The dust has now settled on the Climate Change agreement reached in Paris before Christmas. The focus of attention will quickly turn to how the EU will implement the agreement, with new legislation covering the non-traded economic sectors including agriculture expected in mid-2016. This legislation will establish legally binding GHG reductions targets for Member States for the period 2021 to 2030. Extracted below are the key paragraphs contained in the Paris agreement. The principles outlined below will shape and define, the EU’s approach to agriculture and climate change.

Summary of the Paris Climate Change Agreement:

• Level of Ambition: Art.2 (1a) “Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels.”
• Food Production: Art 2 (1b) “Increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production.”
• Carbon Sinks: Art 5 (1) “Parties should take action to conserve and enhance, as appropriate, sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases as referred to in Article 4, paragraph 1 (d), of the Convention, including forests.”
• 5 year review: Art 4 (9) “Each Party shall communicate a nationally determined contribution every 5 years.” Art 4 (3) “Each Party’s successive nationally determined contribution will represent a progression beyond the Party’s then current nationally determined contribution and reflect its highest possible ambition.”
• Economy wide approach: Art 4 (4) “Developed country Parties should continue taking the lead by undertaking economy-wide absolute emission reduction targets.”

 By Eamonn Farrell

ICOS Agri & Food Policy Executive