Co-ops expect Ag Climatise roadmap at least is way forward
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan announcing publication of the final text of the Climate Action and Low Carbon (Amendment) Bill. Picture: Julien Behal
The co-operative movement predicts that the minimum contribution by the agricultural sector to the ambitious 51% reduction in emissions by 2030 will be the full implementation of the Ag Climatise Roadmap, which sets out a 10-15% reduction in emissions for the sector.
The Ag Climatise roadmap envisages 350,000 hectares of organic farming by 2030 (compared to 74,000 hectares now); an effective cap on livestock numbers; and a one-fifth cut in nitrogen fertilisation. That's the minimum requirement, now that the Climate Bill has been published, according to ICOS, which represents commercial co-operative businesses and enterprises, across multiple sections of the Irish economy, including agriculture.
