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UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
Changes to land use needed to deliver UK net zero emissions
The UK government must confront the transformation in land use across the UK in order to become a net zero economy by 2050, according to a new report: Land use: Policies for a Net Zero UK, published by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) in its first ever in-depth advice on agricultural policies.
In 2017, land use – including agriculture, forestry and peatland – accounted for 12% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions. By 2050, with the right support, farmers and land managers can reduce these emissions by almost two-thirds. This transition is necessary for net zero and could create net benefits for the UK, says the CCC.
Published at a time of significant change, as the UK leaves the European Union and the Common Agricultural Policy, the report presents a range of options to drive emissions reductions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The CCC’s analysis shows that emissions from UK land use can be reduced by 64%, to around 21 MtCO2e by 2050, without producing less food in the UK or increasing imports.
There are five objectives for new policy:
- Increase tree planting – increasing UK forestry cover from 13% to at least 17% by 2050 by planting around 30,000 hectares (90–120mn trees) of woodland each year.
- Encourage low carbon farming practices – such as controlledrelease fertilisers, improving livestock health and slurry acidification.
- Restore peatlands – restoring at least half of upland peat and a quarter of lowland peat.
- Encourage bioenergy crops – expanding UK energy crops to around 23,000 hectares each year.
- Reduce food waste and consumption of the most carbonintensive foods – reduce food by 20% and the consumption of beef, lamb and dairy by at least 20% per person.
News Item details
Journal title: Energy World
Countries: UK -
Organisation: Committee on Climate Change
Subjects: Policy and Governance, Land use, Net zero
