While the EU’s agricultural organisations and cooperatives (Copa-Cogeca) share the objective of achieving carbon neutrality as soon as possible in all sectors, they say they are concerned about how to achieve this very ambitious goal for agriculture and forestry.
With regard to the revision of the current legislation on land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), Copa-Cogeca notes the ambitious target of eliminating 310 million tonnes (t) of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases by 2030.
“Agriculture and forestry need clarity on how the Commission plans to achieve these targets on the ground” according to Copa-Cogeca, which is looking forward to the publication of the EU’s initiative for carbon storage in agricultural soils at the end of the year.
“While the introduction of an EU net greenhouse gas emissions removal target of 310 million t of CO2 in 2030 has the potential to accelerate the adoption of carbon-based agricultural practices, a stronger framework is needed to ensure that no one is left behind in this process”, says the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA ).
Regarding the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Copa-Cogeca says it does not understand why the Commission has excluded agriculture, but included fertilisers. “This unfair double penalty will be unbearable for farmers”, reacted Copa-Cogeca.
The European Coordination Via Campesina said it would have liked to have seen a “real review” of trade agreements and concrete measures to reduce emissions from the agricultural sector. The organisation also called for support for farmers “to phase out pesticides and fertilisers responsible for a large proportion of greenhouse gas emissions”. The proposal on land use, land use change and forestry is also criticised by Via Campesina. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)