22/0208
Farmers have been calculating their carbon footprint using
the free on-line calculator at www.cplan.org.uk for
over 6 months now and the feed back is deafening.
They are pleased with the simple, clear format adopted
by CPLAN which has allowed them to understand the current
IPCC methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions
from agriculture and so enter the policy debate. Drew Coulter
of CPLAN explained “We use the internationally accepted
standard methodology (IPCC) to calculate emissions from
agricultural land which has been agreed by over 250 scientists
globally. While this methodology is robust and scientifically
sound at the international level working with farmers,
academic and policy makers has led us to the conclusion
that we need a more detailed approach for farm gate analysis”.
In terms of agriculture IPCC only accept that trees and
soil can lock up carbon. Internationally this simplification
may be justified but at the national scale, where policy
is developed, it is causing a major headache. “DEFRA
officials have told me that they understand concern of
farmers, which are currently not credited with the carbon
they sequestrate in their crops and livestock, but at the
moment they do not have agreed methodology to address this
problem” Jan Coulter commented.
CPLAN have calculated, using farm data sourced in a joint
SAOS/Carbon Trust project, that a 330 ha arable farm in
Scotland will emit 245 tonnes Ceq but will lock up over
600 tonnes Ceq. “Calculating the emissions in this
way allows policymakers to evaluate the true benefits of
farming and helps them make balanced decisions between
food production and managing greenhouse gas reductions” observed
Jan Coulter.
CPLAN are asking all farmers to engage in this debate
as policy is only now being developed by government and
their appointed advisors. CPLAN believe that farmers will
find new and innovative ways of reducing the emissions
of greenhouse gases from their land when they understand
the emission pathways. Farming is having a have a positive
impact on greenhouse gas management rather than the negative
spin currently associated with the farming industry.
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