Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the measures taken to prepare agriculture for climate change and peak oil; the potential consequent effects on food security in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43457/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of the EU climate action and renewable energy package is to deliver the European Union's ambitious commitments to fight climate change and promote renewable energy up to 2020 and beyond. Ireland demonstrated its support for these proposals when, along with Denmark and Luxembourg, we agreed to accept the highest greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, to reduce, by 2020, our overall emissions by 20% compared to 2005 levels. Ireland also agreed to increase the share of renewables in energy use to 16% and remains fully committed achieving both targets.

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme will address emissions reductions from participating installations in Ireland's emissions trading sector, including emissions from many dairy, food and drinks processors. To assist the Government in identifying the most appropriate means of achieving emissions reductions in the remainder of the economy, Ireland's non-trading sector, which includes emissions from primary agriculture, the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security is examining the emissions reduction potential of the entire non-trading sector and will report to Government on the optimum alternatives to achieve this goal.

In tandem, my colleague, the Minister for Environment Heritage and Local Government, is in the process of developing a National Climate Change Adaptation Framework Strategy and a new Climate Change Bill, which will include specific provisions on climate change adaptation. This planned adaptation framework and proposed legislation will provide a mechanism for the integration of adaptation issues into decision making at both national and local level.

The world's population is expected to increase from 6.7 billion people today to 9.3 billion by 2050. However, the number of chronically undernourished people on the planet now stands at over 1 billion, or one person in every six. The UN estimates that, by 2050, an increase of 70% in current food output will be required to eliminate hunger and meet the food needs of the burgeoning world population. I am acutely aware that, as a substantial producer and exporter of high quality, sustainably produced food, Ireland must exploit our natural advantages and expertise in food production, in order to assist in meeting the long-term increased global demand for food. Accordingly, at Ireland's request, the European Council conclusions, which determine the EU's negotiation position for Copenhagen, reiterate the need to ensure food security and stress the need to adequately consider agriculture in a Copenhagen agreement, and in the long term.