Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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974. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if 6% of hedgerows will be included in calculations relating to carbon sequestration figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4216/20]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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976. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason for the non-inclusion of hedgerow and grassland sequestration potential here in the current calculation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4218/20]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 974 and 976 together.

Greenhouse gas emissions and removals associated with land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF), are reported in Ireland’s National Inventory Report prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency and submitted annually to the EU and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. LULUCF includes activities associated with forestry, croplands, grasslands, wetlands, settlements and other lands. Hedgerows, as landscape features within the cropland and grassland categories, can form part of the emission and removal estimates for these land use categories. Emissions and removals of greenhouse gases associated with land-based activities are reported in a different category to those associated with agricultural activity, in line with international reporting guidelines.

While such emissions are not currently accounted for in relation to the calculation of compliance with Ireland’s emissions targets in the period to 2020, from 2021 onwards these emissions will be integrated into the EU framework for compliance with national emissions targets. It is, therefore, essential that Ireland has robust policies in place to manage emissions and enhance removals from LULUCF.

The EPA has funded and continues to fund research projects related to the sequestration potential of lands, including specifically into hedgerows. As with any LULUCF category, the methodology must capture the emissions or removals associated with human activity compared with a reference or base year. The EPA is also currently developing a national land-use map for reporting on land based activities under the LULUCF Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2018/841) and, as part of this, is examining mechanisms to assist in the development of estimates of the carbon stock associated with hedgerows.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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975. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an analysis will be carried out on the way in which carbon sequestration capabilities are calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4217/20]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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AWAITING REPLY FROM DEPARTMENT