Agriculture Can Achieve Emissions Reduction Target

IFA Environment chair John Murphy said that if all additional measures set out in Climate Action Plan 2024 are implemented, agriculture can achieve our 25% emissions reduction target for 2030. 

The EPA climate report published today shows that with additional measures as set out in the Climate Action Plan 2024, emissions from agriculture will reduce by 18%.

“The reality is that some other additional measures set out in the Climate Action Plan for agriculture were excluded from the emissions projections report. This is because additional data is required to account for a potential 1.5 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent reduction due to planned diversification measures,” said Mr. Murphy.

He said that hopefully this can be resolved by next year and we will see these diversification measures included within the projections report and we will get a clearer picture of the potential of the sector.  

“Farmers are continually adopting new measures to reduce emissions on farms, but if targets are to be achieved, we need whole of sector implementation,” said John Murphy.

“Farmers are continually adopting new measures to reduce emissions on farms, but if targets are to be achieved, we need whole of sector implementation. Farmers need to be actively supported during this transition, particularly around diversification measures such as increasing the area under tillage as well as anaerobic digestion where funding and support will be essential.”