Proposed Climate Change Bill sparks markedly different reactions

FRIENDS of the Earth and the IFA have issued hugely divergent reactions to the expected publication next week of a new Climate Change Bill, which is being promoted by Environment Minister John Gormley.

The Green Party leader said the bill is aimed at delivering on the Government’s international commitments to reduce carbon emissions.

The short-term target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 2.5% annually by 2020 compared to 2008.

The medium-term target is to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. The long-term target is an 80% reduction by 2050, compared to 1990 emissions.

Mr Gormley said: “The structure of the bill provides a strong legislative framework for a core objective on transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable society. I am acutely aware of particular concerns in the agricultural sector, but I believe the bill poses absolutely no threat to the sustainable future of agriculture in Ireland.”

However, Irish Farmers Association (IFA) president, John Bryan, said the proposed climate change legislation goes far beyond any obligations set out by the EU, and is unworkable in its current form.

Mr Bryan said: “This proposed legislation flies in the face of the Government’s own expansion plans for the agriculture sector as set out in the Food Harvest 2020 Report and will have a hugely damaging effect on the recovery of the economy.

“The proposals fail to recognise the many positives around agriculture, especially our sustainable model of farming and the carbon sink in both our permanent pasture and our forestry.”

Mr Bryan said that the climate change legislation fails to include a proper calculation of greenhouse gas emissions, as it fails to include the positive impact of Ireland’s grassland base and forestry in its environmental impact calculations.

John Bryan said: “It is ludicrous that Ireland could introduce emission reduction targets way in excess of those proposed by other countries, while at the same time countries such as Brazil destroy Amazonian rainforests and allow their greenhouse gas emissions spiral out of control.”

Over the past 20 years, emissions from milk and beef production have all declined in Ireland.

Ireland has a low carbon model of food production and Government policy must not undermine the sector’s ability to drive exports and jobs as part of our economic recovery, said Mr Bryan.

Meanwhile, Friends of the Earth has accused the IFA of “scare mongering” in its comments, saying it believed the bill will be a cornerstone of a sustainable, low-carbon recovery.

Friends of the Earth director, Oisín Coghlan, said: “The bill is the equivalent of the banking regulation we should have had five or 10 years ago.

“It will prevent the next bubble, one driven by a belief that pollution can rise forever without leading to a crash. A strong climate law is key to sustainable jobs and prosperity. There could be no clearer signal to investors that Ireland is becoming a hub for green enterprise and innovation.

“It’s absurd for the IFA to talk of ‘unrealistic emissions reductions’.

“It is laughable for the IFA to criticise Brazil in the week that country again topped the international rankings for its efforts to tackle climate change, while Ireland languishes in 20th place,” Mr Coghlan added.