CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no" /> <title> Factcheck: Is solar power a ‘threat’ to UK farmland? - Carbon Brief </title> <meta property="fb:pages" content="193315464030877" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/png" href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/favicon.ico" /> <link href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/css/header-carousel.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/css/slick.css" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/css/theme.min.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/css/responsive.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/css/gallery.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/css/jquery-fullsizable.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/css/bootstrap-datepicker.css" rel="stylesheet">      <script type="text/javascript"> var ajaxurl = 'https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php'; var bitlyuser = 'piotrmediablaze'; var bitlykey = 'R_18d6e22b015d4a1abdd1249391611676'; </script> <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' />  <title>Factcheck: Is solar power a ‘threat’ to UK farmland? - Carbon Brief</title> <meta name="description" content="The “threat” posed to UK farms by the expansion of solar power has emerged as a campaign issue for the final two in the race to become PM." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_GB" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Factcheck: Is solar power a ‘threat’ to UK farmland? - Carbon Brief" /> <meta property="og:description" content="The “threat” posed to UK farms by the expansion of solar power has emerged as a campaign issue for the final two in the race to become PM." /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Carbon Brief" /> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/carbonbrief/" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2022-08-25T15:59:22+00:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2022-09-14T10:38:08+00:00" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Wymeswold-Solar-Farm-the-largest-solar-farm-in-the-UK-at-34-MWp-is-based-on-an-old-disused-second-world-war-airfield-Leicestershire-UK.-Image-ID-DGHCKE..jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1550" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="1033" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta name="author" content="Carbon Brief Staff" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@carbonbrief" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@carbonbrief" /> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Written by" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="Carbon Brief Staff" /> <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Estimated reading time" /> <meta name="twitter:data2" content="21 minutes" /> <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/"},"author":{"name":"Carbon Brief Staff","@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/#/schema/person/60d7de61983ba5e0ed925ecbb5c48ed5"},"headline":"Factcheck: Is solar power a ‘threat’ to UK farmland?","datePublished":"2022-08-25T15:59:22+00:00","dateModified":"2022-09-14T10:38:08+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/"},"wordCount":4512,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Wymeswold-Solar-Farm-the-largest-solar-farm-in-the-UK-at-34-MWp-is-based-on-an-old-disused-second-world-war-airfield-Leicestershire-UK.-Image-ID-DGHCKE..jpg","keywords":["Conservative Party","farmland","solar energy","solar panels","Solar power","UK"],"articleSection":["Energy","Factchecks","Food and farming","In Focus","Nature","Renewables","Science"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/","url":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/","name":"Factcheck: Is solar power a ‘threat’ to UK farmland? - Carbon Brief","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Wymeswold-Solar-Farm-the-largest-solar-farm-in-the-UK-at-34-MWp-is-based-on-an-old-disused-second-world-war-airfield-Leicestershire-UK.-Image-ID-DGHCKE..jpg","datePublished":"2022-08-25T15:59:22+00:00","dateModified":"2022-09-14T10:38:08+00:00","description":"The “threat” posed to UK farms by the expansion of solar power has emerged as a campaign issue for the final two in the race to become PM.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/#primaryimage","url":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Wymeswold-Solar-Farm-the-largest-solar-farm-in-the-UK-at-34-MWp-is-based-on-an-old-disused-second-world-war-airfield-Leicestershire-UK.-Image-ID-DGHCKE..jpg","contentUrl":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Wymeswold-Solar-Farm-the-largest-solar-farm-in-the-UK-at-34-MWp-is-based-on-an-old-disused-second-world-war-airfield-Leicestershire-UK.-Image-ID-DGHCKE..jpg","width":1550,"height":1033,"caption":"Wymeswold Solar Farm, the largest solar farm in the UK at 34 MWp, is based on an old disused second world war airfield, Leicestershire, UK. Image ID: DGHCKE. Credit: Ashley Cooper / Alamy Stock Photo."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Factcheck: Is solar power a ‘threat’ to UK farmland?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/#website","url":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/","name":"Carbon Brief","description":"Clear on climate","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/#organization","name":"Carbon Brief","url":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/#/schema/logo/image/","url":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/CarbonBrief_Logo2015_SEO.png","contentUrl":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/CarbonBrief_Logo2015_SEO.png","width":222,"height":69,"caption":"Carbon Brief"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/#/schema/logo/image/"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/carbonbrief/","https://x.com/carbonbrief","https://www.instagram.com/carbonbrief/","https://www.pinterest.com/thecarbonbrief/","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiXgvmQ2jUgUjRpJzvga5Tg"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/#/schema/person/60d7de61983ba5e0ed925ecbb5c48ed5","name":"Carbon Brief Staff","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/#/schema/person/image/","url":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/cb-profile-image.png","contentUrl":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/cb-profile-image.png","caption":"Carbon Brief Staff"},"url":"https://www.carbonbrief.org/author/carbonbriefstaff/"}]}</script>  <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//ajax.googleapis.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//cdnjs.cloudflare.com' /> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/www.carbonbrief.org\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=6.6.1"}}; /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(i,n){var o,s,e;function c(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(o,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function p(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data),r=(e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0),new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data));return t.every(function(e,t){return e===r[t]})}function u(e,t,n){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3","\ud83c\uddfa\u200b\ud83c\uddf3")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!n(e,"\ud83d\udc26\u200d\u2b1b","\ud83d\udc26\u200b\u2b1b")}return!1}function f(e,t,n){var r="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):i.createElement("canvas"),a=r.getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(a.textBaseline="top",a.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(function(e){o[e]=t(a,e,n)}),o}function t(e){var t=i.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,i.head.appendChild(t)}"undefined"!=typeof Promise&&(o="wpEmojiSettingsSupports",s=["flag","emoji"],n.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},e=new Promise(function(e){i.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",e,{once:!0})}),new Promise(function(t){var n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(o));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(s),u.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"}),a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=function(e){c(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}c(n=f(s,u,p))}t(n)}).then(function(e){for(var t in e)n.supports[t]=e[t],n.supports.everything=n.supports.everything&&n.supports[t],"flag"!==t&&(n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&n.supports[t]);n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!n.supports.flag,n.DOMReady=!1,n.readyCallback=function(){n.DOMReady=!0}}).then(function(){return e}).then(function(){var e;n.supports.everything||(n.readyCallback(),(e=n.source||{}).concatemoji?t(e.concatemoji):e.wpemoji&&e.twemoji&&(t(e.twemoji),t(e.wpemoji)))}))}((window,document),window._wpemojiSettings); /* ]]> */ </script> <style id='wp-emoji-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 0.07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=6.6.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='safe-svg-svg-icon-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> .safe-svg-cover{text-align:center}.safe-svg-cover .safe-svg-inside{display:inline-block;max-width:100%}.safe-svg-cover svg{height:100%;max-height:100%;max-width:100%;width:100%} </style> <style id='classic-theme-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> /*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #333333;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--color--blue: #0B4572;--wp--preset--color--blue-light: #ADD2EC;--wp--preset--color--blue-lighter: #E8F6FD;--wp--preset--color--red: #E9B4AC;--wp--preset--color--yellow: #F8E8B0;--wp--preset--color--pink: #DAB6CA;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} :root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='contact-form-7-css' href='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/includes/css/styles.css?ver=5.9.8' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mailerlite_forms.css-css' href='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/official-mailerlite-sign-up-forms/assets/css/mailerlite_forms.css?ver=1.7.13' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='ppress-frontend-css' href='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-user-avatar/assets/css/frontend.min.css?ver=4.15.13' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='ppress-flatpickr-css' href='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-user-avatar/assets/flatpickr/flatpickr.min.css?ver=4.15.13' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='ppress-select2-css' href='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-user-avatar/assets/select2/select2.min.css?ver=6.6.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-pagenavi-css' href='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-pagenavi/pagenavi-css.css?ver=2.70' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='search-filter-plugin-styles-css' href='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/search-filter-pro/public/assets/css/search-filter.min.css?ver=2.5.11' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wordpress-popular-posts-css-css' href='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-popular-posts/assets/css/wpp.css?ver=5.4.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='carbon-jquery-ui-css' href='https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8/themes/base/jquery-ui.css?ver=6.6.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='theme-blocks-css' href='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/css/theme-gutenberg.css?ver=6.6.