Return to nature can fight climate change

| 21/05/2019 | 19 Comments

Cayman News Service(CNS): A new report by the action group Rewilding Britain found that restoring nature on a big scale can help address the global climate emergency. In the report the charity demonstrates how changing the way rural land is managed can be as effective as high-tech solutions for removing carbon from the atmosphere. The activists estimate that six million hectares of regenerated woodland, peatland and species-rich grasslands could sequester about 47 million tonnes of CO2 per year, more than a tenth of current UK greenhouse gas emissions.

A quarter of Britain’s land could be restored to nature, making a significant contribution towards cutting the nation’s carbon emissions to zero, the report reveals. The group said that wildlife would benefit, farmers would not lose money and food production need not fall.

“We must radically change the way we manage our land, sea and other natural assets if the UK is to meet its legally-binding climate targets and stop the ongoing loss of our biodiversity,” the authors wrote.

They noted limitations of reducing carbon emissions to keep the heating of the planet below 1.5˚C. “Large amounts of carbon also need to be removed from the atmosphere.”

Nature does a really good job of that, and the report states that rewilding and other natural climate solutions could provide over a third of the greenhouse gas mitigation required globally between now and 2030.

Michael Gove, Britain’s environment minister, has said he favours natural solutions to the climate crisis and huge losses of wildlife.

In recent weeks there has been an emergence of a “green spring” in Britain with the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations, David Attenborough’s latest documentary (“Our Planet” on Netflix) and teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg‘s visit to the UK.

Demonstrating the country’s growing awareness of climate change, there have been declarations of climate emergency across the country, including by the UK parliament.

Rebecca Wrigley, Chief Executive of Rewilding Britain, said the charity is calling for more public debate around how the British countryside is managed in the future.

“Our report demonstrates how land use change with nature at its heart can play a major role in our efforts to meet our targets and address climate breakdown. We want the government to use the increasing sense of urgency as an opportunity to radically review how land is managed in the UK,” she said.

“We need to listen to people directly affected and work constructively to avoid the kind of polarisation we’ve seen triggered by Brexit. We must come together to address the threat to us all,” Wrigley added.

Rewilding and Climate Breakdown – a report by Rewilding Britain

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Category: Land Habitat, Science & Nature, UK, World News

Comments (19)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    shoot them Maycow,s!!! lol

  2. Anonymous says:

    Maybe we could stop raising cows! What a novel idea thst would be.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yes and no, we need to go back to sustainable farming. Not mass meat farms. The meat isn’t that good for you and it’s not good for the environment. Only by grass fed organic. Kirks has a good selection in its freezer. Expensive, but worth it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      What’s your beef?

  3. Anonymous says:

    10c for a piece of crap paper bag at Hurleys today. Last time I shop there. At least now I have something to start my trash fires in the backyard with I suppose.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Excellent. Your behavior is changing because of consequences. Maybe now you can make the next connection to benefit the planet, as soon, other supermarkets will follow suit.

      Here’s a suggestion… use one of the sturdier, reusable bags. Think of all the 10c you’ll save when you’re forced to choose.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Trash fires? Hope you know what is too toxic to burn? Also, where do you live so I know where to never buy.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I just fill my pockets with the free plastic vegetable bags on the way by and use them instead.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    but compass says cayman is too small to make a difference!…….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
    discussing planet environmental issues with caymanians is an excercise in futility….

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Cayman is to small to make any difference like urnating in the sea to raise sea levels

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Trees are the best way to capture carbon, each one plant one. Remember how much cooler it was in the good old days when there were many more trees and less asphalt and air conditioners. Have you ever walked in the woods and felt that real relaxing feeling that comes over you? That is because you are breathing in the oxygen that the trees are breathing out. You certainly do not get that from being inside the house with the thermostat turned down low. That is actually artificial cooling, nothing relaxing about it.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Man, some Caymanians are like the guy on the Titanic who doesn’t believe the ships sinking because his feet are still dry.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    the evidence is right in front of us on global warming.yet greed will keep humanity on downhill track to destruction….

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  9. Rick says:

    The article is based on assumptions that are patently false but it appears that we have accepted these assumptions and moved to solutions to non-existent or poorly defined problems. It appears CNS is being an advocate and not journalistic. Of course if you have a position on a matter, the proper thing to do is to admit it and then present arguments in support of your position. But please do not present arguments based on false assumptions as fact or news.

    CNS: We also have a position on the Earth. It’s not flat.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Great idea! But what are we going to do about the 50 million tonnes of methane the Amazon river alone produces?

    https://www.scidev.net/global/biodiversity/news/amazon-trees-are-major-source-of-methane-emissions.html

    You know cow farts are killing the earth due to methane emissions. Maybe we should pave it over with concrete?

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