Climate Action: Agriculture and Bioeconomy
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
Agriculture is a key area of the Climate Action Plan 2021 and actions and targets are set out in the Plan aimed at reducing emissions from this sector by between 22% and 30% by 2030.
These include:
Actions recently completed under previous Climate Action Plans include:
For more information on the progress Ireland has made to date, please see the Climate Action Plan Progress Reports.
Agriculture was responsible for 37.1% of Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.
The main sources of emissions come from methane emitted by cattle and sheep, fertilisers, manures, animal faeces and urine and diesel for agricultural machinery.
Actions outlined in the Climate Action Plan 2021 to support Ireland’s bioeconomy include:
Actions recently completed under previous Climate Action Plans include:
For more information on the progress Ireland has made to date, please see the Climate Action Plan Progress Reports.
The bioeconomy is the production of renewable biological resources and converting it into food, feed, bio-based products and bio-energy.
It includes agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food and pulp and paper production, as well as parts of chemical, biotechnological and energy industries.
The bioeconomy plays an important role in helping to reduce emissions. For example its bio-based products can be used as a substitute for fossil-based feedstock or to store carbon.
The sector has strong innovation potential and can support Ireland's transition to a more integrated sustainable, low carbon economy.
The State offers a number of supports to landowners to plant new forest or support existing forests. Teagasc provides the following grants:
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