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='tablepress-default-css' href='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/tablepress-combined.min.css?ver=99' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='site-css-css' href='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/assets/styles/css/style.css?ver=1.0' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='fontawesome-css-css' href='https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/5.15.3/css/all.min.css?ver=all' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.7.1" id="jquery-core-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.4.1" id="jquery-migrate-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-user-avatar/assets/flatpickr/flatpickr.min.js?ver=4.15.13" id="ppress-flatpickr-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-user-avatar/assets/select2/select2.min.js?ver=4.15.13" id="ppress-select2-js"></script> <script type="application/json" id="wpp-json"> /* <![CDATA[ */ {"sampling_active":0,"sampling_rate":100,"ajax_url":"https:\/\/www.carbonbrief.org\/wp-json\/wordpress-popular-posts\/v1\/popular-posts","api_url":"https:\/\/www.carbonbrief.org\/wp-json\/wordpress-popular-posts","ID":43232,"token":"4025d98119","lang":0,"debug":0} /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-popular-posts/assets/js/wpp.min.js?ver=5.4.2" id="wpp-js-js"></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" title="JSON" type="application/json" href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/43232" /><link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (JSON)" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.carbonbrief.org%2Ffactcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (XML)" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.carbonbrief.org%2Ffactcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland%2F&format=xml" /> <meta property="fb:pages" content="193315464030877" />  <script> (function(w,d,e,u,f,l,n){w[f]=w[f]||function(){(w[f].q=w[f].q||[]) .push(arguments);},l=d.createElement(e),l.async=1,l.src=u, n=d.getElementsByTagName(e)[0],n.parentNode.insertBefore(l,n);}) (window,document,'script','https://assets.mailerlite.com/js/universal.js','ml'); ml('account', '249617'); ml('enablePopups', true); </script>  <script> (function(h,o,t,j,a,r){ h.hj=h.hj||function(){(h.hj.q=h.hj.q||[]).push(arguments)}; h._hjSettings={hjid:2038811,hjsv:5}; a=o.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]; r=o.createElement('script');r.async=1; r.src=t+h._hjSettings.hjid+j+h._hjSettings.hjsv; a.appendChild(r); })(window,document,'//static.hotjar.com/c/hotjar-','.js?sv='); </script> <style> @-webkit-keyframes bgslide { from { background-position-x: 0; } to { background-position-x: -200%; } } @keyframes bgslide { from { background-position-x: 0; } to { background-position-x: -200%; } } .wpp-widget-placeholder { margin: 0 auto; width: 60px; height: 3px; background: #dd3737; background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, right top, from(#dd3737), color-stop(10%, #571313), to(#dd3737)); background: linear-gradient(90deg, #dd3737 0%, #571313 10%, #dd3737 100%); background-size: 200% auto; border-radius: 3px; -webkit-animation: bgslide 1s infinite linear; animation: bgslide 1s infinite linear; } </style> <style type="text/css" id="wp-custom-css"> header { z-index:10; } greyBar{ z-index:2 !important; } </style> <noscript><style id="rocket-lazyload-nojs-css">.rll-youtube-player, [data-lazy-src]{display:none !important;}</style></noscript>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-R02EV2GBVB"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-R02EV2GBVB'); </script>  <script> (function(w, d, s, l, i) { w[l] = w[l] || []; w[l].push({ 'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' }); var f = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j = d.createElement(s), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? '&l=' + l : ''; j.async = true; j.src = 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=' + i + dl; f.parentNode.insertBefore(j, f); })(window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-WRTHFZB'); </script>   <script> (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) { i['GoogleAnalyticsObject'] = r; i[r] = i[r] || function() { (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments) }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date(); a = s.createElement(o), m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0]; a.async = 1; a.src = g; m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m) })(window, document, 'script', '//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js', 'ga'); ga('create', 'UA-19777583-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script></head>  <body id="topBack">  <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-WRTHFZB" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <div class="gNav"> <div class="mobScroll"> <div class="mobOnlySec"> <h4>Sections</h4> <ul class="mSection"> <li> <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/science/">Science</a><span class="arrow"></span> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/science/climate-modelling/">Climate modelling</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/science/extreme-weather/">Extreme weather</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/science/health-and-security/">Health and Security</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/science/ice/">Ice</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/science/ipcc/">IPCC</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/science/nature/">Nature</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/science/oceans/">Oceans</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/science/people/">People</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/science/temperature/">Temperature</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/energy/">Energy</a><span class="arrow"></span> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/energy/china-energy/">China energy</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/energy/coal/">Coal</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/energy/emissions/">Emissions</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/energy/nuclear/">Nuclear</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/energy/oil-and-gas/">Oil and gas</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/energy/other-technologies/">Other technologies</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/energy/renewables/">Renewables</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/energy/technology/">Technology</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/policy/">Policy</a><span class="arrow"></span> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/policy/china-policy/">China Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/policy/eu-policy/">EU policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/policy/international-policy/">International policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/policy/other-national-policy/">Other national policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/policy/rest-of-world-policy/">Rest of world policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/policy/uk-policy/">UK policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/policy/un-climate-talks/">UN climate talks</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/policy/us-policy/">US Policy</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/">In Focus</a><span class="arrow"></span> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/country-profiles/">Country profiles</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/debriefed/">DeBriefed</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/explainers/">Explainers</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/factchecks/">Factchecks</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/features/">Features</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/guest-posts/">Guest posts</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/infographics/">Infographics</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/interviews/">Interviews</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/media-analysis/">Media analysis</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/state-of-the-climate/">State of the climate</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/translations/">Translations</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/webinars/">Webinars</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="nosub"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/daily-brief/japan-eyes-cutting-emissions-by-60-by-2035-from-2013-levels/">Daily Brief</a></li> </ul> </div> <h4>MENU</h4> <div class="mMenu"><ul> <li class="page_item page-item-46822"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/about-us/">About us</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-37506"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/china-briefing/">China Briefing</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-15734"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/comments-policy/">Comments Policy</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-342"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/contact-us/">Contact Us</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-348"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/cookies/">Cookies Policy</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-38845"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/cropped/">Cropped</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41552"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/daily-brief/">Daily Brief</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-46959"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/debriefed/">DeBriefed</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41657 page_item_has_children"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/">Energy</a> <ul class='children'> <li class="page_item page-item-41934"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/coal/">Coal</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41937 page_item_has_children"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/emissions/">Emissions</a> <ul class='children'> <li class="page_item page-item-41942"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/emissions/global-emissions/">Global emissions</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41944"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/emissions/rest-of-world-emissions/">Rest of world emissions</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41945"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/emissions/uk-emissions/">UK emissions</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="page_item page-item-41928"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/eu-emissions/">EU emissions</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41950"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/nuclear/">Nuclear</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41952"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/oil-and-gas/">Oil and gas</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41954"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/renewables/">Renewables</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41955"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/technology/">Technology</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-52834"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/china-energy/">China energy</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="page_item page-item-42884"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/global-south-climate-database/">Global South Climate Database</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41557"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/">Home</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41559 