Carbon

Greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane are contributing to climate change. In October 2008, Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, announced that the UK will set a 2050 emissions reduction target of 80% in the Climate Change Bill.

Approximately one third of the UK's CO₂ emissions are due to transport. Reducing vehicle CO₂ emissions can be acheieved in a number of ways including travelling less, improving vehicle performance, using public transport and by using biofuels.

The built environment is responsible for nearly half of the UK’s CO₂ emissions, with domestic property being responsible for over a quarter. Government targets aim to ensure all new homes are zero carbon by 2016.

Our areas of expertise include:

·         Carbon footprinting

·         Carbon calculators such as Carbon Accounting for Land Managers (CALM)

·         Maintaining and increasing soil carbon storage on-farm

·         The use of composts to increase soil carbon and soil organic matter

We have been working with the National Trust to develop a method for using a range of measures to maintain and increase carbon stores on the farm. These have included reducing cultivations, application of organic amendments, land use change (e.g. to woodland or energy crops) and the use of Environmental Stewardship and Campaign for the Farmed Environment options such as grass buffer strips, beetle banks and overwinter stubbles.

For useful links click here.