The Irish government announced their sectoral emissions ceilings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this different sectors have different targets to reduce their GHG emissions to move towards a cleaner future (RTE, 2022).
Minister Eamon Ryan states that it builds on the already existing climate law which was introduced in 2021 as well as backing up EU legislation while moving Ireland towards a future low carbon economy. Minister Ryan explains that if climate targets are not met that we could be left in a unsecure and unstable world which is no longer fit for living and that these sectoral cuts needs to be ambitious and bold in order to improve the quality of life as well as cut GHG emissions.
Agriculture has a target reduction of 25% based on 2018 levels (Department of the Taoiseach, 2022). Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that “the reduction in agricultural emissions has been the most contentious. It’s a 25% reduction against a society-wide target of 51%. Farmers will play their part. They are up for the challenge and we will help them every step of the way. Sustainable, efficient, Irish food production is essential. In the future, the world will need more food not less”
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said “The world is facing a climate crisis, so such action is absolutely essential. It also recognises the special economic and social role of agriculture, and the importance of sustainable food production. I am satisfied that the agreement we have arrived at today strikes an appropriate balance in this regard.”
He believes that this target is “challenging but achievable” and that it is important for the “protection and enhancement of our sustainable food production system while ensuring that agriculture plays its part in climate change mitigation”. He also says that he will ensure farmers are supported every step of the way.
Minister McConalogue outlined that in order to facilitate the target the ag-climatise roadmap will be updated in order to provide the sector with a clear roadmap. The minister also stated that he has already started looking at supports such as the CAP strategic plan to help achieve targets. He also mentioned support for areas such as low emissions equipment for farms and energy production in order to achieve the targets set out.
However, not all are happy with the governments decisions with agricultural organisations and farmers themselves expressing their opinions on the matter. IFA president Tim Cullinan stated that the new deal is "all about the survival of the Government rather than survival of rural Ireland". Cullinan has also mentioned that the targets has been set without a pathway or budget in place for farmers to follow in order to reach the target. He highlighted the impact this decision will have on farmers across the country and stated that "any attempt to undermine farmers livelihoods or the viability of sector, in order to achieve these targets, will be opposed vigorously by the IFA”.
Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) also highlighted their concerns with the government’s decision saying that it is "very disappointing" and that it “undermine(s) the viability” of the family farm structure and believes that “the level of achievability (is) gone out of these targets" and will “effect the momentum of rural Ireland". The ICMSA leader also discussed knock on effects of the decision for the consumer such as further increasing prices of animal-based products and warning of huge job losses within the rural community.
Many people such as People Before Profit/ Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and Social Democrats climate spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore has described the governments decision as a failure. Whitmore believes that the government "have chosen to ignore the independent advice and this deal has fallen far short of the target needed for us to meet our climate targets"
When I questioned farmers around my local area about the plans most people agreed that without a plan in place that this will not be possible. One particular farmer said "we are not scientists we are farmers, we have not studied this for years, we need guidance and financing to do this and to make it achievable”. Other farmers expressed their anger at the government decision as for years they feel like they have been pushed to expand however now they have been told the complete opposite.
There are very opposing views of the governments decision in recent weeks and it is obvious that if the government want this cut to happen. However, support and finance must be provided by government in order to help farmers and get them on board with this vital environmental decision.
Bibliography
DEPARTMENT OF THE TAOISEACH. 2022. Government Announces Sectoral Emissions Ceilings, Setting Ireland on a Pathway to Turn the Tode on Climate Change. [Online]. Gov.ie. Available: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/dab6d-government-announces-sectoral-emissions-ceilings-setting-ireland-on-a-pathway-to-turn-the-tide-on-climate-change/ [Accessed 28/08/2022].
RTE. 2022. Got Reveals Emissions Cut Targets Across All Sectors [Online]. RTE. Available: https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2022/0728/1312823-carbon-emissions-ireland/ [Accessed 25/08/2022].