page_item_has_children"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/">In focus</a> <ul class='children'> <li class="page_item page-item-41957"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/country-profiles/">Country profiles</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41959"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/explainers/">Explainers</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41961"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/factchecks/">Factchecks</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41963"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/features/">Features</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41965"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/guest-posts/">Guest posts</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41967"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/infographics/">Infographics</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41968"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/interviews/">Interviews</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41970"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/media-analysis/">Media analysis</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41933"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/state-of-the-climate/">State of the climate</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41935"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/translations/">Translations</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41936"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/webinars/">Webinars</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="page_item page-item-48319 page_item_has_children"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/">Nature</a> <ul class='children'> <li class="page_item page-item-42000"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/food-and-farming/">Food and farming</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-51434 page_item_has_children"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/nature-policy/">Nature policy</a> <ul class='children'> <li class="page_item page-item-53898"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/nature-policy/cop16-cali/">COP16 Cali</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="page_item page-item-42004"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/plants-and-forests/">Plants and forests</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-42007"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/wildlife/">Wildlife</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="page_item page-item-23513"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/newsletter-sign-up-old/">Newsletters</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-48223"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/newsletter-sign-up/">Newsletters</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41560 page_item_has_children"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/">Policy</a> <ul class='children'> <li class="page_item page-item-41938"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/china-policy/">China Policy</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41939"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/eu-policy/">EU policy</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41940"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/international-policy/">International policy</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41941"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/rest-of-world-policy/">Rest of world policy</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41943"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/uk-policy/">UK policy</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41946 page_item_has_children"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/">UN climate talks</a> <ul class='children'> <li class="page_item page-item-41948"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop21-paris/">COP21 Paris</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41951"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop22-marrakech/">COP22 Marrakech</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41953"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop23-bonn/">COP23 Bonn</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41956"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop24-katowice/">COP24 Katowice</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41958"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop25-madrid/">COP25 Madrid</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41960"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop26-glasgow/">COP26 Glasgow</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-44297"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop27-sharm-el-sheikh/">COP27 Sharm el-Sheikh</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-49674"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop28-dubai/">COP28 Dubai</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-54224"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop29-baku/">COP29 Baku</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="page_item page-item-41962"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/us-policy/">US Policy</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="page_item page-item-346"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/privacy/">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41558 page_item_has_children"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/">Science</a> <ul class='children'> <li class="page_item page-item-41964"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/climate-modelling/">Climate modelling</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41966 page_item_has_children"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/">Extreme weather</a> <ul class='children'> <li class="page_item page-item-41973"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/attribution/">Attribution</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41977"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/drought/">Drought</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41978"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/el-nino/">El Niño</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41980"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/floods/">Floods</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41982"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/heatwaves/">Heatwaves</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41983"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/storms/">Storms</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41984"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/wildfires/">Wildfires</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="page_item page-item-41999"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/geoengineering/">Geoengineering</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41986 page_item_has_children"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/">Ice</a> <ul class='children'> <li class="page_item page-item-41988"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/antarctic/">Antarctic</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41990"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/arctic/">Arctic</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41992"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/glaciers/">Glaciers</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41994"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/sea-ice/">Sea ice</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="page_item page-item-41996"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ipcc/">IPCC</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41969 page_item_has_children"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/">Oceans</a> <ul class='children'> <li class="page_item page-item-42009"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/marine-life/">Marine life</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-42010"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/ocean-acidification/">Ocean acidification</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41971"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/ocean-warming/">Ocean warming</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41974"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/sea-level-rise/">Sea level rise</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="page_item page-item-41975 page_item_has_children"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/">People</a> <ul class='children'> <li class="page_item page-item-41976"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/human-security/">Human security</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41979"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/public-health/">Public health</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41981"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/public-opinion/">Public opinion</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41985"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/risk-and-adaptation/">Risk and adaptation</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41987"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/science-communication/">Science communication</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="page_item page-item-41989 page_item_has_children"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/">Temperature</a> <ul class='children'> <li class="page_item page-item-41993"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/1-5c/">1.5C</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41995"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/carbon-budgets/">Carbon budgets</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41997"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/climate-sensitivity/">Climate sensitivity</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-42001"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/ghgs-and-aerosols/">GHGs and aerosols</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-42002"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/global-temperature/">Global temperature</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-41991"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/hiatus/">Hiatus</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-42003"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/negative-emissions/">Negative emissions</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-42005"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/rest-of-world-temperature/">Rest of world temperature</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-42006"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/tipping-points/">Tipping points</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-42008"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/uk-temperature/">UK temperature</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="page_item page-item-13435"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/search/">Search</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-47119"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/support-us/">Support us</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-29274"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/thank-you-for-subscribing/">Thank you for subscribing</a></li> </ul></div> <h5>Social Channels</h5> <div class="menu-side-social-menu-container"><ul id="menu-side-social-menu" class="mSM"><li id="menu-item-14733" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-14733"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/carbonbrief"><i class="mfbIcon"></i> Facebook</a></li> <li