Share this on social media
Too many sheep in Wales to aim for net zero emissions, Climate Change Committee says
(The Independent, 1 May 2019) Reduction in beef and lamb pasture could release millions of hectares of grassland which could be replanted with forest to soak up CO2.
The UK government’s official advisor on climate change is to recommend the country reaches net zero on fossil fuel emissions by 2050, but will say Wales should not have to meet the full target due to its sheep farming industry.
The Climate Change Committee proposals would mean the UK would have the toughest legally binding targets of any leading economy.
The report, which will be released on 2 May, will suggest Scotland can reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, but says by 2050, Wales should target reductions of 95 per cent, according to Bloomberg who said they had spoken to sources familiar with the plans.
Last year the CCC said the number of sheep and cattle in the UK should be reduced by between a fifth and a half as they are the species contributing the most emissions.
The advice said that a 20-50 per cent reduction in beef and lamb pasture could release 3-7 million hectares of grassland from the current 12 million hectares in the UK.
The Independent, 1 May 2019: Too many sheep in Wales to aim for net zero emissions, Climate Change Committee says
