IT’S January 2025, we’re at the halfway point in the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and are hurtling towards climate goals that still feel unrealistically far away.
The delay in progress from previous decades means that fast action must be taken within a few short years to safeguard our futures.
The Northern Ireland Climate Change Act (2022) set a target for “at least a 48 per cent reduction in net emissions by 2030″ and “net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050″.
Alongside this is a commitment to achieve this goal via a ‘just transition’, defined as “one which includes decent work for all, social inclusion and the eradication of poverty".
Currently, agriculture is the leading cause of habitat loss in Northern Ireland, and a third of harmful greenhouse gas emissions come from the sector.
Currently, agriculture is the leading cause of habitat loss in Northern Ireland, and a third of harmful greenhouse gas emissions come from the sector
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However, there is hope that nature-friendly farming could become a solution to the many environmental issues we face.
But how do we achieve a ‘just transition? Dr Jonny Hanson, research fellow and ARK assistant survey manager at Queen’s University Belfast told me, “Achieving a Just Transition is one of the most important tasks facing Northern Ireland in the coming years and decades.
“It requires leadership and investment across all sectors of society. We should not shy away from acknowledging that achieving a ‘just transition’ will not be easy and that there will be conflicts between interests and ideas.
“But the extraordinary achievements of the Northern Irish peace process provide a powerful precedent that we can address conflicts and challenges together.”
You can read Jonny and Anne Marie Gray’s inspiring policy briefing here.
This year began promisingly with Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir stating: “I have decided to introduce the new Farm Sustainability Transition Payment [FSTP].”
The FSTP’s desired four outcomes are of increased productivity, better environmental sustainability, improved long-term resilience and an effective functioning supply chain.
The implementation and delivery of this scheme are key to meeting the targets set out in the forthcoming Climate Action Plan for the NI Agriculture Sector.
More: Lack of focus on nature and farming solutions at climate summit, say campaigners
On January 9, Muir took these plans to the Oxford Real Farming Conference, where he stated that “the objective is to transition to a more sustainable farming sector by seeking to implement policies and strategies that benefit our climate and environment.”
This sounds promising - but is it? In reading the policy, my greenwashing sensors were flashing red. For example, a proposed carbon-reduction solution is to reduce the age at which a cow first calves and goes to slaughter instead of reducing beef production.
Alongside issues of animal welfare, this ‘solution’ doesn’t consider the required change in land use to meet global biodiversity targets, whereby 30 per cent of land and sea is protected for nature by 2030.
It’s surprising that financial support to help farms diversify their production isn’t on the table, considering that in Northern Ireland, most meat produced is exported and most fruit and veg is imported, meaning the current food system doesn’t actually serve the north’s consumption needs, but more its economic model.
The current economic model resembles a pyramid of mostly small farms underneath large co-operatives, underneath supermarkets and international companies, which overwhelmingly benefits those on top financially.
In fact, farmers currently get so little for their output, that 70 to 80 per cent of income has to come from government subsidies - that doesn’t sound very ‘just’.
So, surely there’s an exciting opportunity to change our agricultural output and system, to truly benefit Northern Irish farmers, consumers and nature?
Within the policy, farmers are also encouraged to “adopt low emission practices" by changing how, when and which fertilisers are used, without any clear targets to reduce the polluting substances.
There are hopeful clauses that highlight planting of new hedgerows, creating riparian buffer strips and establishing farmland trees, but uncertainty around how the roll-out and uptake of this framework will take place.
RSPB NI’s sustainable agriculture policy officer, Mark McCormick, shared his thoughts:
“With 75 per cent of land in Northern Ireland used for agriculture, we know we cannot restore nature without the help of farmers.
“Nature-friendly farming is a key but currently, it is severely under-resourced here. That’s why we need greater investment to meet the scale of need, and why we are calling for a new Agriculture Act that focuses on sustainable land management with public money for delivering public goods, as well as well-resourced agri-environment packages from DAERA.”
My vision is of a scheme where we farm agroecologically - in harmony with nature - where forests are restored, land is re-wetted, farms diversify, plant-based food production is increased, animal agriculture is reduced, and supply chains are localised.
While I knew the chances of getting that were slim, I thought our government’s proposals would be slightly more ambitious.
The Republic of Ireland’s new €1.5 billion flagship Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) was formed to address biodiversity decline through changes in practices while delivering income support for farmers.
Reading through the policy, it’s far more ambitious in its nature and climate targets, and sees farmers being better supported to make these bigger changes.
While it isn’t perfect, perhaps it’s what the north should also be striving for.
Over the next few years of crucial change, we must ask ourselves: is a ‘just transition’ one that benefits business as usual, or does it pave the way for a new system where industry, people and planet are equally considered?
