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Soil health, carbon and climate change examined by Committee

4 March 2016

The Environmental Audit Committee holds an oral evidence session to examine how the impact of climate change on soil should be addressed as part of its inquiry into soil health.

Witnesses

Wednesday 9 March 2016,Thatcher room, Portcullis House

At 2.15pm

  • Lord Krebs, Chair of the Adaptation Sub-Committee, Committee on Climate Change
  • David Thompson, Senior Policy Analyst - Adaptation, Committee on Climate Change
  • Peter Melchett, Policy Director, Soil Association

At 3.15pm

  • Professor Paul Hallett, University of Aberdeen
  • Professor Richard Bardgett, University of Manchester

Purpose of the session

Soil health is highly sensitive to climate and so especially vulnerable to climate change. At the same time, soils have huge carbon storage potential and could represent an opportunity to mitigate climate change. However, degradation of some soils results in large volumes of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to the problem rather than helping to alleviate it. The Committee seeks to hear evidence on these issues and how they should be addressed.  

Further information

Image: iStockphoto