The transition to ‘net zero’
Living Levels is pleased to be a local partner in a major new research project that explores how to achieve net zero in ways that are fair to livestock farmers, called “JUSTLANZ: Just transformation of food-farming systems – reconciling net zero and other land-use ambitions”.
‘Net zero’ is a term that has been hitting the headlines in recent years, with commitments from all the UK governments to achieving it by 2050. It refers to trying to balance greenhouse gas emissions with trapping and storing carbon (carbon sequestration) to combat climate change.
Farming (particularly of livestock) and land use are areas of particular interest as they are both emitters and storers of carbon and have the potential to store more. Healthy soils, grassland, hedgerows and trees are all important in this, as are peatlands and seagrass beds.
Energy generation from power stations burning coal or gas is a major source of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Swapping these power sources to alternative ways of creating electricity, such as wind, water or tidal generation or solar panels on buildings or at the field scale, help to address this – although many of these technologies are controversial when it comes to developing them in practice.
Farming, therefore, is a particular focus for those looking at how to sequester carbon. At the same time, we need our farmers to produce food, to protect and encourage our wildlife and their habitats, and to support thriving communities. How do we do all these things simultaneously?
Making the transition to net zero fair to farmers
The JUSTLANZ research recognises that farmers have an important role in getting the UK to net zero carbon emissions but is concerned that it should be achieved in a fair way.
The project invites livestock farmers in four case study areas of the UK to discuss what farming means to them, how they envision its future and how we can move to a more equitable system that will keep farmers farming. The project will then explore how best to achieve net zero fairly by combining farmers’ views with scientific modelling, ideas from the wider food sector, and the policies and actions that are needed.
We recently welcomed two new members of staff to work on this: José Fajardo, a social researcher, and Jane Ricketts Hein, Farmer Engagement Officer.
Can you help?
If you are engaged in farming on the Levels, or otherwise work in any aspect of the food system (processing, packaging, retailing or catering) and would like to have your say on making net zero fair to farmers and the wider food system – or if you have any queries about the project, please get in touch with José (jose.fajardoescoffie@rspb.org.uk) or Jane (jane.rickettshein@rspb.org.uk).
JUSTLANZ is a research collaboration between the RSPB, James Hutton Institute, Universities of Leeds and Cambridge, Cranfield University, SRUC Innovation, FWAG-SW, the Nature Friendly Farming Network and the Living Levels Landscape Partnership. It is part of the LUNZ programme, co-designed and co-funded by UKRI, Defra, DESNZ, DAERA, Scottish Government & Welsh Government.