id="menu-item-14734" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-14734"><a href="https://twitter.com/carbonbrief"><i class="mtwtrIcon"></i> Twitter</a></li> <li id="menu-item-19542" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-19542"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/carbon-brief"><i class="mliIcon"></i> LinkedIn</a></li> <li id="menu-item-28420" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-28420"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/carbonbrief"><i class="fa fa-instagram sideSocialMenuIcon"></i> Instagram</a></li> <li id="menu-item-14735" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-14735"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiXgvmQ2jUgUjRpJzvga5Tg/videos"><i class="mytIcon"></i> Youtube</a></li> <li id="menu-item-14736" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-14736"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/carbonbrief"><i class="mrssIcon"></i> Rss</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div class="topSearch"> <div class="mobScroll"> <h4>SEARCH ARCHIVE</h4> <div class="search_input_wrapper"> <form data-sf-form-id='41554' data-is-rtl='0' data-maintain-state='' data-results-url='https://www.carbonbrief.org/search' data-ajax-form-url='https://www.carbonbrief.org/?sfid=41554&sf_action=get_data&sf_data=form' data-display-result-method='shortcode' data-use-history-api='1' data-template-loaded='0' data-lang-code='en' data-ajax='0' data-init-paged='1' data-auto-update='' action='https://www.carbonbrief.org/search' method='post' class='searchandfilter' id='search-filter-form-41554' autocomplete='off' data-instance-count='1'><ul><li class="sf-field-search" data-sf-field-name="search" data-sf-field-type="search" data-sf-field-input-type=""> <label><input placeholder="Search …" name="_sf_search[]" class="sf-input-text" type="text" value="" title=""></label> </li><li class="sf-field-post_type" data-sf-field-name="_sf_post_type" data-sf-field-type="post_type" data-sf-field-input-type="select"><h4>Type</h4> <label> <select name="_sf_post_type[]" class="sf-input-select" title=""> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-0 sf-option-active" selected="selected" data-sf-depth="0" value="">All Types</option> <option class="sf-level-0 " data-sf-depth="0" value="post">Articles</option> <option class="sf-level-0 " data-sf-depth="0" value="dailybrief">Daily Brief</option> </select> </label> </li><li class="sf-field-category" data-sf-field-name="_sft_category" data-sf-field-type="category" data-sf-field-input-type="select"><h4>Topic</h4> <label> <select name="_sft_category[]" class="sf-input-select" title=""> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-0 sf-option-active" selected="selected" data-sf-count="0" data-sf-depth="0" value="">All Items</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2022" data-sf-count="59" data-sf-depth="0" value="1-5c">1.5C</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-35" data-sf-count="74" data-sf-depth="0" value="antarctic">Antarctic</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-34" data-sf-count="106" data-sf-depth="0" value="arctic">Arctic</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-43" data-sf-count="75" data-sf-depth="0" value="attribution">Attribution</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2058" data-sf-count="14" data-sf-depth="0" value="carbon-budgets">Carbon budgets</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-3075" data-sf-count="82" data-sf-depth="0" value="china-briefing">China Briefing</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2948" data-sf-count="19" data-sf-depth="0" value="china-energy">China energy</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2214" data-sf-count="163" data-sf-depth="0" value="china-policy">China Policy</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-1973" data-sf-count="57" data-sf-depth="0" value="climate-modelling">Climate modelling</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-27" data-sf-count="44" data-sf-depth="0" value="climate-sensitivity">Climate sensitivity</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-54" data-sf-count="179" data-sf-depth="0" value="coal">Coal</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-3402" data-sf-count="10" data-sf-depth="0" value="cop16-cali">COP16 Cali</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-62" data-sf-count="80" data-sf-depth="0" value="paris-2015">COP21 Paris</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-1638" data-sf-count="17" data-sf-depth="0" value="cop22-marrakech">COP22 Marrakech</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-1948" data-sf-count="7" data-sf-depth="0" value="cop23-bonn">COP23 Bonn</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2118" data-sf-count="6" data-sf-depth="0" value="cop24-katowice">COP24 Katowice</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2155" data-sf-count="4" data-sf-depth="0" value="cop25">COP25 Madrid</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2520" data-sf-count="11" data-sf-depth="0" value="glasgow-2021">COP26 Glasgow</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2802" data-sf-count="8" data-sf-depth="0" value="cop27-sharm-el-sheikh">COP27 Sharm el-Sheikh</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-3124" data-sf-count="14" data-sf-depth="0" value="cop28-dubai">COP28 Dubai</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-3423" data-sf-count="10" data-sf-depth="0" value="cop29-baku">COP29 Baku</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2057" data-sf-count="22" data-sf-depth="0" value="country-profiles">Country profiles</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-3074" data-sf-count="79" data-sf-depth="0" value="cropped">Cropped</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2977" data-sf-count="77" data-sf-depth="0" value="debriefed">DeBriefed</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-42" data-sf-count="54" data-sf-depth="0" value="drought">Drought</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-38" data-sf-count="28" data-sf-depth="0" value="el-nino">El Niño</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-52" data-sf-count="377" data-sf-depth="0" value="emissions">Emissions</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2" data-sf-count="712" data-sf-depth="0" value="energy">Energy</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-60" data-sf-count="45" data-sf-depth="0" value="eu-emissions">EU emissions</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-65" data-sf-count="127" data-sf-depth="0" value="eu-policy">EU policy</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-68" data-sf-count="116" data-sf-depth="0" value="explainers">Explainers</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-19" data-sf-count="256" data-sf-depth="0" value="extreme-weather">Extreme weather</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-69" data-sf-count="63" data-sf-depth="0" value="factchecks">Factchecks</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-75" data-sf-count="92" data-sf-depth="0" value="features">Features</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-41" data-sf-count="86" data-sf-depth="0" value="floods">Floods</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-46" data-sf-count="116" data-sf-depth="0" value="food-farming">Food and farming</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-28" data-sf-count="42" data-sf-depth="0" value="geoengineering">Geoengineering</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-26" data-sf-count="85" data-sf-depth="0" value="ghgs-aerosols">GHGs and aerosols</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-37" data-sf-count="41" data-sf-depth="0" value="glaciers">Glaciers</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-58" data-sf-count="128" data-sf-depth="0" value="global-emissions">Global emissions</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-23" data-sf-count="193" data-sf-depth="0" value="global-temperature">Global temperature</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-72" data-sf-count="370" data-sf-depth="0" value="guest-posts">Guest posts</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2936" data-sf-count="8" data-sf-depth="0" value="health-and-security">Health and Security</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-39" data-sf-count="82" data-sf-depth="0" value="heatwaves">Heatwaves</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-29" data-sf-count="25" data-sf-depth="0" value="hiatus">Hiatus</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-48" data-sf-count="83" data-sf-depth="0" value="human-security">Human security</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-18" data-sf-count="172" data-sf-depth="0" value="ice">Ice</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-4" data-sf-count="907" data-sf-depth="0" value="in-focus">In Focus</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-71" data-sf-count="114" data-sf-depth="0" value="infographics">Infographics</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-63" data-sf-count="195" data-sf-depth="0" value="international-policy">International policy</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-70" data-sf-count="110" data-sf-depth="0" value="interviews">Interviews</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-22" data-sf-count="131" data-sf-depth="0" value="ipcc">IPCC</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2907" data-sf-count="4" data-sf-depth="0" value="land-and-soils">Land and soils</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-32" data-sf-count="58" data-sf-depth="0" value="marine-life">Marine life</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-74" data-sf-count="113" data-sf-depth="0" value="media-analysis">Media analysis</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-20" data-sf-count="307" data-sf-depth="0" value="nature">Nature</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-3263" data-sf-count="24" data-sf-depth="0" value="nature-policy">Nature policy</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-3264" data-sf-count="0" data-sf-depth="0" value="nature-2">Nature-2</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2078" data-sf-count="37" data-sf-depth="0" value="negative-emissions">Negative emissions</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-56" data-sf-count="73" data-sf-depth="0" value="nuclear">Nuclear</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-33" data-sf-count="25" data-sf-depth="0" value="ocean-acidification">Ocean acidification</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-31" data-sf-count="66" data-sf-depth="0" value="ocean-warming">Ocean warming</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-17" data-sf-count="142" data-sf-depth="0" value="oceans">Oceans</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-55" data-sf-count="189" data-sf-depth="0" value="oil-and-gas">Oil and gas</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2973" data-sf-count="0" data-sf-depth="0" value="other-national-policy">Other national policy</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2914" data-sf-count="4" data-sf-depth="0" value="other-technologies">Other technologies</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-21" data-sf-count="268" data-sf-depth="0" value="people">People</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-44" data-sf-count="121" data-sf-depth="0" value="plants-forests">Plants and forests</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-3" data-sf-count="828" data-sf-depth="0" value="policy">Policy</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-47" data-sf-count="68" data-sf-depth="0" value="public-health">Public health</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-50" data-sf-count="53" data-sf-depth="0" value="public-opinion">Public