On the Farm
Carbon Footprint & Energy
All businesses are being asked to show progress towards Net Zero and the dairy sector is no different. Whilst not every farm or company within the UK’s dairy sector will be able to deliver Net Zero, all parts of the industry must work together to secure a sustainable and low-carbon future.
By focusing on temperature rise, the Dairy Roadmap Climate Ambition can deliver ambitious commitments whilst accounting for the varied milk production systems within the dairy sector and protecting farmer livelihoods, rural communities and landscapes.
Our Climate Ambition works on the principle of dual reporting, with different targets for long- and short-lived GHGs:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2): to achieve at least net-zero emission by 2050. This approach must be evidence-led and driven by emissions reduction.
- Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O): to maintain sustained reduction in emissions and to maintain a positive and improving contribution to tackling climate change from 2025 to 2050, with an ambitious target and time plan determined by data and evidence.
- F-gases: to eliminate where feasible the use of fluorinated gases within the dairy supply chain, shifting towards natural refrigerants with lower global warming potential (GWP).
Although the focus of the Dairy Roadmap Climate Ambition is placed firmly on driving emissions reductions within the sector, it also recognises that on farm carbon sequestration will be essential to the delivery of overall net-zero emissions.
Useful External Resources
CIEL (Now part of the UK Agri-Tech Centre)
CIEL produced an extensive report into how livestock farmers can reduce their emissions:
LEAF
LEAF have collated farmer case studies about nature-based solutions to climate change.
Innovation for Agriculture
IfA developed a guide for farmers to reduce emissions from agriculture.
