Bioland criticizes Klöckner's tricks for climate protection
Bioland criticizes the 10-point plan presented last week by Federal Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner for achieving the climate goals in the field of agriculture as inadequate and nicely calculated. “The package of measures that Minister Klöckner presented yesterday is based on unrealistic assumptions and the minimum values of the calculated greenhouse gas savings of the individual measures that are far too low. It circumvents the central task of converting to a circular economy, which is only possible with area-based animal husbandry. So the climate targets for 2030 in the field of agriculture will not be achieved ”, says Jan Plagge, President of Bioland. By 2030, the agriculture sector in the source category of the same name must achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 11 to 14 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents compared to 2016.
From Klöckner's 10-point plan, only the first five measures count towards the agriculture source category, the other measures are assigned to the land use source category, land use change. If the lower and thus realistic values of these five measures are added together, the result is only an emission reduction of 5,5 million t of CO2 equivalents. "For the climate target of agriculture, Klöckner's package of measures shows a massive underfunding of 5,5 million t CO2 equivalents compared to the minimum target of the required 11 million t CO2," criticizes Gerald Wehde, director of agricultural policy at Bioland and adds: "Only with one Consistent conversion to a circular economy is possible. To do this, it is essential to reduce the number of animals. Minister Klöckner, however, categorically ruled out this option. "
Instead of finally initiating the reconstruction measures in the direction of circular economy, which have long been demanded by science, Julia Klöckner is using the climate protection debate to further promote industrial animal husbandry, according to Bioland. Klöckner wants to massively promote the construction of slurry storage and processing plants as well as biogas plants, although a strategy to reduce animal populations is long overdue. “A lot of concrete does not change the causes of the nutrient surpluses and the intensive husbandry of the animals. What has long been on the agenda in the Netherlands, for example, is once again being ignored in Germany. Without a circular economy, we will fail to solve our climate crisis. Just like coal policy, agricultural policy has been hiding the facts for too long - that only makes the necessary restructuring more expensive and even more painful for all of us. In view of the threatened second lawsuit by the EU Commission for violating the Nitrate Directive and the binding EU requirements for reducing ammonia emissions, this is completely the wrong approach, ”says Wehde. Klöckner's approach is irresponsible for Plagge: “It has been clear for decades that too much liquid manure and thus nitrate ends up in our groundwater, that animal populations are far too high and that Germany is missing important EU environmental targets year after year. We all pay double or triple the price for this. For the environmental damage with additional taxpayers' money, for the expense of the groundwater treatment and additionally for the upcoming EU penalties. "
With their 10-point plan, Klöckner is digging deep into their bag of tricks
Trick 1: Measure 1 shows a very wide range of emission reductions by lowering nitrogen surpluses from 1,9 to 7,9 million t CO2. In particular, the effect of the fertilizer ordinance and efficient slurry application should lead to this. Klöckner is thus increasing its upper reduction value compared to previous ones Publications (3,5 million t) by 125 percent. It is questionable on what basis the ministry continuously changes its calculation bases. According to Bioland, the current fertilizer ordinance can only be expected to save a maximum of two million tons of CO2. Instead of fine-tuning, realistic measures are needed to reduce nitrogen surpluses. Here, too, the most important lever is the significant reduction in livestock numbers towards tying up land, as already practiced by organic farms.
Trick 2: The Ministry wants to save an additional 2 to 2,4 million tons of CO2 by increasing the fermentation of farm manure in biogas plants. Klöckner's assumptions are also exaggerated, would devour millions of additional funds and manifest industrial animal husbandry. Transporting liquid manure over hundreds of kilometers to the existing biogas plants cannot be the point of exercise.
Trick 3: Klöckner speaks in yesterday press release of target attainment in 2050, thereby ignoring the federal government's climate protection plan. There, target achievement is also planned for the agriculture sector by 2030.
The positive is:
In Klöckner's package of measures, Bioland welcomes the fact that the minister sees the expansion of organic farming as an important measure to achieve the climate goals. “Here we expect more support from the federal government in achieving the goal of converting 20 percent of the agricultural area to organic farming by 2030. It is currently around 9 percent, ”said Plagge. In addition, Bioland expressly supports the measure to build up humus and thus to bind CO2 in soils, which must become a central component of climate-positive agriculture.
A study by the Öko-Institut on behalf of the Climate Alliance Germany shows how the climate goals can be realistically achieved. According to the study, reducing the consumption of dairy and meat products by a quarter would result in annual savings of 7,8 million tons of CO2. The study is here visible.
To the Bioland Association
Bioland is the most important association for organic farming in Germany. 7.700 farmers, gardeners, beekeepers and winegrowers operate according to the Bioland guidelines. In addition, there are more than 1.000 partners in manufacturing and trade such as bakeries, dairies, butchers and gastronomy. Together, they form a community of values for the benefit of people and the environment.
