1 2


Tack lin ge


climate chan


CLIMATE change has always been with us, whether as a result of changes in the Earth’s rotation and orbit, geological events or the impacts of species. However, there is scientific consensus that the changes over recent centuries made by man have created a major impact in a relatively short time span. Urgent action is essential to reduce our impact


on climate if we are to avoid cataclysmic effects ‐ not least for farming. Like many industries, agriculture is rising to the


challenge by reducing its own contributions to climate change, but it must do so whilst ensuring that ecosystems which rely on agriculture are not undermined, and that food continues to be produced in the UK rather than production being displaced to countries with larger environmental and carbon footprints. The FUW believes agriculture has been unfairly


represented in the media when it comes to climate change,withmany articles calling for a big reduction in livestock numbers and meat consumption. But these often fail to place agriculture’s contribution to climate change in context compared with other industries, use emission figures for production systems not used in the UK, and fail to take into account the environmental benefits of Welsh beef and sheep production as well as the impact farming has on the wider economy and communities. And worst of all, such stories can be driven not by a concern about climate change, but by an anti‐livestock farming or meat‐eating agenda. Now we are focussed on putting right themisconceptions that exist around agriculture and climate change. Reducing livestock numbers has already had a


disastrous impact on upland species, and misguided pressures to reduce numbers further would have a disastrous impact not only on the industry butwithin ourwider rural society ‐ and in the worst case scenario policies would merely cripple our own industries while people continue to consume products from countries which have standards which fall well below our own. Future policy in Wales needs to take into


account the Well‐being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2 0 1 5 which seeks to improve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well‐being ofWales, rather than focusing on naive ‘quick‐fix’ actions to tackle climate change which undermine an industry which is already taking action on many levels. Farmers are heavily dependent on climate and


obviously aware of and concerned over predicted changeswhich could have amajor impact on both food production and the environment. Reducing the impact of climate change has been


a priority for the World, UK and Wales for many years, as can be seen by the 1 9 9 7 Kyoto Protocol, the UK Climate Change Act UK andWales specific targets, all of which have led to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in many areas. In 2 0 1 6 , the agricultural sector contributed 1 0


per cent of total UK emissions, or 4 6 .5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2 e) a 1 6 per cent decrease since the 5 5 .3 MtCO2 e produced in 1 9 9 0 . The three main gases released from agriculture are methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide, representing 5 6 per cent, 3 1 per cent and 1 2 per cent of all UK emissions respectively. Since 1 9 9 0 there has been a 1 6 per cent reduction in GHG emissions from the UK agricultural sector. The story is similar for Wales with the agricultural sector contributing 5 .7 MtCO₂e in 2 0 1 6 , a 1 2 per cent decrease from the 6 .5 MtCO₂e emitted in 1 9 9 0 . The infographic to the right highlights the good


work that farmers have done and are doing, and the FUW continues to highlight to politicians and the general public the positive impact that agriculture can have on tackling climate change, preserving and protecting the environment and ensuring a prosperous wider society.


g Agriculture’s e


29% reducti fuel used in agricultu


CL IMATE CHANGE


Y TIR


Welsh non-agricultural sources produ gases per hectare than Welsh agricult


UK GHG Emissions 27% Transport


17% Business


26% Energy supply 15% Residential


2% Other


{


56% Methane


e.g. enteric


fermentation and manure management


31%


Nitrous oxide e.g. fertiliser


12% Carbon dioxide


e.g. agricultural combustion & agro-chemical use


16% reduction in GHG emissions since 1990 in agriculture


10% Agriculture


4% Waste


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