IFA warns EU climate and energy framework ‘repeats same mistakes’

IFA president Eddie Downey has described the EU’s revised framework on climate and energy for 2030 as “a repeat of the same mistakes” made in climate policy when previous emission reduction targets were set.

The Commission is recommending an EU-wide goal of 27% renewables without hard and fast national targets. The White Paper proposes a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Current national targets designed to raise the share of renewable energy to 20% would not be renewed after 2020. Under the proposal, the Commission would set aside up to 12% of carbon permits from 2021, as long as certain conditions are met.

Mr Downey said: “The failure by the Commission to recognise the need to support the development of emission efficient and sustainable food production is a continuation of inadequate climate policy at EU level. Ireland, like many other EU member states, produces food to the highest environmental standards, with greenhouse gas emissions per kilo of product amongst the lowest in the world.

He said the increasing global population would up demand for protein foods like beef and milk, which farmers in Ireland produce sustainably. The revised EU framework plan has failed to address the issue of carbon leakage as it relates to agriculture.

“Unless carbon leakage is addressed, sustainable food produced in Ireland will be displaced by food from former Amazonian rainforest lands.”

Mr Downey said the increased EU renewable energy target of 27% by 2030 can only be achieved if the existing REFIT and biofuel obligation scheme is radically overhauled.

Friends of the Earth said the measures do not go far enough to tackle global warming, describing the new renewable targets as “yet another cave-in to the fossil fuel lobby”.