UK Climate Change Programme 2006 - JNCC - Defra

92
Agriculture, forestry and land management
years, to improve the inventory of emissions from
agriculture and will continue to invest in research
to improve the overall environmental
performance of different farming systems,
including organic, to improve our understanding
of, and their ability to optimise their contribution
to climate change objectives.
10. In 1990, greenhouse gas emissions from
agriculture, forestry and land management were
18 MtC or about 9 per cent of the UK’s total
greenhouse gas emissions. This includes net
emissions and removals from the land use, land
use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector
estimated to be 0.8 MtC in 1990 (see Annex F for
the breakdown by gas). Annual emissions from
agriculture, forestry and land management are
estimated to have fallen by 22 per cent between
1990 and 2004, and are projected to continue to
fall to 32 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010 3 .
Projections of greenhouse gas emissions from the agriculture, forestry
and land management sector and the estimated effect of additional
quantified measures, MtC
MtC
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
Historical trend
Baseline with measures projections
Additional quantified measures
11. As is clear from the figures, the UK land
management sector’s potential contribution to
addressing climate change arises at least as much
from tackling methane and nitrous oxide as CO 2
.
Opportunities to reduce methane and nitrous
oxide must therefore take a more important place
than previously if this sector is to play its full part
in addressing climate change.
12. Raising awareness of the issues and working with
stakeholders to develop practical and sustainable
options is vital to help land managers play their
part in addressing climate change. There are a
wide range of mitigation and adaptation options
that offer benefits for land managers, the
environment, and wider society.
13. The Government sees it as vital to highlight the
challenges of climate change for land managers
and to provide leadership in developing a policy
framework that will encourage practical action.
The Government set up the Rural Climate Change
Forum 4 (see box) as a high level forum for
discussion, input into policy development, and
communication with land managers on climate
change mitigation and adaptation. The Forum
has discussed practical actions for mitigation,
how best to communicate key messages on
climate change to this sector, and has advised
the Government on the development of this
Programme. It will also have a role in advising
on the most effective ways to deliver this
Programme.
14. To raise awareness in the land management
sector of the risks, responsibilities and
opportunities of climate change, the Government
will put in place a sector specific communications
strategy, as part of the its wider Climate Change
Communications Initiative. The Rural Climate
Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry and land management, MtC
Gas 1990 1995 2000 2004 2010 2015 2020
Carbon dioxide 3.2 2.5 1.9 1.5 0.7 1.3 1.7
Methane 5.9 5.8 5.5 5.2 4.4 4.4 4.4
Nitrous oxide 8.9 8.5 8.0 7.4 7.1 7.1 7.0
Total 18.0 16.8 15.4 14.0 12.3 12.8 13.1
Change from 1990 levels -7.0 -14.7 -22.3 -32.0 -29.1 -27.1
Note: the percentage changes and emission estimates may differ slightly due to rounding.
3 Largely due to reducing livestock numbers and more targeted input use.
4 For more information on the work of the Forum see http://www.defra.gov.ukweb/environment/climatechange/uk/agriculture/rccf