Specific Details
Climate Change - Growing the agri-food sector while addressing the climate challenge - IFA AGM Day 2
Intended results
To develop with Minister Richard Bruton how Ireland's carbon efficient agri-food sector can develop, while continuing to address the climate challenge
To demonstrate that addressing the climate challenge is not optional for any one who is serious about the long-term future of farming for ourselves and the next generation
To highlight and demonstrate that farmers are engaged when it comes to climate policy.
To point out that all farmers in receipt of a basic payment under CAP have to meet stringent EU requirements to keep their farms in good agricultural and environmental conditions, which includes requirements regarding the management of soils, hedgerows, water courses and fertiliser management. To communicate that farmers are subject to onerous inspections to ensure adherence to these obligations.
To point out that many of these requirements sequester carbon and have a positive environmental impact on water, air and climate.
To point out that over 200,000 carbon assessments have been completed on farms, as part of Bord Bia’s Origin Green programme. There are just over 130,000 family farms in the country. No other sector of society has shown this commitment
In addition, 90% of Ireland’s beef exports are now in an audit and carbon foot printing programme and 100% of milk production is completing a carbon auditing cycle. These facts allow me to state again that Ireland is unique – we are the only country in the world that measures, monitors and manages carbon from farm to fork.
To highlight that over 40% of all farmers in Ireland participate in GLAS - the Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme, which makes a positive difference for the climate, water quality and biodiversity. This scheme is making real and tangible improvements that we can build on, and solid rationale continues to exist for re-opening this GLAS scheme to new entrants.
To demonstrate that IFA along with the EPA are running a resource efficiency programme called Smart Farming, which seeks to improve farm returns and enhance the rural environment through better resource management. Participants last year identified ways to reduce their climate impact by 9% and how to improve farm returns by over €7,000, on average. This voluntary programme has been over-subscribed for 2019.
To highlight that regarding the Common Agriculture Policy, Ireland is to the fore in targeting the CAP to addressing the climate challenge. For example, 87% of the measures in the Rural Development Programme are focused on environmental protection and addressing the climate. And emphasis on the environment continues to grow in the current CAP discussions. While CAP carries on delivering for European citizens’ who enjoy safe, high quality, affordable, plentiful, nutritious and diverse food, it a
To point out that IFA remains to be convinced regarding the proposal to introduce further carbon taxes, given that climate emissions have increased since the existing carbon tax was introduced in 2010.
To emphasis that IFA will strongly oppose any carbon tax, which targets Ireland’s sustainable model of food production.
To highlight that the Teagasc research published, as part of An Analysis of the Abatement Potential of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Irish Agriculture, that the sector can implement to reduce agriculture’s climate impact is a solid piece of scientific research that provides a climate path for the sector. The delivery of the measures in this report requires inter-departmental and inter-state agency co-operation.
That An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar would co-ordinate a whole of Government delivery of this climate pathway for the sector. This is required because policy decisions have to be made by all Government Departments, including the energy section of your Department.
To highlight that since the publication of first national climate roadmap by the SEAI , over a decade ago, we have known the most cost-effective measures that will give us the best climate outcomes. These proposals do not include a cull of our important suckler herd and IFA will continue to oppose any talk of this.
To highlight that measures like lighting, energy efficiency and better building standards are good sensible proposals that we can all buy into. Yet policy inaction by successive Governments in failing to put in place the necessary schemes, has resulted in Ireland being accused of being a climate laggard and sectors like agriculture being an unjustifiable scape goat for climate inaction by other sectors.
To point out that this inaction has allowed emissions from sectors, such as transport, to spiral out of control, increasing by 133% since 1990. Regarding energy, the burning of coal to generate electricity contributes to almost 30% of climate pollution from electricity in Ireland. This is unsustainable and avoidable.
To point out that many farmers stand ready to deliver an alternative biomass crop to coal, once the right measures are put in place this time round. This means developing a strategy and supply chain from field to end-user. It means the development of regional biomass trade and logistics centres. It means a viable long-term return for farmers.
To highlight, that on carbon sinks, many farmers remain frustrated that when it comes to climate and agriculture it’s just the emissions that are counted. Ireland has the largest permanent pastures in Europe, which lock in and store carbon, yet there is no credit for this when the climate picture of farming and food production is presented.
That Minister Bruton supports changes to carbon accounting methodology and seeks to get a fairer climate picture of agriculture. In this regard, IFA is calling for the inclusion of carbon sinks from Ireland’s forestry, permanent pastures and hedgerows; whilst the short-lived behaviour of methane must also be re-examined.
That on renewables, greater support for community and farm-scale renewables, including anaerobic digestion, be put in place. This requires Government to introduce a guaranteed generation feed-in tariff model, increased grid access, and the development of regional biomass trade and logistics centres.
The vision that citizens and communities will be at the centre of future energy policy, as set out by the Government’s own strategy document “Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future”, must become a reality; not just for the large scale corporate renewable developers, but also for households, for farmers and for communities - those of us that pay over €500m each year in the PSO levy to fund all these renewables.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Joe Healy IFA President, Thomas Cooney IFA Environment Chairman
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Informal communication (6-10)
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Richard Bruton
Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)
Patrick Cluskey
Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)
Hildegarde Naughton
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
John Carroll
Head of Unit (Department of the Taoiseach)
Sarah O'Neill
Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)
Philip O'Callaghan
Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)
Pat Deering
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Tim Lombard
Senator (Seanad)
Charlie McConalogue
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Lower House of the Oireachtas)
Jackie Cahill
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Paul Daly
Senator (Seanad)
Michelle Mulherin
Senator (Seanad)
Martin Kenny
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Senator (Seanad)
Willie Penrose
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Thomas Pringle
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)