UK farming's 'net zero' climate target in doubt

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on the BBC or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The UK's National Farmers' Union (NFU) has expressed doubts about meeting its 2040 net-zero target for farming, blaming insufficient investment in climate-friendly measures by the previous government
• The NFU maintains the goal but admits it's now “tough to hit.” Experts stress that without radical changes in agriculture, the sector will struggle to decarbonize

🔭 The context: Farming accounts for around 12% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with key sources being nitrous oxide from fertilizers and methane from livestock
• The government’s post-Brexit farm payments system aims to reduce emissions, but underfunding has slowed progress
• The NFU set its net-zero goal a decade ahead of the UK’s national 2050 target

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Achieving net-zero farming is vital for the UK's broader climate goals, as agriculture is a major emitter
• Delayed progress could hinder the country’s overall efforts to mitigate climate change and protect biodiversity

⏭️ What's next: The NFU calls for increased agricultural funding to support farmers in achieving net zero while also ensuring food security and nature conservation
• The government faces pressure to avoid cutting the farming budget, which could undermine future emissions reductions

💬 One quote: “Net zero is never going to be an ambition farmers can deliver alone,” said NFU president Tom Bradshaw

📈 One stat: Between 1990 and 2022, UK agricultural emissions dropped—nitrous oxide by 23% and methane by 15%

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