Farming Is Part of the Climate Solution, and the New Climate Bill Must Treat It as Such

IFA President Tim Cullinan said the upcoming Climate Action (Amendment) Bill must facilitate farmers to be part of the climate solution.

In the Programme for Government, the Government committed to introducing a new Climate Action (Amendment) Bill, including a new Climate Action Council.

“I am convinced that changes in Agriculture Ministers during the first 100 days may result in agriculture not getting a fair input into the new Bill. Minister McConalogue will need to ensure that the importance of farming is reflected in the Bill,” he said.

“Farmers will be looking to this Government to support farming and ensure that any targets outlined in the Bill are practical, achievable and take account of the work the sector is already doing in this area,” said the IFA President.

The first draft of the legislation will be published in the coming weeks.

“The devil will be in the detail in terms of how emissions targets are to be achieved and calculated. We will engage fully in the discussions that will take place,” he said.

“The Climate Action Bill will have to take account of the benefits farmers and agriculture provide in carbon sequestration.  Existing carbon sinks, including grassland, hedgerows, crops, peatlands and forestry must be included, in line with the most up to date science.”

Tim Cullinan said there must also be recognition for the cyclical nature of methane in GHG emissions accounting methodology.

“We have made this case strongly to the Minister for Agriculture, and we expect him to be a strong advocate for the sector at the Cabinet table,” he said.