The UK is required to reach net zero emissions by 2050 under the Climate Change Act, with five-yearly carbon budgets in place to track progress towards this goal. But earlier this year, the Climate Change Committee, which advises the UK and devolved governments, warned that only a third of the required emissions reductions would be met by 2030 at the current pace.

Wales, with its mix of devolved powers, is exploring how to reach net zero by 2035. The Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge Group was set up in 2023 to explore how it might achieve this. Members, including me, were appointed from industry, non-governmental organisations and academia, with expertise spanning climate change, buildings, energy, transport, finance, education and agriculture.

The final report includes a host of recommendations on how Wales should look to cut carbon emissions across all sectors. Here are five that relate to food and farming.

Farmers often argue they are being unfairly targeted with net zero policies. But agriculture is projected to become Wales’ largest source of emissions by 2035.

It’s not that agricultural emissions are increasing, it’s just that other sectors are either already doing better at reducing emissions, or have plans in place that will reduce........

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