The new Agriculture & Land Use Alliance (ALA) will host the first ever Countryside COP event to showcase and inspire net zero activity in rural communities and agri-food supply chains ahead of COP26 in November

The week of events, taking place between the 11-15 October 2021, will bring together different people, organisations, science, and knowledge to demonstrate all that the industry has achieved so far, and how it can do even more to maximise the contribution of agriculture and land use to a net zero economy.

Rural and agri-food organisations are invited to take part and host their own seminars as part of the Countryside COP to tell the story of their successes, challenges, and opportunities for climate mitigation and net zero action.

The Alliance has collectively said:

“All of us have a part to play on the road to net zero, and we are stronger when working together. The Countryside COP is an opportunity for everyone with an interest in the countryside and rural economy to come together and to speak out about the real and tangible outcomes of our journey to net zero.

“The journey to net zero is complex but there is no shortage of professionalism and knowledge within the rural community, and all who support food and farming. This is the time to utilise and invest in this expertise so we can help contribute to the government’s net zero target, all while continuing to produce fantastic, affordable food for people at home and abroad.

“This is a chance to really showcase the important role of UK agriculture and climate-friendly food production in reaching our national net zero ambitions, and how we can all contribute to a positive future for our planet.”

No COP would be complete without addressing the impacts of climate change. Therefore, the Countryside COP will also host events which focus on resilience and explore the synergies between adaptation and mitigation.

The Countryside COP event team will be collating event outcomes and recommendations for policy-makers, researchers, investors, the supply chain and the whole rural economy.

Beyond the Countryside COP, the growing number of bodies under the new ALA banner will be the driving force for the continued collaboration that is needed to turn knowledge and confidence into practice. 

The ALA’s work will focus on the direction of travel set out by the Climate Change Committee in its sixth carbon budget report, adopting a practicable, evidence-based, and economically and socially just approach that is based on land sharing, not land sparing. It will work to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of ‘fostering low greenhouse gas development in a manner which does not threaten food production’, to build a sustainable, competitive and profitable UK farm sector, fit for the twenty-first century.

Countryside COP

A Countryside Cop will be held 11-15 October, three weeks before the start of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26, 31 October-12 November 2021, in Glasgow) to allow the rural community to come together and showcase the opportunities that are available, the contribution already being made to reach Net Zero, and explore adaptation options.

More information about the event: Countryside Cop October 2021 - CFE Online

About the Agriculture & Land Use Alliance

The Agriculture & Land Use Alliance is a new name for the Greenhouse Gas Action Plan (GHGAP). The Alliance brings together all interested organisations and individuals across the UK agricultural industry, to collaborate under one umbrella and speak with one voice, to act now to maximise the contribution of agriculture and land use to a net zero economy.

With land use so integral to net zero goals, the Agriculture & Land Use Alliance offers a sensible, practical voice on the farming of land for all purposes.

The Rural Services Network will be hosting an event at the Countryside COP focusing on 'Uniting Rural Communities to Tackle Climate Change'. This event will take place on 12th October from 1.30-3.30 and you can book your place at this link and below