Government net zero failure blamed for NFU job losses
© Tim Scrivener A lack of ambition on net zero policy from the government has led the NFU to make two key climate change posts redundant.
The union has confirmed that Jonathan Scurlock, chief renewable energy and climate change adviser, and Kate Bannister, net-zero policy delivery manager, are both set to lose their jobs – though a climate change adviser will be retained.
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In 2019, former NFU president Minette Batters set a target for the agricultural sector in England and Wales to achieve net zero by 2040, 10 years ahead of the government’s legally binding target for the UK.
But two years ago, current president Tom Bradshaw cast doubt on the industry’s ability to meet this commitment, blaming the government for a lack of investment in climate-friendly farming measures.
Climate resilience
In a statement about the redundancies, an NFU spokesman said: “The NFU remains focused on supporting farming businesses to become resilient in the face of climate change and working with the wider food supply chain on the adaptations needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
“While the NFU holds long-standing ambitions for farming to be net zero, and published its net zero ambition in 2019 to show policymakers what is needed at a strategic level to decarbonise agriculture, this ambition is not being met by policy development at a national or global level.
“Meanwhile, farming and food production remain challenging sectors to decarbonise.
“The NFU will continue to progress work on climate policy for farming businesses and support domestic food production.”
The move comes after a five-year forecast in April 2022 suggested the union would have a £6.5m deficit in 2027, prompting decisions to prioritise spending and increase income.
Cost cutting measures have included a major regional reorganisation, including the closure of regional offices, a shake-up of the union’s annual conference and cancelling exhibition stands at political party conferences.