NFU Scotland has welcomed the Scottish Government move to reject advice from the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) and commit instead to a climate strategy that reflects the realities of Scottish land use, food production and rural life.
The Union had urged Ministers to reject the CCC’s narrow proposals that feature livestock reduction as a key element of the pathway to net zero and instead commit to a realistic, fully funded plan that supports food production, nature and rural livelihoods in tandem.
The move followed new greenhouse gas statistics showing agriculture emissions in Scotland have already fallen by 13.6% since 1990, alongside publication of the CCC’s latest recommendations on UK and Scottish carbon budgets.
NFU Scotland Vice President Duncan Macalister said:
“Farmers are already cutting emissions and increasing efficiencies - not by reducing output, but by improving how we produce food.
“It’s about net zero, not zero emissions,” said Macalister.
“Grazing livestock are part of the solution, not the problem - especially when managed well in pasture-based systems like ours.
“The government now needs to say clearly: how will future support reflect that reality and where does livestock fit in a climate-smart farming future?”
Earlier this week, NFU Scotland met with the Climate Change Committee to discuss how farming can contribute to climate goals without undermining food production, biodiversity or rural livelihoods. The Union has urged the
Scottish Government to:
- Set out a clear policy framework that recognises the essential role of livestock in Scotland’s land use and food systems.
- Ensure future agricultural support enables low-emission production, rather than penalising farmers for producing food.
- Reject any advice that undermines food security or destabilises rural areas, especially in upland and marginal communities
NFU Scotland will continue pressing for a just, practical transition that supports farmers to lead, not carry the burden.