Climate change and energy to top table is positive move says NFU

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Friday, 03, Oct 2008 12:00

The creation of the new Energy and Climate Change department in Gordon Brown's government reshuffle today, with Ed Miliband as head of the new portfolio, is a step in the right direction says the NFU.

NFU President Peter Kendall said: “We are pleased to see Government has emphasised the importance of climate change by creating a seat at the Cabinet table. Finally, policies on climate change and energy will be united under the same department.

“This move is entirely in line with the NFU’s work in this area. Agriculture and horticulture are at the frontline of climate change and its impacts. Farmers and growers are already changing the way that they do things, like using water more efficiently and growing new crops. This echoes the position of the cross-industry Climate Change Task Force where agriculture is seen as offering part of the solution to a major public problem.”

In its recent response to the consultation on the Renewable Energy Strategy, the NFU highlighted climate change and renewable energy policy could be turned into real economic opportunities for rural diversification and job creation. “Farmers and growers are interested in a diversity of bioenergy options such as transport biofuels, wood, straw and energy crops for electricity and heat, and anaerobic digestion, but agricultural buildings and land are also well-suited for the capture of solar energy, wind power and ground source heat”, said Mr Kendall. “We believe that every farmer and grower should have the opportunity to export renewable energy services.”

The NFU has also called for a sense of urgency in addressing climate change and renewable energy. “Our members can make a real contribution to the green energy revolution while maintaining our traditional role in food production as well as the delivery of other environmental and land management services, added Mr Kendall.

“We wish Ed Miliband the best of luck in his role and look forward to working with him to deliver food security and energy security as the climate changes.”

Notes to editors:

For more information on Farming Futures click here

The climate change task force report Part of the Solution is available here

NFU response to the Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform’s consultation on the Renewable Energy Strategy is available here

The NFU has a vision of 1000 farm-based anaerobic digester (biogas) plants and at least 100 larger waste-linked anaerobic digester facilities by 2020.

Every day, British farmers supply 31 million pints of milk, 19.5 million eggs and 11.6 million loaves of bread while taking care of 500,000km of hedgerows and 105,000km of stone walls.

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