Peatland addition to the UK GHG inventory adds 3.5% to national emissions

February 4, 2021

 

The end of January saw the long awaited, formal inclusion of peatlands in the UK GHG emissions inventory. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) released ‘Planned methodology changes for UK greenhouse gas emissions statistics 1990-2019’.  The report summarises that inclusion of new peatland data increases their contribution to national emissions to 3.5% (as opposed to 2.3% reported in the 1990 baseline). 

 

Impact of methodological changes made this year on our emissions estimates.

Change

Reason for change

Change in

emissions

(MtCO2e)

Impact on national

total from previous

inventory (%)

 

 

1990 baseline

2018

1990 baseline

2018

Wetlands supplement implementation

Reporting peatlands consistent with the IPCC Wetlands Supplement

18.8

16.0

2.3%

3.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The methodology applied is based on the “Implementation of an Emission Inventory for UK Peatlands” (Evans et al. 2017). Emission factors presented in that report have been updated with additional greenhouse gas flux measurements published since 2017 and further refinements made to other assumptions, including on area changes, especially peatland restoration, following further review.


December 2020 saw the release of the Sixth Carbon Budget: the Budget required under the Climate Change Act, provides ministers with advice on the volume of greenhouse gases the UK can emit during the period 2033-2037. To begin to tackle these increased emissions figures within the UK Inventory, the Climate Change Committee set out a recommended pathway for peatlands contribution to a Balanced Net Zero Pathway for the UK:

  • Peatland restoration increases the UK area restored from 25% currently to 58% in 2035 and 79% by 2050, with a further 35% of lowland cropland sustainably managed.
    • All upland peat is restored by 2045 (or stabilised if degradation is too severe to restore to halt carbon losses). 
    • 25% of the area of lowland grassland is rewetted by 2035, rising to half by 2050. 
    • 75% of lowland cropland is either rewetted or sustainably managed by 2050: 
      • A quarter of the area is rewetted to near natural condition (and crop production ceases), and a further 15% is rewetted but conventional crop production switches to paludiculture crops. 
      • Water-table management options are deployed to 35% of the lowland cropland area.
  • All low-productive trees of less than YC8 are removed off peatland by 2030 and all peat extraction sites are restored by 2035. 
  • The above measures deliver annual abatement savings of nearly 6 MtCO2e by 2035 and around 10 MCO2e by 2050. 
  • Current UK peatland emissions are put at 24.5 MtCO2e (we are using Global Warming Potential AR5 for all our results). 

https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/sixth-carbon-budget/

  • Policy recommendations from the January land use report remain valid (e.g. immediate end to rotational burning of peat, end the sale of peat for use in the horticulture sector)


 

Salmon leaping out of the water. Image credit Stephen Barlow
New species showcase - Atlantic salmonThe latest in our series of species showcases celebrates the Atlantic salmon and the role that…
Exterior view of Virtual Peatland Pavilion showing four large domes in an urban landscape
New Virtual Peatland Pavilion launched for COP29To raise awareness of the global importance of peatlands during COP29, the latest pavilion has been…
Cover image for 'The most important plant in the world' showing the film's title in yellow text over a background of Sphagnum moss
Specially commissioned film celebrates 'The most important plant in the world'The IUCN UK Peatland Programme has commissioned the first in a series of short films, celebrating…
Cumbrian tarn - large body of water with emergent vegetation and hills in the distance. Image credit Steve Hewert.
Launch of the Peatland Code Version 2.1The IUCN UK Peatland Programme has launched a new update to the Peatland Code, which helps to boost…
Flat peatland landscape on fire with large plumes of smoke. Image credit Paul Turner
New brief highlights the importance of peatland rewetting for wildfire resilienceThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme's latest publication explores recent evidence from the UK and North…
Painting of a river in spate: Peter Graham 1866, 'A spate in the highlands'
Call for proposals for Water Research Seminar SeriesThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme and the Environment Agency are delighted to announce a series of…
'Work in progress' sign with a digger on it next to two photographs of children drawing on large sheets of paper
The Power of the Peat Bogs! How pupils turned their environmental education into a song Primary school pupils who have engaged with a project to restore ancient peatland and traditional…
SWPP award
South West Peatland Partnership awarded gold by Global Good AwardsThe South West Peatland Partnership won a Gold award at the Global Good Awards for their work…
Exterior view of Virtual Peatland Pavilion showing four large domes in a desert landscape
Seeking content for the COP29 Virtual Peatland PavilionThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme and Global Peatlands Initiative are seeking new content for an…
UK Peatland Strategy
New report celebrates UK peatland restoration – but climate and nature targets still at riskAnalysis reveals 250,000 hectares of peatland restoration activity over 30 years – way short of the…
Peatland at Inshriach, Allt a’ Mharcaidh
Largest ever gathering of UK peatland experts to celebrate ‘Peatlands, People and Nature’ in the Cairngorms National ParkAviemore in the Cairngorms National Park is to play host to the UK’s largest gathering of peatland…
Landscape of mountains and forest
View the full programme for #PeatConf24 and book your tickets now!The full programme for the IUCN UK Peatland Programme 2024 conference ‘Peatlands, People and Nature…