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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| 'Cut lamb and beef' to fight climate change | 'Cut lamb and beef' to fight climate change |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The number of sheep and cattle in the UK should be reduced by between a fifth and a half to help combat climate change, a report says. | The number of sheep and cattle in the UK should be reduced by between a fifth and a half to help combat climate change, a report says. |
| The shift is needed, the government’s advisory Committee on Climate Change (CCC) maintains, because beef and lamb produce most farm greenhouse gases. | The shift is needed, the government’s advisory Committee on Climate Change (CCC) maintains, because beef and lamb produce most farm greenhouse gases. |
| The report foresees an increase in the number of pigs and chickens because these produce less methane. | The report foresees an increase in the number of pigs and chickens because these produce less methane. |
| The farm union NFU said it supported more diverse land use. | |
| But environmentalists say the recommendations are too timid. | |
| The CCC says a 20-50% reduction in beef and lamb pasture could release 3-7m hectares of grassland from the current 12m hectares in the UK. | The CCC says a 20-50% reduction in beef and lamb pasture could release 3-7m hectares of grassland from the current 12m hectares in the UK. |
| The un-needed grassland could instead grow forests and biofuels that would help to soak up CO2. | The un-needed grassland could instead grow forests and biofuels that would help to soak up CO2. |
| The committee’s advice on producing less red meat is less radical than NHS Eatwell guidelines on healthy eating, which proposes a reduction in consumption of 89% for beef and 63% for lamb, and a 20% decline in dairy products. | The committee’s advice on producing less red meat is less radical than NHS Eatwell guidelines on healthy eating, which proposes a reduction in consumption of 89% for beef and 63% for lamb, and a 20% decline in dairy products. |
| BBC News understands that the committee have deliberately taken a more conservative position in order to minimise confrontation with the farmers’ union, the NFU. | BBC News understands that the committee have deliberately taken a more conservative position in order to minimise confrontation with the farmers’ union, the NFU. |
| Turning farmland into forests | Turning farmland into forests |
| The chief executive of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), Chris Stark, told BBC News: “Climate change is going to change the way the UK looks – and we also have to alter the way we use land so we don’t make climate change worse. | The chief executive of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), Chris Stark, told BBC News: “Climate change is going to change the way the UK looks – and we also have to alter the way we use land so we don’t make climate change worse. |
| “Brexit offers the government the opportunity to introduce fundamentally new policies that will reward farmers for producing less greenhouse gases and for capturing carbon emissions.” | “Brexit offers the government the opportunity to introduce fundamentally new policies that will reward farmers for producing less greenhouse gases and for capturing carbon emissions.” |
| Carbon is stored in plants and in the soil, so the CCC recommends that farm subsidies should raise the proportion of UK land under forestry from 14% to 19%, and restore peat bogs. | Carbon is stored in plants and in the soil, so the CCC recommends that farm subsidies should raise the proportion of UK land under forestry from 14% to 19%, and restore peat bogs. |
| NFU deputy president Guy Smith said: "We are glad to see many of our policy asks reflected. It is very encouraging to see such a focus on multi-purpose land use, diversification and energy crops as they offer opportunities for farmers to increase productivity and resilience in their businesses, while playing a greater role in meeting climate and environmental objectives. | |
| "A focus on driving productivity will enable farm businesses to become more resilient and profitable which will help them meet food production needs alongside environmental ambitions." | |
| What do environmentalists say? | What do environmentalists say? |
| The environmental campaigner George Monbiot told BBC News: “This is a timid and inadequate report. Roughly four million hectares of uplands is used for sheep, yet sheep account for just 1.2% of our diet. | The environmental campaigner George Monbiot told BBC News: “This is a timid and inadequate report. Roughly four million hectares of uplands is used for sheep, yet sheep account for just 1.2% of our diet. |
| “Allowing trees to return to a significant portion on this land has a far greater potential for carbon reduction than the puny measures proposed in this report.” | “Allowing trees to return to a significant portion on this land has a far greater potential for carbon reduction than the puny measures proposed in this report.” |
| Friends of the Earth's Guy Shrubsole said: "We need to reforest far more of Britain than the government's current puny tree-planting targets - going beyond what this report calls for and doubling forest cover to lock-up carbon and help prevent floods." | Friends of the Earth's Guy Shrubsole said: "We need to reforest far more of Britain than the government's current puny tree-planting targets - going beyond what this report calls for and doubling forest cover to lock-up carbon and help prevent floods." |
| There may be controversy, too, over the committee’s recommendation for the UK to grow more trees and plants to burn for energy – known as biomass. | There may be controversy, too, over the committee’s recommendation for the UK to grow more trees and plants to burn for energy – known as biomass. |
| A separate CCC report says biomass can play an important role in cutting emissions in the UK – but only if it’s produced in a way that doesn’t harm the environment. It could only be used after 2030 if carbon capture equipment were fitted. | A separate CCC report says biomass can play an important role in cutting emissions in the UK – but only if it’s produced in a way that doesn’t harm the environment. It could only be used after 2030 if carbon capture equipment were fitted. |
| How climate change is already changing the landscape | How climate change is already changing the landscape |
| The CCC says climate change is already changing the landscape. it says as UK temperatures have risen by 0.8°C over the last 40 years, farmers have made the impacts worse. | The CCC says climate change is already changing the landscape. it says as UK temperatures have risen by 0.8°C over the last 40 years, farmers have made the impacts worse. |
| Loss of soil fertility, plant and animal species are now apparent, it says, mainly driven by intensive food production. | Loss of soil fertility, plant and animal species are now apparent, it says, mainly driven by intensive food production. |
| Projections suggest more warming, sea level rise, greater risks from flooding and drought. | Projections suggest more warming, sea level rise, greater risks from flooding and drought. |
| "Despite some opportunities,” the report says,"The negative impacts on our soils, water, vegetation and wildlife are likely to be significant.” | "Despite some opportunities,” the report says,"The negative impacts on our soils, water, vegetation and wildlife are likely to be significant.” |
| Follow Roger on Twitter. | Follow Roger on Twitter. |