Thread by @Peters_Glen

The UK National Farmers Union is going carbon neutral (net-zero) by 2040.

How is that possible for agriculture? They are going big on CO₂ removal, making up 75% of the reductions...

1/

nfuonline.com/news/latest-ne…

They have three pillar
1. Productivity improvements (11.5MtCO₂e/yr)
2. Farmland carbon storage (9Mt, mainly soil carbon)
3. Bioeconomy (26Mt, 85% is bioenergy with carbon capture & storage)

2/

If they fail on pillar 2 or 3, then they have to do more on 1, or they will have to admit the need for reduced (ruminant) meat consumption...

3/

The focus on BECCS is intriguing
* 22MtCO₂/yr would require more than 20 large BECCS facilities in 20 years, one per year
* Is this 22MtCO₂/yr in excess of what the electricity sector may do (e.g., Drax coal to BECCS)?
* Are farmers going to get into electricity markets?

4/

In one sense the focus on BECCS is good, someone has to take the opportunity. NFU is also very good at highlighting the importance of the land-sector for mitigation.

But, does the NFU have remotely the expertise to follow a major BECCS initiative?

5/

Is the NFU trying to take ownership of UK BECCS, so that it can offset their continued agricultural emissions?

Perhaps other sectors want to offset their emissions too: metals, cement, aviation, etc. Why does agriculture get all the BECCS? You have to share...

6/

Ultimately, it is up to the government set the policies. NFU has a roadmap for net-zero by 2040. The solution is easy, set a cap on net agriculture emissions from today's level linearly to zero in 2040.

The NFU said they can deliver, so let them deliver!

7/7