FIE says ‘any hope that new afforestation can miraculously be counted to meet short-term carbon budgets is misplaced’
Ireland’s forestry is a growing source of greenhouse gas emissions rather than acting as a carbon sink, according to a report produced for the Department of Agriculture.
The finding contradicts the Government’s position that “Irish forests are a significant sink and carbon store”, Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) said in response to the findings, which have been submitted to the European Commission.
The emissions imbalance could leave forest owners subject to carbon tax payment demands when they had envisaged they could claim carbon credits, said FIE spokesman Tony Lowes.
The report, entitled FRL 2021-2015: Ireland, a National Forestry Accounting Plan, has been reviewed extensively by the European Commission, and is due to be adopted by delegated Act by the end of October.
Under EU legislation member states must ensure greenhouse gas emissions from land use, land-use change or forestry are balanced by at least an equivalent removal of CO2 from the atmosphere in the period 2021 to 2030.
https://www-irishtimes-com.cdn.ampp...mitter-of-greenhouse-gases-1.4394707?mode=amp
Ireland’s forestry is a growing source of greenhouse gas emissions rather than acting as a carbon sink, according to a report produced for the Department of Agriculture.
The finding contradicts the Government’s position that “Irish forests are a significant sink and carbon store”, Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) said in response to the findings, which have been submitted to the European Commission.
The emissions imbalance could leave forest owners subject to carbon tax payment demands when they had envisaged they could claim carbon credits, said FIE spokesman Tony Lowes.
The report, entitled FRL 2021-2015: Ireland, a National Forestry Accounting Plan, has been reviewed extensively by the European Commission, and is due to be adopted by delegated Act by the end of October.
Under EU legislation member states must ensure greenhouse gas emissions from land use, land-use change or forestry are balanced by at least an equivalent removal of CO2 from the atmosphere in the period 2021 to 2030.
https://www-irishtimes-com.cdn.ampp...mitter-of-greenhouse-gases-1.4394707?mode=amp