What is the role of the consumer in delivering net zero and how can changes be achieved equitably? What are the potential market responses to such changes and how do we avoid unintended consequences?
Background
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.
Next steps
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Source
This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
Topics
Related UKRI funded projects
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Understanding Socio-Economics in the Adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Practices
Governments around the world and supply chain companies are looking to set ambitious GHG emission reduction goals that include farmers. It is recognised that other factors than those related to environment issues influen...
Funded by: NERC
Why might this be relevant?
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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Project Vana: Driving Net Zero through Supply Chains with Corporate Land Holdings
Project Vana will connect UK companies with a net zero marketplace built on the UK's fertile corporate open data infrastructure and mature regulatory framework. In conjunction with existing supply chain transparency legi...
Funded by: Innovate UK
Why might this be relevant?
Project Vana focuses on driving net zero through supply chains and corporate land holdings, directly addressing the role of the consumer in delivering net zero.
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The "To Zero Fifty" Greenhouse Gas Accounting Living Lab
Describe the research in simple terms in a way that could be publicised to a general audience. This will be made publicly available, and Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the content is suitable for publicatio...
Funded by: BBSRC
Why might this be relevant?
The 'To Zero Fifty' Greenhouse Gas Accounting Living Lab aims to develop a scalable framework for measuring GHG emissions and carbon sequestration, aligning with the goal of achieving net zero by 2050.