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media release everyone - Scotland's environment groups campaigning together (500,000 supporters, 26 organisations, ONE voice) Warning - pollution from farming needs tackling too Monday 3 April 2005
Going organic could help reduce climate chaos - say groups Scottish environment groups today called on government to start taking real action to cut climate pollution from farming and to give greater support to organic agriculture. The demands come in a response to a promise by ministers today to "relate" their forthcoming strategy on agriculture to issues such as climate change. [1]
However, the groups warned that much
more will be needed, as farming-related pollution is being underestimated.
A recent study by researchers from
the
Universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen concluded that emissions of one
major
greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide, were 57% higher than previously estimated.
[2] Climate pollution resulting from the massive amounts of energy required
to produce artificial fertilisers is also not being fully taken account
of. The groups say that unless these problems are properly
addressed, then government pledges to cut climate emissions will not
be achieved.
Speaking on behalf of a coalition of 26 Scottish environment groups [3]
campaigning for action to tackle climate change President of Scottish
"Since farming clearly makes a large contribution to climate emissions, government needs to do much more than make its new strategy on agriculture 'relate' to climate change. The need for real action is even more urgent now that it is becoming clear just how much we have been underestimating levels of emissions. Failure to account fully for emissions has resulted in little or no real progress to reduce emissions in this sector.
"To save us all from climate chaos we need politicians to deliver year-on-year cuts in pollution emissions. In addition to taking steps to cut emissions from industry, homes and transport, it is clear that if we were to replace more of the food on our plate with locally-produced, organic produce Scotland could be making major cuts in its climate pollution."
Carey Coombs, Policy Manager of the Soil Association Scotland, said:
"The agriculture sector as a whole has enormous potential for reducing energy use. This must also include addressing the huge energy use involved in artificial fertiliser manufacture. Nitrous oxide, one of the most powerful greenhouse gases is released in enormous quantities from both farm level use, and from the production process.
"Studies have shown that organic agriculture is more
efficient and
less polluting than so-called conventional agriculture. Therefore shifting
more of our farming toward less intensive organic farming methods would
not only be good for the environment but good for our global climate
More information:
ON THE CAMPAIGN:
ON THE SOIL ASSOCIATION and ORGANIC
AGRICULTURE:
NOTES TO EDITORS: [1] According to an Executive today:
"The publication of a Scottish Rural Development
Plan for 2007-2013 will
further address emissions from agriculture...Climate change issues are
central to work we are now doing to develop a Scottish Sustainable
Development Strategy and will relate to the new Strategy for Scottish
Agriculture." [2] Environment Group Research Summary: Scottish agriculture and global
[3] The everyone campaign is an initiative from Scottish
Environment LINK,
the umbrella body for Scotland's environmental organisations. Campaigning
together as the everyone coalition, the groups plan to mobilise their
collective half a million supporters to challenge politicians to step
up
action to cut global climate change. Using the slogan 'cut climate
change,
turn the heat up on your MP' the groups have published a series of
election demands they wish politicians to take action on. The everyone campaign is demanding that politicians come forward with policies that will deliver year-on-year progress toward a cut of at least 20 per cent in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010, and put us on a path to a 60 per cent cut by 2050.
[4] A full briefing on climate change and farming is available from the Soil Association. Carey Coombs, Policy Manager of the Soil Association Scotland (mobile) 07734 330087 or http://www.soilassociationscotland.org/
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