Race To Zero
The UK’s National Parks have become the first in the world to join the ‘Race to Zero’ initiative, committing to drive action to halve carbon emissions within their landscapes by 2030 and become significant net carbon sinks by 2050.
National Parks will work with partners to transform an area of land almost four times the size of London (610,000 hectares) into a haven for nature through nature-friendly management across the 15 National Parks, as well as driving significant increases in the use of sustainable travel, renewable energy and sustainably-produced food.
UK National Parks are committed to becoming beacons for a sustainable future, using their partnerships and convening powers to help meet the UK’s climate change commitments while also supporting thriving rural communities, helping to restore Britain’s lost biodiversity, and improving food security.
A new report published by Small World Consulting details the current carbon footprint of the UK’s 15 National Parks landscapes and lays out an evidenced path to make the National Parks into net carbon sinks, going from emitting around 11.5 million tonnes of harmful greenhouses gases per year – primarily from energy consumption, visitor travel and agriculture in 2022, to ‘soaking up’ roughly 3.5 million tonnes instead by 2050 (absorbing roughly around the same amount of carbon per year as 24,000 flights between London and New York).
By supporting this path, the UK’s National Parks will actively drive towards net zero landscapes by around 2040, meeting the central ambition of the Race to Zero initiative (global net zero emissions by 2050) a decade ‘early’, and becoming significant sources of carbon capture after that point.
Read the Report
National Parks working for nature
'Our Food 1200'
‘Our Food 1200’ initiative in South East and Central Wales aims to ensure food security and affordable prices while cutting emissions and restoring nature. The initiative will create jobs, new supply chains and fair prices for farmers.
'Wild Strathfillan'
'Wild Strathfillan' is a bold project aimed at restoring an area of 50,000 hectares in the north of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park through habitat creation and restoration, enhancing a nature recovery network to support iconic Scottish wildlife and their habitats.
Southwest Peatland Partnership
The South West Peatland Partnership is working together to restore degraded peatland across West Penwith, Bodmin Moor, Dartmoor and Exmoor National Park by 2025. Restoring this damaged peatland through rewetting will have innumerable benefits including creating carbon stores, wildlife habitats and more.
