Following calls from the farming sector for government support with measuring and reducing emissions, the Net Zero Growth Plan and Nature Markets Framework have been released.
The announcement follows a call for evidence on the role of robust monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions on farms. Low confidence across the industry and a low uptake in the use of tools currently available has been down to an inconsistency in results. It is hoped that a joined-up approach from the government will help the sector reduce emissions across the supply chain – including from livestock, nutrient management and farm equipment.
Mark Spencer, farming minister, said: “As well as producing food for our tables, farmers and land managers can play a key role in helping the UK achieve net zero.
“We’ve been listening to the farming sector, and the measures announced today will not only help them to calculate their carbon footprint, but also open up new financial opportunities, such as combining private commercial opportunities with our new farming schemes support.”
Opportunities are available for farmers to access private sector funding for delivering ecologically supportive programmes and the Nature Markets Framework is projected to support this. The framework will support nature markets to grow in a way that makes them fair, effective and accessible to farmers.
The measures are expected to complement the existing government support in place to help the agricultural sector to reach net zero, including support through Environmental Land Management schemes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from farms.