Climate change Bill hailed

Nov 20 2006 By The Journal

The introduction of a Climate Change Bill in the Queen's Speech has been hailed as a great opportunity for UK agriculture to help deliver a more sustainable UK society and economy.

Speaking after the announcement NFU President Peter Kendall said the Bill was a great opportunity for British farmers to help reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions.

He also highlighted it as a positive step in encouraging renewable bioenergy and gaining a consensus for a joined up Government delivery of the Energy White paper in March 2007 and heeding the warnings of the Stern Report.

Mr Kendall said: "There is a great opportunity for British agriculture to engage and help achieve Government climate change targets, through the production of bioenergy from crops, woodland and wastes.

"What is needed, however, is positive and tangible signals to ensure there is confidence to invest in these sectors. British agriculture can play a crucial role in reducing UK emissions - but it needs real Government commitment to maximise these potential benefits."

Support for renewables and renewable infrastructure, low carbon technologies and recognition of the importance of a secure energy supply was also acknowledged by the NFU.

But it called for a balance of energy resources in which bioenergy is not overlooked in the race for wind, solar, hydrogen and nuclear options.

In addition the NFU believes the announcement of further development of emission trading schemes offers great potential for agriculture in the long term.

NFU North-West's combinable crops board chairman, Richard Reeves, would like to see North-West growers combat carbon emissions by producing biomass. However, there are very few farmers in the North-West producing biomass and just as few people using it. Mr Reeves is striving to change this.

He has invited Russell Toothill, who is well known in farming circles for his work with renewable energy crops, to speak at an open meeting of the North-West Combinable Crops Board on November 23 at 7pm.

The meeting will be held at the NFU Regional Office in Skelmersdale. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Mr Toothill, who is part of Renewable Energy Growers, said he wanted to see representatives from local authorities, schools and hospitals, who want to do their bit in the fight against climate change, as well as farmers at the meeting.