To limit future warming requires rapid reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and achieving net zero by 2050, as required by UK legislation. Climate mitigation is led in government by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). But Defra is responsible for efforts to reduce GHG emissions from four sectors: agriculture, waste and wastewater, land-use, and fluorinated gases (F-gases). Defra also has responsibility to promote forestry, which acts as a carbon sink. Together, the four Defra sectors represent 15% of the total net UK GHGs, with agriculture being the biggest contributor (about 10% of UK emissions).
Defra has research interests in reduction of emissions, the removal of GHG from the atmosphere, and in understanding the impacts of mitigation activities on other environmental outcomes.
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This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
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Funded by: NERC
Lead research organisation: University of Aberdeen
The project focuses on understanding the economic impact of practices that reduce GHG emissions in the agricultural sector, which is one of the sectors responsible for a significant portion of UK emissions.
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Funded by: SPF
Lead research organisation: University of Oxford
The project aims to study and accelerate progress in greenhouse gas removal (GGR) to achieve net zero emissions, which aligns with the goal of achieving net zero by 2050.
The agri-food system, producing 23% of UK emissions, must play a key role in the UK's transition to net zero by 2050, and through leadership in innovation can support change globally. Our Network+ will build on existing ...
Funded by: EPSRC
Lead research organisation: University of the West of England
The project focuses on developing a shared agenda and research plans to transform the agri-food system towards net zero, which partially addresses the question but does not specifically mention the role of the consumer or potential market responses.