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<p>The Climate Change Act 2008 requires the Government to produce, every five years,
an assessment of the risks to the United Kingdom arising from current and predicted
climate change. Government published its second Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA)
in January 2017 which endorses six priority risk areas identified by the independent
evidence report produced by the Adaptation Sub-Committee in July 2016. This included
risks to domestic and international food production and trade and potential opportunities
from long-term, climate-related changes in global food production.</p><p> </p><p>The
CCRA notes a number of potential risks to UK agricultural production arising from,
for example, vulnerability to water shortages, pests and disease, and extreme weather
events. The report also observes that warmer weather and longer growing seasons may
improve agricultural productivity.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The second National
Adaptation Programme, published in July 2018, sets out how we aim to tackle the risks
to domestic and international food production and trade that England is facing from
a changing climate. For example, Government’s commitment to review and publish the
updated UK Food Security Assessment.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government
is committed to taking action to mitigate climate change and to adapt to its impact.
As the cornerstone of future agriculture policy, the new environmental land management
system will use public money for the provision of public goods, including supporting
farmers and other land managers to mitigate and adapt to climate change.</p><p>Agricultural
greenhouse gas emissions have reduced by 16% since 1990, with many farms using more
efficient agricultural practices. Land use, land use change and forestry continue
to provide benefits in carbon sequestration. The Government recognises the importance
of reducing emissions further in these sectors. The Clean Growth Strategy and the
25 Year Environment Plan set out the Government’s ambition for how this will be achieved.</p>
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