Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue and Ministers of State Pippa Hackett and Martin Heydon have welcomed Government approval of the Climate Action and Low Carbon (Amendment) Bill 2021.

Minister McConalogue said: “This bill is the platform that can allow Ireland to provide strategic leadership on climate change matters.”

Our farmers have shown leadership in this area

“Farmers and land use sector are already contributing to the national effort to address the climate challenge. Our farmers have shown leadership in this area and I am confident that they will continue to do so.”

Sector ambition

Minister McConalogue further welcomed the publication of the Interim Annex of Actions as a mechanism to ensure that progress on climate action is made while the Climate Action Plan 2021 is being prepared.

“I have recently published the AgClimatise Roadmap which provides the context for the actions proposed by the agriculture and land use sectors for the Interim Annex.

“These actions I believe, demonstrate the sector’s commitment and ambition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as providing a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of other key sectors of the economy, including energy.”

No choice

Minister Hackett noted that achieving a climate-neutral economy by 2050 will not be easy.

“We have to be ambitious with something as important as climate action. We have no choice,” she said.

“I believe that ultimately the agriculture sector and its many stakeholders can only gain by embracing this path.”

The Department is investing significantly in research for the utilisation of such innovations

Minister Heydon emphasised the role of research and technology improvements in supporting this transition.

“The Department is investing significantly in research for the utilisation of such innovations in the Irish context, to ensure that the sector can step up ambition significantly in the post-2030 period.”