An Taisce is urging the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) “to follow the science on agricultural emission reductions”.
The An Taisce Climate Committee (ATCC) said that it strongly supports the role of the CCAC “as an independent assessor and advisor to government policy”.
It also agrees with the CCAC that the government “needs to urgently support and incentivise the rapid uptake of cost-effective farming measures to reduce agricultural emissions”.
However, the committee believes that for the council to be effective it should be able to “strengthen its independent expertise and impact”.
The ATCC said this could be done by incorporating “appropriate independent, international, expertise, in all future assessments and recommendations concerning the Irish agriculture and land use sectors”.
CCAC
Last month, the CCAC published its annual review of agriculture and land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector.
The council stated that the agriculture sector is the largest single source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for 34.3% of Ireland’s emissions in 2023.
The LULUCF sector is a net source of emissions in Ireland, accounting for an additional 9.3% of total national emissions.
Following its review of the document, An Taisce has claimed that “there are some serious omissions” in the report which it said “avoids the difficult tasks ahead”.
An Taisce also claimed the review “reproduces the lesser climate action recommendations produced by Teagasc” and that “there is little current evidence that the CCAC has adopted an independent approach from Teagasc”.
An Taisce said the review should “call out the vested interests profiting from farming and should also identify where farming and our food system have become more vulnerable to market and climate impacts”.
It also felt the report “should chart alternative agro-ecological pathways to a more secure future”.
An Taisce
An Taisce said that the CCAC review did not mention the nitrates derogation and questioned if the council recommends seeking renewal of the derogation.
It added that there is “no advice” on Ireland’s domestic action as part of its commitment to the agreement to reduce global methane emissions by 30% by 2030.
The committee said that the CCAC review had not included a “statement concerning dietary change” which would demonstrate a council recommendation to “encourage a reduction in meat consumption”.
An Taisce claimed that the review “does not appear to serve a majority of farmers” and “neglects to assess alternatives to the continuing dominance of the beef and dairy sector”.
Commenting on the report, Terri Morrissey, chair of An Taisce’s Climate Committee, said:
“The Climate Change Advisory Council is an independent agency with the ability to review climate policy and, on that basis, gives recommendations and advice.
“If this independence is compromised, or even just perceived to be compromised, it undermines the effectiveness of the council’s work. We urge the council to acknowledge this risk, and take appropriate measures to address it.”