NSA share essential messages as world climate spotlight comes to UK

A landscape lacking lambs, a countryside without cows, and the loss of Britain’s pastoral heritage would be the stark consequence of an inadequately analysed approach to managing climate change.

That is the focus of NSA’s ‘Countdown to COP’ communications, ahead of representatives from more than 190 countries descending on Glasgow in November for the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

With a global increase in urgency around climate change, and Covid-19 preventing last year’s annual conference of the parties (COP), there is perhaps more expectation around this summit than most years.

Agriculture will be in the spotlight, alongside transport, industry, electricity/heat generation and other major emission contributors. But given the broad remit of the conference, the risk will be that sweeping generalisations are made about global agriculture with no consideration that UK farming, and the sheep sector particularly, is already making a positive contribution. 

NSA is committed to ensuring sheep farming has a profile and started communications back in August, primarily aimed at policymakers and the general public, but also including NSA Breakfast Club topics for farmers and the wider sheep sector.

The theme of the communications, complemented by case studies of UK sheep farmers, is that a more holistic approach to sustainability is required if we are to meet environment, economic and social goals. Over-simplifying the debate by forcing through policies on changes to land use (in the belief it will reduce carbon emissions) will have adverse effects, including the erosion of rural communities and supermarket shelves stocked with imported meat produced to standards neither permitted or desired in the UK.

NSA is encouraging policymakers not to think of climate change or nature recovery in isolation, but to consider these things in tandem with the protection of natural resources, heritage, rural economies, the health and wellbeing of people, and sustainable and local food production and consumption.

In addition, NSA is discouraging sweeping statements about global agriculture, instead emphasising the unique position of the UK sheep sector as a predominately grass-based system, and highlighting the often-overlooked difference between methane and carbon dioxide.

As a charitable organisation funded only by members’ subscriptions this important work aiming to raise awareness and improve understanding can only continue through the ongoing support of NSA’s sheep farming members in the UK. Every membership subscription funds this work and strengthens our mandate to speak out on behalf of the industry. To find out how you can support this vital work please visit the NSA website at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/membership