Delivering the UK’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) across farming and land use

A coalition of agroecological, regenerative farming and conservation organisations have come together to put forward the case for truly sustainable farming to be central to the UK’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in tackling the climate and nature emergency. Humanity is facing climate, nature and health emergencies, and the upcoming UN Climate Convention in Glasgow in November (COP26) provides a final opportunity to be bold and act with the urgency that the situation requires.

This group is calling on governments across the UK to take an integrated approach to the future of land use and food production, ensuring that all competing pressures are considered in the round. We want to see Land use policies that see climate change, nature and human health as interconnected issues; carbon offsetting measure (afforestation or bioenergy) that are balanced with biodiversity targets and which consider the carbon potential of well-managed soils; and a push for dietary change that includes greater recognition of the varying impacts of different farming methods, particularly the negative externalities of intensive production.

We are calling on these three priorities to be integrated into the UK’s strategies and plans around tackling the climate and nature emergency, with Government taking a joined-up approach.