25% EMISSIONS CUT TARGET “COULD DEVASTATE FARMING IN BORDER REGION”

The 25% emissions cut target set by the Government for agriculture could have a devastating impact on agricultural production in the Border region, senior figures in the country’s farming organisations warned this week. The Government announced on Thursday last that it had agreed on a 25% reduction in emissions from the agriculture sector by 2030 in order to meet Ireland’s climate commitments. Cavan/Monaghan Sinn Féin TD and his party’s Spokesperson on Agriculture Matt Carthy reacted to the announcement by calling on the Government to make clear the additional measures to be put in place to enable farmers to meet the target set.

“While there has been much debate as to the precise sectoral emission ceiling for agriculture, there has been little discussion as to how that ceiling will be met in a fair way that protects family farms and the rural communities that depend on them,” Deputy Carthy stated. He said Ireland had never reached climate action targets under governments comprising of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens.

“This proves that setting targets without having a plan to implement them is pointless,” Deputy Carthy stated. “The best way to deliver emission reductions in agriculture is through assessing the current carbon sequestration, storage and emissions on a farm-by-farm basis. This will allow us to incentivise farmers to reduce emissions, increase….