opinion</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-53" data-sf-count="234" data-sf-depth="0" value="renewables">Renewables</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-61" data-sf-count="104" data-sf-depth="0" value="rest-of-world-emissions">Rest of world emissions</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-66" data-sf-count="110" data-sf-depth="0" value="rest-of-world-policy">Rest of world policy</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-25" data-sf-count="22" data-sf-depth="0" value="rest-of-world-temperature">Rest of world temperature</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-49" data-sf-count="99" data-sf-depth="0" value="risk-adaptation">Risk and adaptation</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-1" data-sf-count="2261" data-sf-depth="0" value="science">Science</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-51" data-sf-count="50" data-sf-depth="0" value="science-communication">Science communication</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-36" data-sf-count="86" data-sf-depth="0" value="sea-ice">Sea ice</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-30" data-sf-count="53" data-sf-depth="0" value="sea-level-rise">Sea level rise</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2063" data-sf-count="30" data-sf-depth="0" value="state-of-the-climate">State of the climate</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-40" data-sf-count="61" data-sf-depth="0" value="storms">Storms</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-57" data-sf-count="135" data-sf-depth="0" value="technology">Technology</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-16" data-sf-count="320" data-sf-depth="0" value="temperature">Temperature</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2161" data-sf-count="12" data-sf-depth="0" value="tipping-points">Tipping points</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-1897" data-sf-count="42" data-sf-depth="0" value="translations">Translations</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-59" data-sf-count="107" data-sf-depth="0" value="uk-emissions">UK emissions</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-64" data-sf-count="355" data-sf-depth="0" value="uk-policy">UK policy</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-24" data-sf-count="33" data-sf-depth="0" value="uk-temperature">UK temperature</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2041" data-sf-count="67" data-sf-depth="0" value="un-climate-talks">UN climate talks</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-1835" data-sf-count="34" data-sf-depth="0" value="us-policy">US Policy</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2177" data-sf-count="14" data-sf-depth="0" value="webinars">Webinars</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-2071" data-sf-count="19" data-sf-depth="0" value="wildfires">Wildfires</option> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-45" data-sf-count="89" data-sf-depth="0" value="wildlife">Wildlife</option> </select> </label> </li><li class="sf-field-sort_order" data-sf-field-name="_sf_sort_order" data-sf-field-type="sort_order" data-sf-field-input-type="select"><h4>Sort</h4> <label> <select name="_sf_sort_order[]" class="sf-input-select" title=""> <option class="sf-level-0 sf-item-0 sf-option-active" selected="selected" data-sf-depth="0" value="">Sort Results By</option> <option class="sf-level-0 " data-sf-depth="0" value="date+desc">Title (Deecending)</option> <option class="sf-level-0 " data-sf-depth="0" value="date+asc">Title (Ascending)</option> </select> </label> </li><li class="sf-field-submit" data-sf-field-name="submit" data-sf-field-type="submit" data-sf-field-input-type=""><input type="submit" name="_sf_submit" value="Submit"></li></ul></form> </div> </div> </div> <header> <figure class="mobile-menu-toggle"> <img src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/assets/images/icon-hamburger.svg" /> </figure> <div class="logo"> <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org"> <img src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/images/logo.png" alt="" /> </a> </div> <nav class="rightMenu"> <div class="mobRM visible-lg-inline-block"> <div class="mobFUllDrop"> <ul id="rMenu" class="header-navigation"><li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/">Science</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/climate-modelling/">Climate modelling</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/">Extreme weather</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/attribution/">Attribution</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/drought/">Drought</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/el-nino/">El Niño</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/floods/">Floods</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/heatwaves/">Heatwaves</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/storms/">Storms</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/wildfires/">Wildfires</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/">Ice</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/antarctic/">Antarctic</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/arctic/">Arctic</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/glaciers/">Glaciers</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/sea-ice/">Sea ice</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ipcc/">IPCC</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/">Oceans</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/marine-life/">Marine life</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/ocean-acidification/">Ocean acidification</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/ocean-warming/">Ocean warming</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/sea-level-rise/">Sea level rise</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/">People</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/human-security/">Human security</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/public-health/">Public health</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/public-opinion/">Public opinion</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/risk-and-adaptation/">Risk and adaptation</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/science-communication/">Science communication</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/">Temperature</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/hiatus/">Hiatus</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/1-5c/">1.5C</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/carbon-budgets/">Carbon budgets</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/climate-sensitivity/">Climate sensitivity</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/geoengineering/">Geoengineering</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/ghgs-and-aerosols/">GHGs and aerosols</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/global-temperature/">Global temperature</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/negative-emissions/">Negative emissions</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/rest-of-world-temperature/">Rest of world temperature</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/tipping-points/">Tipping points</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/uk-temperature/">UK temperature</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/global-south-climate-database/">Global South Climate Database</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/">Energy</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/coal/">Coal</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/emissions/">Emissions</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/eu-emissions/">EU emissions</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/emissions/global-emissions/">Global emissions</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/emissions/rest-of-world-emissions/">Rest of world emissions</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/emissions/uk-emissions/">UK emissions</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/nuclear/">Nuclear</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/oil-and-gas/">Oil and gas</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/renewables/">Renewables</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/technology/">Technology</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/">Policy</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/china-policy/">China Policy</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/eu-policy/">EU policy</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/international-policy/">International policy</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/rest-of-world-policy/">Rest of world policy</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/uk-policy/">UK policy</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/">UN climate talks</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop21-paris/">COP21 Paris</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop22-marrakech/">COP22 Marrakech</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop23-bonn/">COP23 Bonn</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop24-katowice/">COP24 Katowice</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop25-madrid/">COP25 Madrid</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop26-glasgow/">COP26 Glasgow</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop27-sharm-el-sheikh/">COP27 Sharm el-Sheikh</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop28-dubai/">COP28 Dubai</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop29-baku/">COP29 Baku</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/us-policy/">US Policy</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/">Nature</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/nature-policy/">Nature policy</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/nature-policy/cop16-cali/">COP16 Cali</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/food-and-farming/">Food and farming</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/plants-and-forests/">Plants and forests</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/wildlife/">Wildlife</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class='current-page-ancestor current-menu-ancestor menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/">In focus</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/country-profiles/">Country profiles</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/explainers/">Explainers</a></li> <li class='current-menu-item current_page_item menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/factchecks/">Factchecks</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/features/">Features</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/guest-posts/">Guest posts</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/infographics/">Infographics</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/interviews/">Interviews</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/media-analysis/">Media analysis</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/translations/">Translations</a></li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/webinars/">Webinars</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/daily-brief/">Daily Brief</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="topSubc visible-lg-inline-block"> <a href="#"><i class="subcIcon"></i> <span>Subscribe</span><i class="lineHover"></i></a> </div> <div class="topSrc"> <a href="#"><i class="srcIcon"></i></a> </div> </nav> <div class="topNL"> <div class="ml-embedded" data-form="o0QGK8"></div>  </div> <div class="offCanvas-menu"> <ul id="mobile-navigation" class="mobile-navigation"><li