As government talks over sectoral targets continue, farmers are hoping that Charlie McConalogue, the Minister for Agriculture, will “hold the line” on keeping carbon emission cuts to the lower end of the scale.
If Ireland has any chance of meeting its climate goals, agricultural emissions must drop by closer to 30%, not 22% as stated last November 2021.
“It is necessary that we hold the line and set an aspiration that’s achievable for us,” said the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) president Pat McCormack. “We have to hold at the 22% in order to keep commercial (agriculture) financially viable in this country.”
The Irish Farmer’s Association (IFA) said the full 30% cut “would be likely to result in significantly reduced production which could devastate the farming sector in Ireland”.
IFA president Tim Cullinan said there needed to be “a full economic and social impact assessment” of any planned cuts. A 30% cut “would be likely to lead to carbon leakage and an increase in global emissions as production will move to other countries with weaker climate policies. Irish farmers are embracing measures to reduce emissions and there are significant scientific developments on feed additives and other technologies, but it will take time.”