Irish agriculture is responsible for over 32% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, compared to the EU average of 10%. Among developed nations, only New Zealand has a higher proportion of total GHG emissions associated with agriculture. This is a reflection of the relative absence of heavy industry in Ireland and due to the dominance of cattle and sheep livestock production in Irish agricultural output.

Despite Ireland’s high overall emissions from agriculture, the carbon footprint of Irish food is among the lowest in Europe and indeed the world. Findings by the EU’s Joint Research Centre prove beyond doubt that the carbon footprint of Irish food products is simply the best in the EU.

The EU’s “20-20-20” Climate and Energy Package is the key legislative framework for Ireland for the purpose of reducing GHG emissions. Sectors of the economy such as agriculture, transport, households and waste are dealt with under the EU’s Effort Sharing Decision, in which Ireland was assigned an extremely challenging reduction target of 20% by 2020.

Agriculture emissions declined by 7.2% from the period 1990 to 2013 due to decreases in total cattle and sheep numbers and the refocusing of the CAP towards environmental management policy. However, GHG emissions from agriculture have started to increase again. Projections by the Environment Protection Agency suggest that Ireland will exceed its binding annual limits under the Effort Sharing Decision by somewhere between 1 to 17 mt CO2 eq. The Irish Exchequer may have to purchase credits in order to comply with our obligations.

Graph 2: Trend in GHG Emissions from Irish Agriculture

 

Source: EPA

It is within this context that negotiators led by the Taoiseach entered into discussions last October on the future of the EU’s energy and climate change policy post 2020. And to their credit, they delivered a fundamental and significant change in policy concerning agriculture and climate change.

The European Council recognized that the absence of land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) from the Effort Sharing Decision was a major gap in EU policy and its response to climate change. Forestry plays a significant role in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing it in trees, other vegetation and soil. Carbon sequestration by grassland and peat land also has significant potential to offset greenhouse gas emissions. A holistic approach including both agriculture and LULUCF is simply a much fairer and balanced approach.

The European Council acknowledges the lower mitigation potential of agriculture. This is not a “get out of jail card” but recognizes the reality on the ground. Mitigation is possible by improving animal health, better nutrient management, better grassland management and improving breeding and genetics. The good news is that efforts to reduce the carbon footprint at farm level results in greater profitability levels.

The newly reformed CAP will also play a significant role in future mitigation efforts with compliance with “Greening” measures valued at one third of the Single Farm Payment. Farmers must also adhere to cross compliance and the new rural development measures are designed to contribute to the cross cutting themes of innovation, climate change and the environment. Business is also responding. In 2012, Origin Green, a national sustainability development programme was launched to ensure Ireland becomes a world leader in sustainably produced food and drink.

The European Council agreement also dealt with the significant issue of food security. We have to produce more food to feed a growing population, while limiting the impact of global warming and climate change. These twin challenges are considerable with global population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050. The only logical way forward is to meet increasing food demand by producing food to the highest environmental standards.

Focus will quickly turn to the forthcoming UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will take place in Paris in December. It is essential that the EU at these critical talks demands the approval of a holistic approach to agriculture and climate change, recognizing the twin challenges of food security and climate change. This will allow Irish agriculture to grow in a sustainable manner in line with Food Harvest 2020.

By Eamonn Farrell