Govt should 'urgently prioritise' climate friendly farming methods

The Soil Association said agriculture is "still the elephant in the room" when it comes to action on climate change
The Soil Association said agriculture is "still the elephant in the room" when it comes to action on climate change

The government should "urgently prioritise" climate friendly farming methods in its new agriculture policy, according to a leading environmental charity.

The comments from the Soil Association follows the government's Climate Minister Claire Perry announcing the UK will consider tightening its emissions targets in line with the Paris Agreement’s most ambitious temperature limits.

Speaking at a side event of a British Commonwealth leaders summit in London, Ms Perry said the independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC) would be instructed to advise on how the UK’s long-term climate goals could meet the aspirational 1.5C limit agreed in Paris.

The Soil Association has welcomed the government's announcement, but it says the farming industry must have a "renewed focus" on taking action on climate change.

Achieving ‘net zero emissions’ from farming by around 2050 would be in line with the historic Paris Climate Agreement, signed by the UK and nearly 200 other countries, according to the charity.

This requires rapid cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors – including food and agriculture – alongside bolder efforts to maximise the potential of carbon sinks such as woodlands, peatlands and soils.

'Elephant in the room'

Laura Mackenzie, Head of Policy at the Soil Association said agriculture is "still the elephant in the room when it comes to action on climate change, with no progress on reducing UK agricultural emissions over the past six years."

"Government must urgently prioritise climate friendly farming methods in its new agriculture policy," Ms Mackenzie added.

"That should include incentives for soil carbon storage, more trees on farms, and a major increase in organic farming as one effective way to minimise nitrogen fertiliser use, which is a major contributor to agricultural emissions."

She said the UK must adopt a "wider transformation" of its food system, including dietary change towards "less but better quality meat consumption".