A carbon budget introduction and a restructuring of carbon taxes have been called for in a new report from the Irish business representative group Ibec.
Entitled ‘Building a competitive low carbon economy – An Irish business roadmap to 2050’, the report outlines a vision for 2050 that would see “Ireland have a smart, low-carbon economy known for its sustainable enterprise base, industrial competitiveness, energy resilience, skilled workforce and high quality of life”.
In the recommendations offered of most importance to the Irish agricultural sector, a redesigned carbon tax and short-term carbon budgets take precedence.
The industry group calls for a €30/t carbon tax to be set next year – with a €5 annual increase to be introduced until 2030, when the tax will be set at €80/t.
Following publication of the report today, Monday, May 27, Ibec has commenced an engagement with Government, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders to help build a new low-carbon economy.
Commenting on agriculture specifically, the report notes: “Ireland’s long-term vision for the agriculture and land-use sector is based on an approach to carbon neutrality for the sector.”
Effectively this means that agricultural emissions need to be balanced by the removal or sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere through afforestation, land use change and better crop and grassland management.
The report points to three opportunities for emission abatement in agriculture, namely: carbon sequestration; greater on-farm efficiency; and renewable gas production.
Referencing Teagasc’s report last year on an analysis of abatement potential into agri emissions, and the proposals offered by Teagasc, Ibec described these as “the best place to begin the journey to carbon neutrality”, the long-term goal.
- Introduce short-term carbon budgets: Introduce continually reducing carbon budgets for sectors outside the Emissions Trading System (ETS). This would bring greater visibility to Ireland’s emissions targets and obligations;
- Redesign the carbon tax: Introduce an upward carbon tax with gradual, predictable increases to provide investment certainty. The tax should be set at €30/t in 2020 and increase by €5/t annually until it reaches €80 in 2030. The revenue should be ring-fenced to support low-carbon investment;
- Establish a dialogue on climate action: Set up a national social dialogue and a Just Transition taskforce to help build a national consensus that brings together industry, trade unions, environmental groups, local representatives and political parties;
- Promote climate smart planning: Amend the planning system to facilitate a low-carbon transition by better supporting the roll-out of strategic energy infrastructure, public transport, afforestation and carbon sequestration;
- Review security of supply: Government should undertake a comprehensive study into secure energy supply out to 2035. Decarbonisation should happen in phases to ensure a smooth transition;
- Support private investment: Government should offer supports and incentives to help businesses and households to overcome high upfront capital costs. A transition will require in excess of €40 billion of new capital investment by 2030, most of it through private investment.
Commenting on the report, Danny McCoy, Ibec CEO, said: “Climate change is the single greatest challenge faced by humankind today.
“As part of a wider global response, Ireland needs to play its part by taking decisive action to decouple emissions from population and economic growth, and to transition to a competitive low-carbon economy.”