id="menu-item-42055" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-42055"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/">Science</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-42065" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42065"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/climate-modelling/">Climate modelling</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42057" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-42057"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/">Extreme weather</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-42058" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42058"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/attribution/">Attribution</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42059" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42059"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/drought/">Drought</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42060" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42060"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/el-nino/">El Niño</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42061" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42061"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/floods/">Floods</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42062" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42062"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/heatwaves/">Heatwaves</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42063" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42063"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/storms/">Storms</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42064" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42064"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/extreme-weather/wildfires/">Wildfires</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-42066" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-42066"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/">Ice</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-42067" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42067"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/antarctic/">Antarctic</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42068" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42068"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/arctic/">Arctic</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42069" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42069"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/glaciers/">Glaciers</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42070" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42070"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ice/sea-ice/">Sea ice</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-42071" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42071"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/ipcc/">IPCC</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42076" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-42076"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/">Oceans</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-42077" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42077"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/marine-life/">Marine life</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42078" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42078"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/ocean-acidification/">Ocean acidification</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42079" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42079"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/ocean-warming/">Ocean warming</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42080" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42080"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/oceans/sea-level-rise/">Sea level rise</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-42081" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-42081"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/">People</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-42086" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42086"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/human-security/">Human security</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42082" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42082"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/public-health/">Public health</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42083" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42083"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/public-opinion/">Public opinion</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42084" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42084"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/risk-and-adaptation/">Risk and adaptation</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42085" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42085"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/people/science-communication/">Science communication</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-42087" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-42087"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/">Temperature</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-42088" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42088"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/hiatus/">Hiatus</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42089" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42089"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/1-5c/">1.5C</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42090" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42090"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/carbon-budgets/">Carbon budgets</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42091" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42091"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/climate-sensitivity/">Climate sensitivity</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42094" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42094"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/geoengineering/">Geoengineering</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42092" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42092"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/ghgs-and-aerosols/">GHGs and aerosols</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42093" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42093"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/global-temperature/">Global temperature</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42095" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42095"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/negative-emissions/">Negative emissions</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42096" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42096"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/rest-of-world-temperature/">Rest of world temperature</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42097" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42097"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/tipping-points/">Tipping points</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42098" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42098"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/science/temperature/uk-temperature/">UK temperature</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-42909" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42909"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/global-south-climate-database/">Global South Climate Database</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-42099" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-42099"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/">Energy</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-42100" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42100"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/coal/">Coal</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42101" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-42101"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/emissions/">Emissions</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-42102" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42102"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/eu-emissions/">EU emissions</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42103" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42103"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/emissions/global-emissions/">Global emissions</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42105" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42105"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/emissions/rest-of-world-emissions/">Rest of world emissions</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42104" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42104"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/emissions/uk-emissions/">UK emissions</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-42106" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42106"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/nuclear/">Nuclear</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42107" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42107"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/oil-and-gas/">Oil and gas</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42108" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42108"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/renewables/">Renewables</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42109" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42109"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy/technology/">Technology</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-42148" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-42148"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/">Policy</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-42112" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42112"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/china-policy/">China Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42113" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42113"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/eu-policy/">EU policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42114" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42114"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/international-policy/">International policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42115" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42115"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/rest-of-world-policy/">Rest of world policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42116" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42116"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/uk-policy/">UK policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42117" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-42117"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/">UN climate talks</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-42118" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42118"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop21-paris/">COP21 Paris</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42119" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42119"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop22-marrakech/">COP22 