost like the hidden values and hidden wealth within our forests and peatlands. There is momentum presented by this committee. It is in the gift of the committee to drive restoration for climate and biodiversity. The key understanding is that biodiversity...