Ireland - IFA should be demanding no carbon emission penalties where is global warming !!

ANY legislation which follows today’s Climate Change Bill must give credit to Ireland’s pasture and forestry, and not exceed EU carbon emission obligations, said the IFA.

IFA president John Bryan outlined the economic pressures already being experienced by Irish farmers in a meeting yesterday with Minister for the Environment John Gormley and Minister of State Ciaran Cuffe. Among other points, Mr Bryan stressed that the Climate Change legislation should not hinder the food production sought by the Food Harvest 2020 report.

Mr Bryan said: "The climate change proposals must fully recognise the many positives around agriculture, especially our sustainable model of farming and the carbon sink in both our permanent pasture and our forestry. These benefits and those accruing from bio-energy and other renewables must be allocated directly to agriculture as part of this legislation."

Mr Bryan told the minister that it was unacceptable that any legislation would go beyond any obligations set out by the European Union, or that would damage the potential of the Irish agricultural sector to expand production as set out in the Food Harvest 2020 Report.

A spokesperson for the Green Party said: "We agree with the IFA’s view that Irish agriculture is entitled to some credit for being largely grass-based, certainly relative to a lot of the shed-based, intensive farming that is happening in other countries.

"There is also a lot of good work being done in Irish forestry, and that also has to be recognised. All of this helps to offset the country’s carbon emissions."

The IFA delegation also highlighted the unique role of agriculture and food in the Irish economy must be recognised in the proposed legislation.

Mr Bryan said: "If we fail to develop our low-carbon, sustainable model of food production, and the opportunity that exists to grow jobs and exports, it will be a disaster for the country’s economic recovery."

The Climate Change Bill is due to be published today. Last week, Environment Minister John Gormley outlined details of the proposed bill, which is intended to provide a strong legislative framework for Ireland’s transition to "a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable society".

Targets included a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.5% per year by 2020; to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030; and by 80% by 2050.

The minister also outlined plans to roll out a National Mitigation Plan, measures in relation to mitigation, and National Adaptation Plan to set out Government policies on the proposed societal transition.

The Green Party minister with responsibility for climate change, Ciaran Cuffe, said: "The Climate Change Bill will embed a new architecture in the process of Government to work towards achieving this transition and our legally binding EU commitments. The bill is both innovative and inspirational, and I look forward to a frank and honest public debate."

The IFA president added: "Ireland’s grass-based production system ensures that we produce beef and milk with lower carbon intensity than other exporting nations. Over the past 20 years emissions from milk and beef production have all declined in Ireland. We have a low carbon model of food production and Government policy must not undermine the sector’s ability to drive exports and jobs as part of our economic recovery."

Source: MeatTradeNewsDaily