A Chilean farmer and leading UN climate activist, who is taking part today (Monday, November 25) in a high profile sustainability conference in Dublin, believes controlling methane emissions is a “rapid solution” to the climate crisis.
Gonzalo Munoz, who was nominated by the Chilean presidency and the United Nations as the High Level Climate Champion for the 25th Conference of the Parties (COP25), is one of the speakers taking part in the AIB Sustainability Conference in Dublin today.
The environmentalist, entrepreneur and actor Edward Norton and the former President of Ireland, chair of The Elders and former UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, Mary Robinson are the keynote speakers at the event which will focus a spotlight on the “global transition to a more sustainable future”.
Methane emissions
According to Munoz the development of farm ready technology and ongoing research on methane reducing additives present new opportunities for Irish farmers to work towards a beef and dairy sector that is “compatible” with climate targets.
But he said it is not just one approach that is needed in order to ensure that agriculture can work more in harmony with “nature”.
One key challenge he said is the supply chain for animal feed – particularly in relation to where that is coming from to Ireland.
“We have to analyse every element of that and commit to producing the feed for animals that is regenerative for nature and demonstrate that those products come with a possible climate footprint,” Munoz said.
He said farmers need to be part of any solution in relation to the climate crisis.
Mercosur
Munoz has also warned that the European Union needs to get the current debate on Mercosur “right” and examine exactly what is the real reason for the proposed EU Mercosur agreement.
“It is important to know what the objective of this agreement is and let’s look at the scientific data also on this, particularly on products that are coming into the Eurozone with tax incentives or benefits but without the environmental metrics that are required.
“This is defining a playing field and that playing field must be set on science and should not create incentives for a country or a product that is not meeting the requirement environmental standards,” Munoz added.
He said that every farmer is facing challenges today on the environmental front but he believes a fundamental requirement now is to ensure that farmers are supported, both financially and by developing new approaches, through the “transition” that they are being asked to undertake.
“As a farmer myself I do not know any farmer who wakes up in the morning and says today I’m going to destroy the world – every farmer in the world says I am going to continue producing in the best possible way, in the most efficient way.
“But we do need to create a pathway for farming that supports new environmental regulations and that must come with financial incentives for farmers as they are transitioning,” Munoz added.
One of his key messages at the conference in Dublin focuses on food waste and how much of this is being converted into land fill and the contribution that this is now making to overall methane emissions.
New climate hub
Separately AIB today confirmed it is investing more than €20 million in sustainability focused education and research initiatives, including €10 million for a new AIB Trinity Climate Hub at Trinity College Dublin.
The bank said the new hub will bring researchers together “to address challenges around maintaining a stable and liveable climate, securing biodiversity and the ecosystem services provided by nature, adapting to climate change, and reversing water degradation”.
AIB chief executive, Colin Hunt, said “Education and knowledge play a critical role in creating strong and resilient economies and societies.
“The transition to a low-carbon future creates real opportunities for learning and innovation”.