Farmers and rural communities will be rewarded for their climate action under the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has said.
Speaking at the Irish Rural Link conference in Athlone on Monday Commissioner Hogan said rural communities are intensely aware of the risks posed by climate change and they are champing at the bit to play their part.
"In the climate debate rural areas are increasingly viewed as holding massive potential to provide solutions to the climate crisis. This is both correct and overdue," he said.
The Commissioner said that the reality is that we need to do more, and we need to do it faster.
He said that the Commission intends to “aim higher” in relation to the contribution of European farming and rural areas to the EU climate and environment agenda.
"Our citizens want the CAP and other policies to do more for the climate and environment and they support the European level as the right place to do it.
"Politicians understand this: just look at how central the climate question has been in this year's local and European elections," he said.
CAP
Commissioner Hogan said that he believes the Commission's proposals for the future CAP and Horizon Europe represent the best hope for the future of our rural areas: they acknowledge that the environmental and climate challenges remain significant and they see farmers and rural communities as being part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
"Our CAP proposal puts on an equal footing the economic, social, environmental and climate goals of the policy, outlining nine specific objectives, three of which address the environmental and climate challenges.
"Each national CAP strategic plan will be a roadmap to develop a coherent forward-looking strategy for “climate and agriculture”, both on adaptation and mitigation.
"Crucially, farmers and rural communities will be rewarded for their climate action. A variety of mandatory and voluntary schemes and funds will be in place. The proper incentives need to be on offer if they are to do this work on behalf of society as a whole," he said.
Commissioner Hogan urged everyone to familiarise themselves with the new CAP delivery model, and to make sure their voice is heard when the time comes to designing the Irish CAP strategic plan: "get in on the ground floor and make absolutely certain that it reflects your needs and wants," he said.
Green architecture
On the green architecture of the next CAP he said that there would be three layers to it.
"The first layer, a new system of 'conditionality' will link income support for farmers to the application of environment- and climate-friendly farming practices.
"The next layer consists of 'eco-schemes' funded under Pillar One. These eco-schemes must address the environment and climate objectives in ways that complement the other relevant tools available.
"The third main layer of the new "green architecture" consists of payments under second rural development pillar. With these payments, various kinds of interventions can be supported, including particular practices in farming or forestry, and so-called agri-environment-climate schemes.
"Both eco-schemes and rural development could be used to pay Irish farmers for going an extra mile on the climate agenda and for implementing climate friendly measures such as:
Precision farming optimising the application of nutrients to plants. Nitrification inhibitors to reduce the release of nitrous oxide when mineral fertiliser or manure is applied.Preserving organic soils."In addition, member states can continue to be able to use their rural development budgets to fund a range of other types of support, which are very relevant for the environment and climate - such as funding for knowledge transfer, eco-friendly investments, innovation and co-operation," he said.
Rural communities
The Commissioner said that rural people must not be treated as second class citizens when it comes to connectivity.
"How can we expect rural areas to provide the solutions without giving them the right tools?
"It is essential that Ireland implements a rural broadband plan as quickly as possible in the interest of our economic competitiveness and in order to deliver a better quality of life for people in rural areas," he said.
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Farmers and rural communities will be rewarded for their climate action under the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has said.
Speaking at the Irish Rural Link conference in Athlone on Monday Commissioner Hogan said rural communities are intensely aware of the risks posed by climate change and they are champing at the bit to play their part.
"In the climate debate rural areas are increasingly viewed as holding massive potential to provide solutions to the climate crisis. This is both correct and overdue," he said.
The Commissioner said that the reality is that we need to do more, and we need to do it faster.
He said that the Commission intends to “aim higher” in relation to the contribution of European farming and rural areas to the EU climate and environment agenda.
"Our citizens want the CAP and other policies to do more for the climate and environment and they support the European level as the right place to do it.
"Politicians understand this: just look at how central the climate question has been in this year's local and European elections," he said.
CAP
Commissioner Hogan said that he believes the Commission's proposals for the future CAP and Horizon Europe represent the best hope for the future of our rural areas: they acknowledge that the environmental and climate challenges remain significant and they see farmers and rural communities as being part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
"Our CAP proposal puts on an equal footing the economic, social, environmental and climate goals of the policy, outlining nine specific objectives, three of which address the environmental and climate challenges.
"Each national CAP strategic plan will be a roadmap to develop a coherent forward-looking strategy for “climate and agriculture”, both on adaptation and mitigation.
"Crucially, farmers and rural communities will be rewarded for their climate action. A variety of mandatory and voluntary schemes and funds will be in place. The proper incentives need to be on offer if they are to do this work on behalf of society as a whole," he said.
Commissioner Hogan urged everyone to familiarise themselves with the new CAP delivery model, and to make sure their voice is heard when the time comes to designing the Irish CAP strategic plan: "get in on the ground floor and make absolutely certain that it reflects your needs and wants," he said.
Green architecture
On the green architecture of the next CAP he said that there would be three layers to it.
"The first layer, a new system of 'conditionality' will link income support for farmers to the application of environment- and climate-friendly farming practices.
"The next layer consists of 'eco-schemes' funded under Pillar One. These eco-schemes must address the environment and climate objectives in ways that complement the other relevant tools available.
"The third main layer of the new "green architecture" consists of payments under second rural development pillar. With these payments, various kinds of interventions can be supported, including particular practices in farming or forestry, and so-called agri-environment-climate schemes.
"Both eco-schemes and rural development could be used to pay Irish farmers for going an extra mile on the climate agenda and for implementing climate friendly measures such as:
Precision farming optimising the application of nutrients to plants. Nitrification inhibitors to reduce the release of nitrous oxide when mineral fertiliser or manure is applied.Preserving organic soils."In addition, member states can continue to be able to use their rural development budgets to fund a range of other types of support, which are very relevant for the environment and climate - such as funding for knowledge transfer, eco-friendly investments, innovation and co-operation," he said.
Rural communities
The Commissioner said that rural people must not be treated as second class citizens when it comes to connectivity.
"How can we expect rural areas to provide the solutions without giving them the right tools?
"It is essential that Ireland implements a rural broadband plan as quickly as possible in the interest of our economic competitiveness and in order to deliver a better quality of life for people in rural areas," he said.
Read more
Green farming: impact of Green Party surge
You don’t need to wipe out farming to have a green agenda – Coveney
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