Marrakech</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42120" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42120"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop23-bonn/">COP23 Bonn</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42121" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42121"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop24-katowice/">COP24 Katowice</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42122" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42122"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop25-madrid/">COP25 Madrid</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42123" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42123"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop26-glasgow/">COP26 Glasgow</a></li> <li id="menu-item-44299" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-44299"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop27-sharm-el-sheikh/">COP27 Sharm el-Sheikh</a></li> <li id="menu-item-49675" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-49675"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop28-dubai/">COP28 Dubai</a></li> <li id="menu-item-54479" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-54479"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/un-climate-talks/cop29-baku/">COP29 Baku</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-42124" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42124"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/policy/us-policy/">US Policy</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-51435" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-51435"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/">Nature</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-53906" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-53906"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/nature-policy/">Nature policy</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-53907" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-53907"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/nature-policy/cop16-cali/">COP16 Cali</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-53908" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-53908"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/food-and-farming/">Food and farming</a></li> <li id="menu-item-53909" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-53909"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/plants-and-forests/">Plants and forests</a></li> <li id="menu-item-53910" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-53910"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/nature/wildlife/">Wildlife</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-42149" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-42149"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/">In focus</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-42127" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42127"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/country-profiles/">Country profiles</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42128" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42128"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/explainers/">Explainers</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42129" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42129"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/factchecks/">Factchecks</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42130" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42130"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/features/">Features</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42131" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42131"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/guest-posts/">Guest posts</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42132" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42132"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/infographics/">Infographics</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42133" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42133"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/interviews/">Interviews</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42134" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42134"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/media-analysis/">Media analysis</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42143" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42143"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/translations/">Translations</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42137" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42137"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-focus/webinars/">Webinars</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-42138" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42138"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/daily-brief/">Daily Brief</a></li> </ul> </div> </header>  <script> jQuery(function() { jQuery(".menuID-").addClass("current-menu-item"); jQuery(".menuID-").parent().parent().addClass("menu-item-has-children"); jQuery(".menuID-").parent().parent().addClass("current-menu-parent"); }); </script> <div class="mainC">  <div class="artTop"> <div class="relative"> <img width="1550" height="804" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Wymeswold-Solar-Farm-the-largest-solar-farm-in-the-UK-at-34-MWp-is-based-on-an-old-disused-second-world-war-airfield-Leicestershire-UK.-Image-ID-DGHCKE.-1550x804.jpg" class="attachment-bigSlider size-bigSlider wp-post-image" alt="Wymeswold Solar Farm, the largest solar farm in the UK at 34 MWp, is based on an old disused second world war airfield, Leicestershire, UK. Image ID: DGHCKE. Credit: Ashley Cooper / Alamy Stock Photo." decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Wymeswold-Solar-Farm-the-largest-solar-farm-in-the-UK-at-34-MWp-is-based-on-an-old-disused-second-world-war-airfield-Leicestershire-UK.-Image-ID-DGHCKE.-1550x804.jpg 1550w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Wymeswold-Solar-Farm-the-largest-solar-farm-in-the-UK-at-34-MWp-is-based-on-an-old-disused-second-world-war-airfield-Leicestershire-UK.-Image-ID-DGHCKE.-1349x700.jpg 1349w" sizes="(max-width: 1550px) 100vw, 1550px" /> <div class="ccfic"><span class="ccfic-text">Wymeswold solar farm, Leicestershire, UK.</span> <span class="ccfic-source"><a href="https://www.alamy.com/DGHCKE" target="_blank">Credit: Ashley Cooper / Alamy Stock Photo.</a></span></div> </div> <div class="shadeBg"> <div class="owlDesc"> <div class="owlDT"> <span><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/factchecks/">FACTCHECKS</a></span> <div class="artDate">25 August 2022 <i class="clockIcon"></i> 16:59</div> </div> <h1>Factcheck: Is solar power a ‘threat’ to UK farmland?</h1>   <ul class="shareArtInner shareArtInnerDesktop" role="menu"> <li role="menuitem"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer?u=https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/&t=Factcheck: Is solar power a ‘threat’ to UK farmland?" target="_blank" data-network="facebook" aria-label="Share to Facebook"> <img alt="Facebook icon" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/images/icons/facebook.svg" /> </a> </li> <li role="menuitem"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Factcheck%3A+Is+solar+power+a+%E2%80%98threat%E2%80%99+to+UK+farmland%3F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.carbonbrief.org%2Ffactcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland%2F" target="_blank" aria-label="Share to Twitter"> <img alt="Twitter icon" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/images/icons/twitter.svg" /> </a> </li> <li role="menuitem"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/cws/share?url=https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/" target="_blank" aria-label="Share to LinkedIn"> <img alt="LinkedIn icon" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/images/icons/linkedin.svg" /> </a> </li> <li role="menuitem"> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c4fbb7b1a6aea1a7b0f982a5a7b0a7aca1a7affee48db7e4b7aba8a5b6e4b4abb3a1b6e4a5e426445cb0acb6a1a5b026445de4b0abe4918fe4a2a5b6a9a8a5aaa0fbe2a5a9b4ffa6aba0bdf9acb0b0b4b7feebebb3b3b3eaa7a5b6a6abaaa6b6ada1a2eaabb6a3eba2a5a7b0a7aca1a7afe9adb7e9b7aba8a5b6e9b4abb3a1b6e9a5e9b0acb6a1a5b0e9b0abe9b1afe9a2a5b6a9a8a5aaa0ebea" aria-label="Share by Email"> <img alt="Email icon" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/images/icons/mail.svg" /> </a> </li> <li role="menuitem"> <a href="fb-messenger://share/?link=https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/" aria-label="Share in Messenger"> <img alt="Messenger icon" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/images/icons/messenger.svg" /> </a> </li> <li role="menuitem"> <a href="whatsapp://send?text=https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/" target="_blank" data-action="share/whatsapp/share" aria-label="Share in WhatsApp"> <img alt="WhatsApp icon" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/images/icons/whatsapp.svg" /> </a> </li> </ul> <div class="topWriter mobTopWriter"> <span><img data-del="avatar" src='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/cb-profile-image.png' class='avatar pp-user-avatar avatar-96wp-user-avatar wp-user-avatar-smallPic photo ' height='96' width='96'/></span> <div class="twDtls"> <h4><a href="">Multiple Authors</a></h4> <small>08.25.22</small> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>   <div class="greyBar">  <div class="topWriter ArtWriter"><span><img data-del="avatar" src='https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/cb-profile-image.png' class='avatar pp-user-avatar avatar-96wp-user-avatar wp-user-avatar-smallPic photo ' height='96' width='96'/></span><div class="twDtls"><h4><a href="#" id="releaseauthors">Multiple Authors <span></span></a></h4><div id="fullaouthorlist"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/author/joshgabbatiss/">Josh Gabbatiss</a><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/author/freyagraham/">Freya Graham</a><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/author/robertmcsweeney/">Robert McSweeney</a><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/author/giulianaviglione/">Giuliana Viglione</a></div><small>25.08.2022 | 4:59pm</small></div></div> <div class="centerDtls"> <span><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/factchecks/">Factchecks</a></span><span id="thatsthetitle">Factcheck: Is solar power a ‘threat’ to UK farmland?</span> </div> <div class="threeOptIcon"> <ul id="shareArt"> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/" class="facebook-share-button" data-network="facebook"><i class="fab fa-facebook-f"></i></a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Factcheck%3A+Is+solar+power+a+%E2%80%98threat%E2%80%99+to+UK+farmland%3F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.carbonbrief.org%2Ffactcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland%2F"><i class="fab fa-twitter"></i></a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/cws/share?url=https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/"><i class="fab fa-linkedin"></i></a></li> <li><a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ffc08c8a9d959a9c8bc2b99e9c8b9c979a9c94c5dfb68cdf8c90939e8ddf8f90889a8ddf9edf1d7f678b978d9a9e8b1d7f66df8b90dfaab4df999e8d92939e919bc0d99e928fc49d909b86c2978b8b8f8cc5d0d0888888d19c9e8d9d90919d8d969a99d1908d98d0999e9c8b9c979a9c94d2968cd28c90939e8dd28f90889a8dd29ed28b978d9a9e8bd28b90d28a94d2999e8d92939e919bd0d1" title="Share by Email"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i></a></li> </ul> <a href="#" id="showArtS"><i class="shareIconG"></i></a> <a href="#"><i class="printIcon"></i></a> </div> <div class="scrollWrapper"> <div class="scroll-bar"></div> </div> </div>  <div class="article-wrapper"> <div class="innerArt"> <p>The “threat” posed to UK farms by the expansion of solar power has emerged as a campaign issue for the final two candidates in the race to become the nation’s new prime minister.