Government promotion of grass-based farming in climate policy welcomed

GOVERNMENT promotion of the positive environmental contribution of Ireland’s grass-based farming in its new National Climate Policy is a very welcome evolution in state strategy, according to the Irish Farmers’ Association.

IFA climate change spokesman Jer Bergin has welcomed the position taken by Environment Minister Phil Hogan in drawing attention to the low carbon emissions of the Irish approach to farming, which maximises outdoor grazing for animals and minimises carbon inefficient indoor stall-feeding.

Mr Bergin said: “Farmers had been angered by some of the climate change measures which the Fianna Fáil and Green Party government had tried to introduce. There was a real risk that the sustainable food produced by Ireland and the rest of Europe would be displaced by food produced in less emission-conscious regions such as the Mercosur countries in South America.

“The whole issue of carbon leakage is of great importance for the future sustainability of food production globally. Any imbalance in dealing with these issues would be to the detriment of future sustainable production of protein-based foods such as beef, which is in growing demand globally.

“Minister Hogan also alluded to the lack of prior recognition of the unique carbon sinks represented by Ireland’s dedication to grassland production.

“The Department of the Environment also recognised that with current technologies, agriculture could not reduce its emissions by anything more than 4% at present.”

Mr Bergin said anything above this reasonable threshold would impact negatively on the national herd and stifle Ireland’s ambitions to add an extra €4 billion in agri-food exports by 2020. He said the support for achievable climate change goals would give Irish farming the support it needed for the next 10 years in terms of managing the sector’s carbon footprint. While the Department of the Environment’s pro-farming stance is being interpreted by some as an abandonment of the Green Party’s climate change ambitions, Mr Hogan defended his approach as balanced and said any climate change legislation will follow an assessment of environmental impacts.

He told listeners to the Pat Kenny radio show on RTÉ Radio One that the Green Party had been “all talk and no action” on the subject of climate change.

Mr Hogan said: “My policy approach is going to ensure we get this policy position right and we’ll underpin it by legislation in due course rather than the other way round.”

The Environment Minister also said that the secretariat to the National Economic and Social Council would complete an independent study of Irish environmental impacts by mid-2012. In the interim, the Government will continue with a balanced approach to the economy and the environment.

Mr Hogan said: “My objective, in line with the Programme for Government, is to introduce climate legislation. However, the right policy must be in place before legislation can be introduced.

“Environmental protection and a competitive economy are complementary and my priority is to make sure we have the appropriate policy in place in order to make a successful transition to a low-carbon future; legislation should underpin policy.”

While opposition party spokespersons and environmental groups criticised Mr Hogan’s statements, IFA president John Bryan welcomed his approach as balanced.

Mr Bryan said: “IFA has consistently argued that our permanent pasture and carbon sink from forestry had to be taken into account when devising our climate change policy.

“Minister Hogan rightly recognises the importance of food security and the ability of Ireland’s agricultural sector to produce food in a low- carbon, sustainable manner.”