We need to reframe land-use change in the UK, move away from net zero as the central goal, and talk to farmers more about their livelihoods.

These are some of the key messages from Chris Stark, one of the country’s best known and most senior civil servants working on climate policy. Chris was chief executive of the Climate Change Committee when it produced the seminal report Land Use: Policies for a Net Zero UK, before briefly leading the Carbon Trust. He is now heading up the government’s ‘Mission Control’ to transition the energy sector by 2030.

In July, he was our guest on our monthly webinar, where he let us dive into his reflections and frustrations on climate policy in relation to transitioning the UK-agri-food system. These are 8 of his key messages. Read the full briefing here, and watch the webinar here.
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1. We need clarity on land use change – and a more exciting, collective discussion about what it could look like
2. We need to reframe land use change and move away from net zero as the central goal. A broader ‘mission’ could help
3. We need to rethink the incentives given to farmers, including around livestock
4. We need a better discussion about dietary change, to acknowledge meat consumption is reducing, and help farmers prepare for this
5. The space between government and the private sector is currently under-used as a driver for policy change
6. Improving food security could be a better vehicle for discussing changes with farmers – but farming groups need to be involved
7. We need examples of best practice farming, but at scale
8. Change and policy needs to be built from the ground up​

Chris had not begun his new role in government when the webinar was recorded. The views expressed by him were personal opinions and not intended to indicate the approach of the new government.