The Committee on Climate Change has released its latest progress report, which it says shows an overall lack of progress in reducing emissions. The report, presented to Parliament on Thursday (30th June) reveals that emissions increased by per cent in 2010, probably as a result of the colder winter months. After adjusting for weather impacts, the committee said emissions were broadly flat. The committee said this is incompatible with the 3 per cent annual average emissions reduction required to meet the first four carbon budgets.

Comparing the report’s findings with previous years, the committe said, “significant acceleration in the pace of emissions reductions is... required. Emissions in 2010 were within the limits of the first carbon budget; however, this was due to the impact that the recession had in 2009, which reduced emissions by 9 per cent.”

Lord Adair Turner, Chair of the Committee on Climate Change, said, “The step change that we have previously highlighted has not yet been achieved. Although we can meet the first carbon budget, this is mainly due to the recession. It is crucial that Government sets out detailed policies to support power sector decarbonisation and energy efficiency in homes and businesses. The successful implementation of these policies will determine our ability to meet carbon budgets.”

Despite the committee members’ clear disappointment over the UK’s failure to meet this year’s emissions targets, farming unions have claimed the results show UK farmers and growers are making an adequate contribution towards meeting climate change targets. The report does show UK agricultural emissions have continued a gradual downward trend, falling by one per cent since. Since 1990, the reduction has been about 21 per cent. The NFU said there is evidence that emissions intensities (GHG emissions per unit of output) are improving.

NFU climate change adviser Ceris Jones said, “The agriculture industry’s Greenhouse Gas Action Plan (GHGAP) is one of a range of initiatives that are already helping farmers produce more while impacting less. The CCC’s initial analysis reinforces the progress being made as it shows that higher levels of productivity in some sectors have been achieved with fewer emissions.”

Ms Jones continued, “Agriculture has a history of engagement in voluntary initiatives and the effect of regulation is often negative. Therefore, the industry is committed to making a success of the GHGAP. We are pleased that the committee has recognised the contribution that on-farm anaerobic digestion could make in reducing emissions and suggests the need for appropriate support.”

The NFU adviser stated that the Greenhouse Gas Action Plan aims to put the agriculture industry in England on a path to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by three million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year from 2018-2022 without compromising domestic production.