Climate change: more incentives needed for landowners

A report published this week by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has suggested that Scotland has lost its lead over the rest of the UK on tackling climate change.

The John Muir Trust – which aims to protect and restore wild places in all four nations of the UK - has called for more regulation and incentives for Scotland’s landowners to contribute to climate targets.

Mike Daniels, the Trust’s Director of Policy, said:

“These figures make challenging reading for all of us as we urgently need to move towards net zero. For far too long Scotland’s land has been cleared of native woodland, overgrazed, drained and burnt, releasing vast amounts of carbon emissions.”

“While Scotland has led the way in decarbonisation of the electricity sector and made a major contribution to wider UK renewables targets, the CCC report highlights that in other areas Scotland is lagging behind.

"The government must shift its focus to concentrate on policies that ensure landowners play their part in cutting emissions. Only by restoring peatlands and woodlands over extensive areas, soaking up carbon and boosting biodiversity in the process, can we hope to hit net zero targets on time.

"That’s why we need to talk about the responsibilities of landowners in managing their land for biodiversity and carbon.”

The Trust is advocating for a world-leading Carbon Emissions Land Tax to ensure large landowners change how they manage their land - increasing Scotland’s biodiversity and soaking up carbon in the process.

“Instead of focusing on continual expansion of renewable electricity we now need to double down on deer over-population; ramp up peatland and woodland restoration and explore new incentives and regulations that make sure large landowners play their part,” says Mike Daniels.

• Find out more about our proposed Carbon Emissions Land Tax.