Environment & Rural Affairs Council Report September 2021

Activity since last National Council 

• IFA mounted a multi-facetted campaign to secure a fundamental change to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. The campaign successfully secured an amendment that the Government must make regulations for the purpose of determining how the removal of greenhouse gas emissions may be taken into account when developing the carbon budget. In order to secure this change IFA: 
  • A one-page lobbying document was prepared outline the three amendments IFA sought to the Bill which were (i) that the definition of carbon budget must take account of removals as well as emissions, (ii) a separate biogenic methane target as a short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) and (iii) that the reference to ‘substantial and unreasonable’ carbon leakage is removed (document attached).    
  • Held a nationwide rally across 29 towns on 11^th June as part of a “Day of Action” the aim of the protest was to highlight the impact the EU CAP reform and the Climate Action Bill will have on Ireland’s farming sector.
  • A protest was held outside Convention Centre in Dublin on the 16^th June with representatives of National Council and Environment Committee in attendance to seek amendments to Climate Action Bill. There was a good turn out from rural TDs and Senators on the day. 
  • A briefing note of biogenic methane was produced and circulated, which explained the difference between biogenic methane and carbon dioxide in terms of global warming potential (note attached).
  • The committee supported by their respective County Executives met with TDs and Senators to highlight for need for changes to the Bill.  
  • IFA met with FG Senators to seek support for the amendments sought to the Climate Action Bill. This was pivotal in securing backing of both FG and FF Senators and securing amendment on including removals in carbon budgets at the Seanad stage.
  • The media was used to raise awareness via the issuing of the press releases:  
    • That criticised the lack of scrutiny of the Climate Action Bill and called on Minister Eamon Ryan to refrain from passing the legislation without due process.
    • The Government’s move to force the Climate Action Bill through the Dáil could have serious repercussions.
    • The amendments to the Climate Bill in the Seanad were important recognition for carbon removals on farms.
    • The Government should take more time to get climate bill rights and specify how they will take carbon removals into account.
  • On the 23^rd July the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 was signed into law, which set a legally binding legally target to be net-zero emissions no later than 2050, and to a 51% reduction in emissions by the end of this decade.
  • A submission was made to the public consultation on the SEA Environmental report for the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 (submission attached). The following proposals were included:
    • A full account of the environmental impact of carbon leakage, the emissions efficiency of Irish farm systems and recognition of the impact of the Bill on global climate change objectives, should production be displaced to countries with less emissions efficient farm systems.
    • The report accurately reflects the global warming impact associated with biogenic methane.
    • Recognition of the significance of agriculture’s increasing efforts to improve water and air quality including acknowledgment of work already undertaken.
    • Specify measures carbon removals will be accounted and clarify how the removals will be used to offset emissions from the agriculture sector. 
    • Evaluation on the potential impact the Climate Bill on the economic sustainability of farms and sustainable food production as well as farm incomes and the rural economy under the population impact category.
• The Nitrate Action Programme review 2^nd stage public consultation opened on 9^th August with a closing date for submissions on 20^th September. To read the consultation document click here. Since the consultation opened, IFA have: 
  • A short briefing note of the proposed measures was prepared.
  • An online-farmers meeting was held on 19th August to get the views of farmers to the proposed measures. The meeting was chaired by Paul O’Brien, National Environment Chair with presentations from Geraldine O’Sullivan and Aine O’Connell on the proposed measures (presentation attached). Over 300 farmers attended the meeting. 
  • After the meeting a press release issued stating that the feedback from the event made it abundantly clear that farmers are furious with Department of Agriculture proposals for the next Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) and its management of the review process.
  • A letter issued to Minister Mc Conalogue seeking an urgency meeting.
  • A guidance document was prepared to assist farmer and farmer groups that want to make individual submissions to the consultation (guidance note attached). 
  • Work is ongoing preparing IFA’s submission to the consultation review as well as lobbying document to assist County Executives. 
• IFA made a submission to the public consultation on the EPA Circular Economy Programme (see attached). IFA submission included the following proposals:
  • The programme should concentrate on the prevention of the creation of waste on farms and the utilisation of unavoidable farm waste.
  • Collection points across the country should be established to enable farmers to dispose of tyres and other farm wastes.
  • The introduction of new funding to support farmers to establish local, regional and national networks, creating the necessary economies of scale to optimise efficiency in the circular value supply chain. 
  • An Agri-Renewables Strategy needs to be developed to provide a roadmap that supports the uptake of renewable energy and addresses barriers including supports, which constrain uptake of on-farm and community renewables. This should include: 
