Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators for giving me the opportunity to address the House on the important matter of climate action.

We have a thriving agrifood sector which includes the forest sector, and one that is efficient and environmentally conscious. However, everyone in this room will be aware that we face one of the greatest dual challenges of our time, namely, ensuring food security for all and simultaneously dealing with dangerous climate change.

As Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine I am very conscious of these challenges - challenges that have been acknowledged globally in both the Paris Agreement and the sustainable development goals. I assure the House of my commitment to ensuring the agriculture sector and our forests play their part in doing everything to address these challenges through the development and adoption of mitigation and adaptation measures. I am not alone in this regard and I think the importance of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 in putting our climate policy on a statutory basis shows the commitment of the Government to addressing this challenging task.

In terms of mitigation and as required by the Act, the national mitigation plan is currently being prepared by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment who is the lead in this area. Agriculture sector mitigation measures, including the afforestation programme, have been prepared for input to the national mitigation plan and there has been ongoing consultation and co-operation between both Departments. As a sector, we engaged with our stakeholders through open policy debate and public consultation on agriculture and forest measures, and continue to refine and further develop appropriate measures.

The agriculture sector measures which have been inputted to the national mitigation plan not only focus on the mitigation of greenhouse gases and improving resource efficiency but are also aimed at restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems related to agriculture. Good farming practices supported by the Common Agriculture Policy under Pillar 1, and the rural development plan under Pillar 2 contribute to the protection of the carbon pool stored in Irish farmland. Additionally, by influencing change and improving sustainability at farm level, this can increase farm viability leading to quality of life improvements.

With regard to forest, the measures include increasing the level of forest cover, supply of forest-based biomass, wood mobilisation and enhancements to the environmental and social benefits of forests. There are national, economic and rural development benefits from the harvesting and processing of wood, increasing and sustaining the wood processing sector. Public leisure and health benefits also arise from forest recreation. Forests also have a role in the protection of water and the alleviation of flooding.

A national mitigation plan briefing document has been published by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in advance of a public consultation on the full draft plan.

I will now turn to adaptation. Under the Act, a national adaptation framework is required by December of this year. When the framework is in place, it will set out the requirement for sectoral adaptation plans.

Under the national climate change adaptation framework which was released in 2012, my Department was charged with the development of sectoral adaptation plans in three areas, namely, agriculture, forestry and the marine. Currently, my Department is developing two separate adaptation plans - one covering the agriculture and forestry sector, and one for the marine sector. Due to the extensive nature of the plans and the vast areas covered by the three sectors of agriculture, forestry and the marine, extensive consultation took place with the members of the internal departmental adaptation teams and also with external stakeholders. Their collective expertise was fed directly into the plans.

An open policy debate workshop on adaptation in the agriculture and forest sector was held on 24 November 2016 to encourage stakeholder debate and to coincide with the publication of a draft adaptation plan for the sector. Submissions received as part of this nine-week non-statutory public consultation are currently being considered.

As we seek to continue to sustainably develop the value of the marine sector both to the wider economy as well as to the many communities which it supports, a changing climate poses a tangible threat to our efforts. Developing a greater understanding of the changes occurring around our shores will enable us to plan and adapt in order to ensure the sustainability of the industry and the employment it offers.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 provides that an annual transition statement must be presented to both Houses of the Oireachtas not later than 12 months after the passing of the 2015 Act and not later than each subsequent anniversary of such passing.The first such statement was presented by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment last December. My Department contributed to the written statement laid in the Oireachtas Library at the time. The written statement included an overview of climate change mitigation and adaptation policy measures adopted to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and adapt to the effects of climate change in order to enable the achievement of the national transition objective.

Specifically for agriculture, we are working towards an approach of carbon neutrality in the agriculture, forest and land use sector which will not compromise capacity for sustainable food and fibre production. It is important that people have access to a wide and varied diet which can include beef and dairy products. It is equally important that this produce come from the most efficient production systems. Ireland is one of the world’s most efficient food producers in terms of carbon footprint per unit of output and the latest indications are that Irish agriculture greenhouse gas emissions are almost 6% below 1990 values. Ireland also has the capacity to grow a range of tree species which, with the wood products they provide, make a real and sustained contribution to climate change mitigation. However, there is no room for complacency, especially while the agriculture sector, dominated as it is by grass fed ruminants, accounts for approximately 33% of overall Irish greenhouse gas emissions Steps must be taken at all levels, including in industry, in policy and on farms, to continue to implement measures to drive down the greenhouse gas intensity of Irish food production even further from its already existing efficient level. We must produce food and fibre in ways that preserve soil and water quality, protect our biodiversity and mitigate the impact on the climate.