Ireland is committed to halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2050. The Government has agreed to a carbon budget in the lead up to 2030, but as yet, details have not been agreed for farming.
Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan has confirmed that legally binding targets for emissions cuts will be signed off before the end of July, 2022. He comments that this “is a real challenge, because the scale of change is beyond compare. It sets the sectoral targets including transport, energy, commercial buildings, public buildings and agriculture.
Carbon cuts of 22% to 30% from the agricultural sector have been recommended The Climate Change Advisory Council. This is seems will entail reducing the number of cattle.
Minister Ryan said: “Some of the measures would increase income to Irish farming but would also see a reduction in animal numbers. You don’t look at it just on the numbers, you also have to look at it on the income side. The vast majority of our produce is sold across the world. We get a premium because in people’s minds they think of this as a beautiful green island. We have to do it not just for climate reasons but also to restore water quality and to restore biodiversity.”
In his view: “We have every reason to make this change. No sector gets an out, every sector is going to have a challenge.”