Farm groups urge senators to reject Climate Change bill

FARM groups and industry leaders are urging Seanad members to reject the Climate Change Response Bill, due to be tabled for a second stage vote next Thursday.

The ICMSA claims that the Green Party’s proposal to reduce carbon emissions is three million tons more severe than that being sought by the EU. The dairy group argues that, at current market price for carbon, this would cost Ireland €50m per year by 2020, putting Ireland at a disadvantage relative to cheaper, less eco-conscious food producers.

ICMSA president Jackie Cahill said: “This €50m annually is merely the first level of cost and it would be borne primarily by Irish exporters. The true full cost could be a multiple of this.

“Imposing a greater reduction in carbon emissions than the likely maximum legal obligation on Ireland under the EU agreement is lunacy.

“Seanad Éireann must reject the Climate Change Response Bill. This bill is flawed and is being promoted by individuals who literally don’t care or don’t know about its full impact.”

The overall EU target is to reduce emissions by 20% by 2020 relative to 1990 levels, but no actual limit has been agreed for Ireland. The Government has sought to negotiate an effort-sharing arrangement in the EU, whereby Ireland may not have to meet the full 20% emissions reduction target.

IFA president John Bryan has warned that the proposed Climate Change Bill will destroy the potential of the agri-food sector to deliver exports and jobs.

Mr Bryan said: “If the Greens are allowed to persist with their misguided agenda, then the €4bn growth potential in exports set out in the Government’s own Food Harvest 2020 strategy for the sector will not be achieved. With an election due in the next two months, the proposed legislation should be abandoned.”

However, a Green Party spokesperson said that the Climate Change Bill is far more flexible than the EU proposals.

The bill promises to give credit should Ireland’s traded sector exceed its 2020 targets; for example, by creating more renewable energy companies.

He said the bill will also give credit for any growth in Ireland’s carbon sinks, such as forestry, positive measures offsetting some carbon emissions. New analysis suggests Ireland’s carbon sinks could grow by 79% by 2020.

The Green Party spokesperson said: “The bill is hard-wired to allow for flexibility, allowing for emission reduction targets to be changed without the need for a subsequent change in legislation.

“It is also a fundamental pillar of the bill that there would be no question of the legislation undermining Ireland’s economic recovery. It sets out a pathway to begin thinking about long term planning for the environment.

Meanwhile, the employers group IBEC has also voiced its opposition to the Climate Change Bill. Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII), the IBEC group that represents the food industry, warns that the bill would undermine job creation and economic recovery.

The group said targets in the bill are significantly above those of other EU countries and will require extreme measures to meet, such as huge cuts in the size of Irish beef and dairy herds.

FDII senior executive, Michael Barry, said: “The ability of the food sector to grow and generate new jobs will be undermined by the proposed new targets. There is a need for an urgent rethink and for common sense to return to the debate.

“Ireland already has a carbon emission reduction obligation for 2020 that is double the EU average. However, this bill would impose an additional spend of at least €400m per annum on abatement. The food sector is Ireland’s main indigenous industry and has the potential to make a major contribution to national recovery.

“The annual gross output of the industry is approaching €24bn, it employs over 150,000 people and exports over €7bn worth of goods to over 160 countries worldwide.

“The strategic aim is to increase exports to over €12bn by 2020, driven by Ireland’s ability to produce food on its natural grass-based system of agriculture, but over-ambitious climate change targets will make this impossible.

“The food and drink industry has already made major changes in response to consumer demand for more sustainable food and to the EU climate change reduction commitments.”

This has involved investment in new processing technologies, such as combined heat and power (CHP).