CLA says Committee on Climate Change too cautious on biofuels

The CLA is deeply disappointed the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has failed to recognise the role of biogas in transport issues in its report, Climate Resilient Infrastructure: Preparing for a Changing Climate Today.

The report, published on 9 May, stated that the tension between use of land for growth of biofuels, feedstocks and food called for a cautious approach to using biofuels for transport. However, the CLA argued these sustainability concerns are groundless and biogas could play a major role in helping to meet UK climate change targets.

CLA President William Worsley said: We are deeply disappointed the CCC has again failed to recognise the role for biogas in transport.  Failure to act on replacing dirty diesel with gas in public transport has a detrimental effect on climate change and air quality. Farmers and land managers can help mitigate climate change by enabling biogas to displace fossil fuels.

The CLA backed the CCCs proposals that new commitments on funding for renewable heat investment will be required from 2015 onwards, and to make training and accreditation a priority to reduce installation costs.

Mr Worsley said: The CLA has long argued for a funding stream raised by taxing those who use fossil fuels to produce heat.

He added: CLA members have concerns about the availability and costs of renewable heat installation by Microgeneration Scheme Certificated installers. We believe any qualified plumber should be allowed to instal the apparatus, provided it has been  certificated by an accredited party to qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive.

• Download the Committee on Climate Changes report Climate Resilient Infrastructure: Preparing for a Changing Climate Today here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/climate-resilient-infrastructure-full.pdf
• The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has around 35,000 members.
• As a membership organisation, the CLA supports landowners by advising them on how best to protect and maximise their asset: the land. We are dedicated to supporting landowners and their businesses. Our success is measured by how effectively we do that. We have a team of experts in London and a regional structure able to give local support.
• We have been looking after the interests of our members, as well as promoting the positive aspects of land ownership, land management and rural business activities for the past 100 years. CLA members own or manage approximately half the rural land in England and Wales, and the resulting expertise puts us in a unique position to formulate policies and lobby effectively.
• The CLA Game Fair, the world’s leading country sport event, is at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire from Friday, 22 July – Sunday, 24 July 2011. For more information and to request press passes please visit: http://www.gamefair.co.uk/trade-sponsors-press/press.html