    • Increased scope in the proposed Microgeneration Support Scheme to make farm and community-based microgeneration projects viable. 
    • Increased financial resources need to be allocated to fully implement the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH).
    • The introduction of a Biogas Support Scheme to support both farm scale and medium to large scale cooperative style biogas plants to be implemented on a phased basis.
• IFA met with DAFM to discuss farmers concerns with regard the transition on-line system to record the movement of organic manures, which was to be introduced on the 1^st July. The key concerns were (i) the lack of consultation with stakeholders, (ii) the lack of communication with affected farmers and (iii) that the system would be too onerous would place an excessive administrative burden on farmers. IFA wrote to Minister McConalogue seeking an extension and that a dual system would operate for a transitional phase until all farmers were notified and trained to use the online system. An extension on the mandatory use of the on-line system to record the movement of organic manures to 1 September 2021 was secured. From September 1st paper Record 3 forms via post or email are not to be accepted by the Nitrates section of the Department.
• EirGrid made a presentation to IFA National Council and Environment Committee Members on Sharing our Electricity Future– Public Consultation. Infrastructure issues and farmers future role in microgeneration were raised at the meeting. IFA made a submission to the public consultation (see attached).  
• IFA attended the EPA Climate Change conference 2021. 
• IFA met with officials from Bord na Móna at Pollagh Bog, Co. Offaly and at Derrycolumb Bog Co. Longford to continue the discussions on the Peatlands Climate Action Scheme (PCAS) in July. PCAS aims to rehabilitate 33,000 hectares of peatland over the next five years. At the site visits Bord na Móna committed to:
  • Maintain outflows and ensure adequate boundary management is upheld on the sites during the rewetting process and after the projects are completed. 
  • A 5-year water monitoring plan would be in place and after the 5 years, a land management team and boundary rangers, would be taking responsibility for any issues which may arise.
  • Agreed that Bord na Móna would increase the level of community engagement on an individual basis to ensure concerns are dealt with appropriately
• IFA issued a press release on the EPA water quality report which indicated a net improvement in the quality of our rivers, and no change or an improvement in N and P concentrations for 63% and 76% of our catchments, respectively. Within the priority areas of action, 57 water bodies showed a net improvement.
• Negotiations with Transport Industry Ireland (TII) on the draft Code of Best Practice and Guide for National Greenway Projects are ongoing, several meetings have taken place. 
• IFA attended a visit to Devenish research farm with Minister McConalogue and Minister Poots to outline its journey towards net carbon zero, the role of animal nutrition in improving human health, using the Omega 3 natural enrichment as well as the EU Marie Curie Project, Heartland.
• IFA issued a press release on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. IPCC report and its observations on the impact of methane from cattle on global warming. The IPCC report shows that expressing methane emissions from cattle as CO2 equivalent emissions overstates the effect of methane emissions on global warming, when they are in equilibrium, by a factor of 3-4 over a 20-year time horizon, while it underestimates the impact of new methane sources.
  • A summary document on points raised on methane in the report was prepared (see attached). 
• The Smart Farming programme has: 
  • Updated the soil fertility and energy guidance notes., the new guidance notes are available on www.smartfarming.ie and are attached. 
  • A press release issued to promote the updated soil fertility guidance, which showed that on average improving soil fertility provided the largest cost saving to farmers.
  • A press release also issued and energy guidance note issued as part of EU Sustainable energy week.
  • A water quality poster was produced for the EPA Water Quality conference. 
  • A three-year vision for the SF programme is being developed. To assist with the process a Steering Committee has been established and draws together representatives from different areas of environmental and agricultural research and expertise. The first meeting took place in June and facilitated a discussion on the key challenges facing agriculture and the current thematic areas of the programme. 
  • Four short informational videos on water quality, soil fertility and carbon sequestration are in production for upcoming event. 
  • A review was undertaken of the Resource Efficiency Assessment since the inception of the programme. The following are the key findings: 
    • From 2013 to 2020 there were 203 participants in Smart Farming. 
    • The average potential farm savings is €8,334 over this time period and the potential total savings were €1,691,968.
    • The following are the potential savings per thematic area: 

Any EU/COPA developments

• IFA participated in the stakeholder meeting to gather information on the food and agriculture sector in Ireland to feed into the OECD report on the Circular Economy in Ireland.
• IFA attended the Working Party Environment meeting in June. 

Upcoming issues

• The deadline for submission to the Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) 2nd stage consultation. Is the 20th September.
• IFA to prepare submissions for the (i) EPA Hazardous waste consultation, (ii) the DECC consultation on SDG goals and (iii) DECC Renewable Heat Obligation Consultation. 
• Organise and host Smart Farming event to launch the short informational videos. 
• Organise a series of events on agricultural emissions with a focus on carbon.