Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) landowners and (b) land-owning organisations on the steps those groups can take to help (i) tackle climate change and (ii) achieve the net zero emissions target.

On 27 June 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to set a legally binding target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from across the UK economy by 2050. Nature based solutions and the way we use and manage our land will have a critical role to play in enabling us to meet this target.

My officials have regular discussions with farmers, landowners and land owning organisations on the role they can play – including in helping to co-design our future environmental land management schemes which will be crucial in rewarding farmers and landowners for actions that benefit the environment and reduce or sequester emissions. In a recent speech for the Country Land and Business Association on 2 December 2021, the Secretary of State outlined further details for his plans in this area.

Environment Secretary speech at CLA Conference 2 December 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)