Ireland South MEP Seán Kelly.
IRELAND South MEP Seán Kelly (FG) has been appointed to crucial positions in the European Parliament aimed at driving the energy transition and addressing climate change.
Kelly has been chosen as the lead negotiator for the European Peoples Party (EPP), the largest political group in the Parliament, on the Carbon Removal Certification Framework within the Industry and Energy Committee and the Net Zero Industry Act in the Trade Committee.
The Carbon Removal Certification Framework proposal seeks to establish an effective certification framework for the verification of carbon removal and sequestration from the atmosphere, fostering greater transparency and quality.
Said MEP Kelly: “This framework should be designed in a way to incentivize businesses, including those in agriculture, forestry, and industry, to capture and store carbon by providing certificates that represent high-quality carbon removal and sequestration.” Certificates of removals can be sold, creating new income opportunities for various industries and farmers.
“There is huge potential for carbon farming in Ireland, which can play a big role in the sector’s decarbonisation while offering new income opportunities for farmers. This of course will require the right regulatory framework and incentives to implement.”
Mr Kelly has been actively involved in the carbon sequestration debate, as demonstrated by his role as the lead author in the Parliament’s Industry and Energy Committee for the Sustainable Carbon Cycles report, which was voted on during the April Plenary session in Strasbourg.
Additionally, Mr Kelly will contribute to the Net Zero Industry Act, which sets a goal for the EU to domestically produce at least 40% of the technology necessary to achieve its climate and energy targets by 2030.
This act aims to expedite permitting processes and improve access to financing for clean technologies. Kelly emphasised the importance of these sectors in meeting the EU’s ambitious target of climate neutrality by 2050.
He continued: “We know we need to make the transition to clean energy, therefore it is vital that we establish a robust regulatory environment for key sectors such as green hydrogen, solar and wind energy technologies, and carbon storage and utilisation. These sectors will play a pivotal role in helping the EU achieve its climate neutrality target by 2050.
“With the energy transition we are essentially transforming our economy. It is clear that we need to have a coordinated effort between EU Member States, especially in relation to mobilising funds, creating Europe-wide academies to accelerate upskilling and reskilling and enabling faster permitting.”
He concluded: “With that being said, being overly protectionist is not in our overarching interest and we should ensure free and open trade links with trustworthy partners across the world.”
