The Seventh Carbon Budget Land Use Emission Pathways (UKCEH)

1. Outline

The CCC commissioned UKCEH to update the Sixth Carbon Budget land use modelling, to reflect greenhouse gas (GHG) emission estimates for the Seventh Carbon Budget advice through to 2050. These updates reflect changes and updates to the UK GHG Inventory since the Sixth Carbon Budget land pathway development, and adjustments to land-based measures.

This report reflects the views of UKCEH and does not represent the views of the CCC.

2. Key messages

• The land-based mitigation options examined are: woodland creation and improved management of existing forests, establishment of perennial energy crops, restoration of degraded peatlands and sustainable management of cropland on organic soil, and increased areas of agroforestry and hedgerows.
• Under the Balanced Pathway, these measures deliver emissions savings for the UK of around 8 MtCO₂e in 2040, which is the middle of the Seventh Carbon Budget period, rapidly increasing to around 25 MtCO₂e in 2050.