The coalition government on Thursday announced binding sectoral targets to cut overall carbon emissions by 51% by 2030, a daunting challenge for a country that has consistently missed climate targets, making it one of the world’s highest emitters per capita. Eamon Ryan, environment secretary and leader of Ireland’s Green party, called the announcement “extremely important”. The most contested area was agriculture. It causes around 37% of Ireland’s emissions, but farming groups have lobbied hard for special treatment, citing its traditional role in society and food security. The 25% target was a compromise between farmers who hoped for 22% and environmentalists and representatives of other sectors who wanted agriculture to reduce emissions by 30%. Cuts to agriculture will be incentivized and voluntary rather than mandatory, but farmers will face pressure to cull cattle. Tim Callinan, the leader of the Irish Farmers Union (IFA), said the aim was the survival of the government, not the survival of rural Ireland. “This is a potentially devastating blow to Irish agriculture and the rural economy,” he said. The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association called the deal a “sell-out” that would make many farms unviable. However, other sectors face higher targets, partly to offset agriculture. Transport must reduce emissions by 50%, commercial and public buildings by 40% and industry by 35%. Business groups have accused the government – which includes many members of the rural parliament from the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael parties – of pandering to the farming lobby. “Agriculture accounts for 1% of our national income. Even in peripheral areas, the job creation effect is marginal. Agriculture is, however, a large part of our CO2 emissions,” said Shane Conneely, of business organization Chambers Ireland. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST Oisín Coghlan, director of Friends of the Earth Ireland, said agriculture should have faced higher targets, but that the priority now was transformative action. “The time for talking is finally over, it’s time for a relentless focus now on delivery, delivery, delivery.” Irish authorities admit they are lagging behind on the climate. Instead of falling emissions last year, they rose by 4.7%, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Ireland also missed its legally binding commitment to cut emissions by 20% by 2020 and has struggled to limit the cut peat. Skeptics doubt that efforts to get more people to use public transport, put 1 million electric cars on the road and improve homes will reach the required scale. Even if all sectors meet their targets, Ireland will fall short of the 51% reduction required by law. Twenty-six million tons of carbon reductions are “not allocated” pending further land use studies. Authorities hope technological advances will help close the gap.
