Written answers

Friday, 16 September 2016

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Climate Change Policy

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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1505. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his assessment of the challenges facing the farming sector following the recent report on climate smart agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24516/16]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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There are many challenges facing the sector but there is no doubt that the interconnected challenges of sustainable food production, food and nutrition security and the impacts of climate change rank high in the Government’s priorities.

Ireland faces the significant challenge of reaching the climate change targets assigned by the EU under the current Effort Sharing Decision to 2020, and in the proposed Climate and Energy Framework to 2030. While there are no individual sectoral targets assigned or proposed for the non-emissions trading sector, which includes agriculture, each sector must play its part towards meeting our national targets.

The EU Heads of State recognised in October 2014 that there are limited cost-effective mitigation options available in agriculture; therefore, further reducing emissions will be one of the more significant challenges the sector faces. That said, Irish agriculture emissions are currently 4.2% below 2005 levels and it is independently and internationally recognised that ours is one of the most climate resilient and resource/carbon efficient agri-food production systems in the world. We continue to work with all stakeholders to find even greater efficiencies.

As part of the Whole of Government approach to climate policy, officials from my Department are working closely with other Departments and have engaged extensively with the Commission in order to seek an appropriate and consistent approach to EU climate and agriculture policy.

Under the 2015 Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, a National Mitigation Plan is being prepared, and my Department is currently developing the mitigation plan for the agriculture sector which will inform future climate policy as we move towards our national ambition of a low-carbon climate resilient economy.

Reports such as that produced by the IIEA and RDS will add to the debate and inform thinking as we seek to establish Ireland as a climate-smart leader internationally. Ireland has played a very prominent role at EU and international levels in the important debate on Climate Smart Agriculture, and this is acknowledged in the report.

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