Resolution Foundation report on farming and net zero: comment

“The evidence is clear that climate change is having a significant impact on food prices and farm incomes, with £361 added to the average household shop across 2022 and 2023 [1] and extreme weather driving billions of pounds of losses for UK arable farmers since 2020 [2]. These climate-shocks exceed the costs of reaching net zero that the Resolution Foundation identifies and are likely to rise until we stabilise the climate, with reaching net zero emissions the only way to do that.

“We’ve just seen the second worst harvest ever in England [3], after the hottest spring and summer on record left crops parched in the fields. It’s no wonder that four fifths of farmers are worried about the impact of climate change on their ability to make a living [4]. The Resolution Foundation call to better support farmers to reach net zero is a timely reminder of just what’s at stake if we don’t double down on reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving our climate out of balance and costing the public and our farmers. Environmental schemes can play a key role here, providing vital income whilst building resilience to climate impacts through healthier soils, bigger hedges and more trees and woods, all of which reduce emissions at the same time.”

The Resolution Foundation report will be launched at an event on Tuesday 3rd February at 9.30am [5].