Key recommendations:
Reducing emissions:
The Government should strengthen incentives, regulations, monitoring systems and training support to accelerate the achievement of Climate Action Plan 2025 targets, particularly the target of replacing between 80% and 90% of calcium ammonia nitrate fertiliser with protected urea, and set annualised targets for the deployment of methane-reducing manure additives. Afforestation rates are substantially below target. The Government should take urgent action to increase participation in the Forestry Programme 2023–2027 while upholding the principle of ‘the right tree in the right place with the right management’. To protect vital carbon stores, trees must not be planted on deep peat soils, and forests must be managed to withstand climate risks and increase biodiversity benefits. The Government should finalise and publish Phase 2 of the Land Use Review, which is urgently needed to inform strategies for land use that support improved socio-economic, climate, biodiversity, and water and air quality outcomes. These strategies should set out clear timelines, resources and training needs, and implementation responsibilities for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and other relevant agencies.
Prioritising resilience:
The Government should establish a dedicated unit to accelerate the deployment of nature-based solutions for the management of water resources and flood risk at catchment level. Large-scale pilot schemes should be designed with landholder engagement to roll out the deployment of these solutions.
Accelerating diversification:
In the 2026 Climate Action Plan, the Government should set annual targets for the roll-out of specific diversification measures, including for bioenergy generation, organic production systems, expanding tillage, biodiversity restoration, and increasing afforestation and agroforestry, with timely delivery of policies to support these.
