CAP Reforms Will Help the Environment

14 October, 2003

Teagasc analysis shows that full decoupling of EU farm payments from production would have the greatest positive impact on the environment.

According to Trevor Donnellan, one of the Teagasc economists attached to the FAPRI-Ireland policy analysis unit, the reduction in livestock numbers resulting from the complete removal of the link between farm production and payments will substantially reduce the contribution made by agriculture to greenhouse gas emissions from Ireland.

"Greenhouse gases have been shown to contribute to global warming and the 1997 Kyoto protocol agreement places limits on such emissions in countries that are signatories. Economy wide, Ireland is committed to an increase of no more than 13% by 2010 on the 1990 level."

"Ireland is unusual among developed economies because close to a third of its greenhouse gas emissions come from agricultural sources," said Trevor Donnellan.

He said the Teagasc analysis shows that, as a result of full decoupling, emissions of greenhouse gases from agriculture by 2010 will have fallen by 14% below the estimated 1990 level.

"These cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture should ease the pressure to reduce emissions in other sectors of the Irish economy, making it more feasible for Ireland to meet the targets set out in the Kyoto agreement," said Trevor Donnellan.

Click here to download the full report.