Brussels, 23/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU agriculture ministers, meeting on Thursday 22 October, debated the contribution agriculture can make to mitigating climate change.
Along with forestry, agriculture is the only economic sector which emits and reduces greenhouse gases, stated Fernand Etgen, president in office of the Agriculture Council. He argued that the agricultural sector must “tackle a double challenge: that of reducing greenhouse gases while at the same time ensuring sustainable food security”. He said that agriculture “will be part of the solution” found at COP 21. Several ministers, Etgen said, had emphasised that priority should be given to a number of existing measures, such as the processing of manure or building facilities for biogas production. “The circular economy has significant potential”, he stated. The Council underlined that funding of research must continue.
During the Council debate, three experts spoke on: - greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural system; - options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions; - examples of cooperation in that area.
The debate formed part of the preparation for the conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) which will take place in Paris from 30 November to 11 December 2015. The outcome of the discussion will be conveyed to the Environment Council.
At the Council meeting, the French delegation presented the “4 for 1000” initiative (4% is the annual increase in the carbon stored in the soil that would end the current rise in CO2 in the atmosphere), which was backed by several agriculture ministers (including those of Ireland, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Greece, Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Spain, Belgium, Hungary, Portugal and Poland).
Just as many (those of Germany, Poland, Spain, Romania and Bulgaria among them) also pointed out that the common agricultural policy (CAP) contained measures to limit greenhouse gases. Some countries, such as Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Belgium, United Kingdom and Italy, argued that tackling global warming must not harm business competitiveness. Belgium, for example, said that the EU's dependence on inputs had to be reduced.
Italy stressed the development of bio-methanisation and the recycling of urban waste. Austria highlighted the importance of forestry and agriculture in reducing greenhouse gases and developing biogas. The issue of transport was also broached (planting forests to compensate for lorries). Greece spoke of its extensive livestock farming and the importance of sharing best practice. The Netherlands argued that sustainable farming in Africa should also be a goal to be achieved. Germany spoke, inter alia, of recycling waste and of the EU research programme. Romania spoke of foresting and re-foresting, the recycling of organic waste, the importance of research (finding plant species better adapted to climate change, less polluting technologies). Denmark shared its experiences on manure spreading banning (introduction into the soil).
A note from the Luxembourg Presidency noted that agriculture is at one and the same time a cause of greenhouse gas emissions and a sink, thanks to the carbon storage in the organic fraction of the soil and in the biomass. In 2012, the agriculture sector produced 469 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, or 10.3% of all EU greenhouse gas emissions. According to the note, the agriculture sector can be a key player in reducing, either directly or indirectly, greenhouse gas emissions, for example, by helping to lessen emissions from the sector's waste through the bio-methanisation of organic waste. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)