Friday saw the release of a report detailing the UK’s emissions and savings from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF).   The detailed statistical report, released by a number of government departments throughout the UK, covers the twenty year period between 1990 and 2010.

The report, which looked at croplands, grasslands wetlands, forests and settlements, revealed that Scotland is a net sink of greenhouse gases from LULUCF activities and its capacity to remove greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere increased over the period studied. Although England was shown to be a net source of greenhouse gasses, the level of emissions decreased significantly between 1990 and 2010, following the introduction of emissions targets. Wales was also shown to be a small sink for greenhouse gasses.

Although cropland was shown to be the largest source of emissions, emissions from cropland fell over the period. Wetlands were shown to be net emitters of emissions, due largely to peat extraction. Forests were identified as the UK’s major carbon sink, with large forests in Scotland in particular contributing to capture of greenhouse gasses.  

The report, “Emissions and removals of greenhouse gases from Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern, Ireland: 1990 – 2010”, was produced by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology for the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Department of Environment. It is available here.

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