Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1360. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans he has developed in his Department to meet the terms of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. [41214/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 provides a statutory basis for Government policy on climate change and includes actions under mitigation and adaptation.

In terms of mitigation, the Act provides the statutory basis for the national objective of low carbon transition by 2050. For the agriculture sector, this includes an approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food protection.

The development of the National Mitigation Plan is led by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and  Environment and represents a whole-of-Government approach, involving my Department which is responsible for inputs in relation to the agriculture and forest sector. My Department has been actively involved and has submitted the agriculture and forest sectoral contribution to the Plan, outlining the mitigation actions which we are taking in the sector. A discussion document on the agriculture and forest contribution to the Plan was made available as part of a public consultation process which also included a half day consultation seminar.

I understand that the Draft Plan will be published in March for a period of public consultation by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

The Act also requires a National Adaptation Framework. My Department is currently preparing agriculture, forest and marine sectoral adaptation plans to meet the requirements under the Act. My Department has recently launched a non-statutory draft adaptation plan for the agriculture and forest sector for a period of public consultation which is open until 27 January. This plan has been drafted under the 2012 National Climate Change Adaptation Framework. This draft adaptation plan can be viewed as a first step towards reducing vulnerability and building resilience in the agriculture and forest sector. Its aim is to stimulate thinking from the public and interested stakeholders on this very important subject.

Both the agriculture and forest sectoral contribution to the National Mitigation Plan and Adaptation Plans for the agriculture, forest and marine sectors are informed by scientific evidence and research findings. The plans will specify the policy measures to be undertaken for both mitigation and adaptation and will be fundamental pillars of future national policy.

My Department has also contributed to the first Annual Transition Statement presented by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment early last month.

Irish agriculture production has been independently and internationally recognised as one of the most climate and resource efficient agri-food production systems in the world. However, there is no room for complacency and we will continue to work with all stakeholders to find even greater efficiencies and drive down emissions further. This will not be an easy task particularly in light of the limited cost-effective mitigation options available in agriculture. We will continue to make efforts and polices such as “Food Wise 2025” provide a framework for the sector to engage with the National Mitigation Plan and for the development of a common vision of transition to a low carbon, climate resilient future.