The report expresses the Committee’s disappointment and concern about the UK government’s failure on climate action and to act decisively in response to the energy crisis. It highlights that the UK has lost its clear global climate leadership while game-changing interventions from the US and Europe, which will turbocharge growth of renewables, are leaving the UK behind.
This is compounded by the government’s support for the Cumbrian coal mine and the development of new oil and gas fields which go against the Committee’s advice. The CCC calls on the government to act urgently to “correct the failures of the past year – it cannot wait until the next General Election”.
Missed opportunities
According to the report, the government is said not to have a coherent, strategic approach to agriculture and land use.
One of the Committee’s key messages is that the lack of clarity on policy and funding is hampering uptake and confidence in new schemes.
“It has been frustrating to see the multiple missed opportunities from government to accelerate the net-zero transition, with several measures having been delayed or slowed this year - such as the Biomass Strategy, and net zero being embedded and rewarded within ELMs," said NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw.
“British farmers are working towards net zero, yet many of the NFU’s key policy asks to support farmers on this journey are not yet available.”
NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw
“British farmers are working towards net zero, yet many of the NFU’s key policy asks to support farmers on this journey are not yet available. We must have more clarity on Defra’s commitment to set out how farmers will be supported to understand their emission sources through greenhouse gas (GHG) audits and take further actions to decarbonise their businesses.”
In addition, the CCC also reinforces how UK trade policy has to guard against risks of carbon leakage from trade in agricultural products, and also highlights the need to do more to encourage healthier diets.
Responding to the report, Tom said: “While we appreciate the Climate Change Committee’s acknowledgement of improved resource use efficiency and productivity, its continued reliance on reducing livestock numbers to mitigate GHG emissions and to release land to store more carbon is disappointing.
“British farmers have worked hard to produce some of the most sustainable and climate friendly livestock and dairy systems in the world, greenhouse gas emissions from UK beef are less than half the global average, and we are striving to go further.
“We remain fully engaged with Defra’s ministers and officials on this crucial topic and we look forward to reviewing its Land Use Framework proposals due to be published later this year.”
The NFU's new resilience plans, launched at the NFU Conference 2023, map out sector board priorities and asks of government to support climate-friendly agriculture and improve business resilience. Read our sector plans.