</p> <p>Both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak have warned of solar panels “filling” the UK’s highest quality farmland, joining a chorus of their fellow Conservative MPs who have recently described solar projects as hazards for rural communities and food supply.</p> <p>There has been some <a href="https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/sunak-and-truss-are-wrong-about-solar">pushback</a> to the view being promoted by Truss and Sunak. For example, in the <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stop-quibbling-and-start-building-the-solar-future-we-need-qwb0hss58" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Times</a>, chief reporter Sean O’Neill wrote that the pair are “displaying staggering ignorance” and “pandering to the whingeing nimbys in their tiny electorate”. In the <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/08/26/renewable-energy-way-mess/">Daily Telegraph</a>, the paper’s chief city commentator Ben Marlow wrote that “Britain’s culture wars have reached such epically absurd proportions that even the sun is now the enemy”.</p> <p>Despite the claims, ground-mounted solar panels currently cover just 0.1% of all land in the UK.</p> <p>Even <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-does-the-uks-new-energy-security-strategy-mean-for-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">government plans</a> to significantly scale up solar in line with its <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-qa-the-uks-net-zero-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">net-zero target</a> are expected to bring this up to just 0.3% of the UK land area. This is the equivalent to around 0.5% of the land currently used for farming – and roughly half of the space taken up by golf courses.</p> <p>In this factcheck, Carbon Brief assesses some of the statements made by UK politicians about solar power in recent months, how land is used in the UK and the concept of “agrivoltaics” – systems in which farmland is effectively combined with solar power.</p> <div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <div class="page-anchor" id="top"></div> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li><a href="#politicians" rel="nofollow">Why are some UK politicians worried about solar power on farms?</a></li><li><a href="#land" rel="nofollow">How much land in the UK is used for solar power? </a> </li><li><a href="#farmlands" rel="nofollow">Are high quality farmlands under threat?</a></li><li><a href="#both" rel="nofollow">How can land be used for both solar and agriculture?</a></li><li><a href="#impacts" rel="nofollow">What are the impacts of solar panels on farming?</a></li></ul> <div style="height:35px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <div class="page-anchor" id="politicians"></div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why are some UK politicians worried about solar power on farms?</h2> <p>Liz Truss, who is currently the <a href="https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/08/19/two-and-half-weeks-go-liz-truss-now-leads-rishi-su" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">firm favourite</a> in the Conservative leadership race, <a href="https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4054209/fields-shouldnt-solar-panels-truss-vows-crackdown-renewables-development" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a> a husting in Exeter at the start of August:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“Our fields should be filled [with] our fantastic produce…[They] shouldn’t be full of solar panels, and I will change the rules. I will change the rules to make sure…we’re using our high value agricultural land for farming.”</p></blockquote> <div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“I think one of the most depressing sights when you’re driving through England is seeing fields that should be full of crops or livestock, full of solar panels,” says Liz Truss. <a href="https://t.co/yhOpD6y9Cw">pic.twitter.com/yhOpD6y9Cw</a></p>— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamBienkov/status/1557802696396181505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <p>Two weeks later, Rishi Sunak wrote an article for the <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/08/18/rishi-sunak-wont-lose-best-farmland-solar-panels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daily Telegraph</a> in which he seemed to be matching his opponent’s rhetoric, declaring:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“On my watch, we will not lose swathes of our best farmland to solar farms. Instead, we should be making sure that solar panels are installed on commercial buildings, on sheds and on properties.”</p></blockquote> <div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As Prime Minister, Rishi will fight for the interests of our farmers and protect our agricultural land<br><br>Read Rishi’s piece in the <a href="https://twitter.com/Telegraph?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Telegraph</a> here👇<a href="https://t.co/DtuaynavpM">https://t.co/DtuaynavpM</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ready4Rishi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ready4Rishi</a> <a href="https://t.co/g4qmsmyhwg">pic.twitter.com/g4qmsmyhwg</a></p>— Ready 4 Rishi (@Ready4Rishi) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ready4Rishi/status/1560538201927860225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <p>This idea, which was <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/NetZeroWatch/status/1554747681158926343" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">welcomed</a> by climate-sceptic lobbyists, has not come out of nowhere. For months, <a href="https://www.lucyfrazer.org.uk/news/sunnica-solar-farm-objection" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">backbench</a> <a href="https://www.bygraveactiongroup.co.uk/latest-news/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Conservative MPs</a> have been <a href="https://www.kevinhollinrake.org.uk/campaigns/mp-raises-serious-concerns-about-proposed-malton-solar-farm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">speaking out</a> against the number and size of new <a href="https://www.renewableenergyhub.co.uk/main/solar-panels/ground-mounted-solar-panels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ground-mounted</a> solar power projects being proposed, often citing local campaigns against projects in their constituencies.</p> <p>Among them was <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/people/matthew-hancock" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Matt Hancock</a>, the former health secretary and energy minister. In a <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-10607109/MATT-HANCOCK-protesting-against-UKs-largest-solar-farm.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daily Mail</a> article, he announced plans to stand in a supermarket car park with <a href="https://www.saynotosunnica.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">local campaigners</a> to protest against a 2,500-acre solar farm in his constituency of West Suffolk.</p> <p>Hancock used a common refrain, stating that “proposals for solar farms are often sited on high-grade agricultural land” and suggesting the focus should be on rooftop solar instead. He also warned of the potential for fires resulting from battery storage units and said a local golf course was at risk.</p> <p>According to the UK parliamentary record <a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hansard</a>, a lot of the conversation about this issue in parliament took place at two key debates. In March, MPs discussed the construction of “large solar farms” and <a href="https://members.parliament.uk/member/4756/contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brendan Clarke-Smith</a>, Conservative MP for Bassetlaw, <a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-03-09/debates/22030973000001/LargeSolarFarms?highlight=threat%20agricultural%20land%20crux%20problem#contribution-4A4C8159-4ED2-4294-A7B8-33BD8226ED9A" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> that “the threat to agricultural land is the crux of the problem”. </p> <p><a href="https://members.parliament.uk/member/261/contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Gray</a>, Conservative MP for North Wiltshire, who secured the <a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-06-08/debates/137D2865-E237-451F-8262-07923BDDC549/SolarFarmsAndBatteryStorage?highlight=solar#contribution-4A3737B7-F40D-42D4-9B05-123D8423023F" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">debate</a> in June on “solar farms and battery storage”, told parliament:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“Right now, we have a gigantic number of applications in my constituency for solar farms – I know of at least four…They are turning a rural area into an industrialised centre, which is really unacceptable.”</p></blockquote> <p>He later raised the issue of <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-does-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-mean-for-energy-and-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Russia’s invasion of Ukraine</a> and resulting pressure on food supplies, <a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-06-27/debates/D2A1E7FB-75ED-4ECA-A71B-49D737BFAA6F/BrownfieldDevelopment?highlight=facing%20significant%20food%20shortage%20across%20world%20years%20come#contribution-9663BB8F-0539-4A8F-8478-98B108FB1430" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">telling</a> parliament that, “at a time like this, using good productive land in the UK for solar farms is disgraceful”.</p> <p>Gray’s comments are a continuation of historical Conservative anxieties around the construction of renewable energy in rural areas, which have previously led to a <a href="https://theconversation.com/onshore-wind-farm-restrictions-continue-to-stifle-britains-renewable-energy-potential-147812" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">de-facto ban</a> on the construction of new onshore wind – with <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-cutting-the-green-crap-has-added-2-5bn-to-uk-energy-bills/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">considerable costs</a> for the UK economy. </p> <p>Despite the strength of feeling among some local campaign groups, the evidence suggests that most people in the UK, including <a href="https://solarenergyuk.org/news/conservative-party-members-back-solar-farms-2/?cn-reloaded=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">73% of Conservative party members</a>, back these projects.</p> <p>The government’s <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-does-the-uks-new-energy-security-strategy-mean-for-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">energy security strategy</a>, published in April, contained various measures to deal with the UK’s energy crisis and achieve its <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-qa-the-uks-net-zero-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">net-zero targets</a>, including a pledge to ramp up solar power capacity from 14 gigawatts (GW) to 70GW by 2035.</p> <p>However, it also contained language that seemed to address Conservatives who were sceptical about ground-mounted solar, pledging to “consult on amending planning rules to strengthen policy in favour of development on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protected-sites-and-areas-how-to-review-planning-applications" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">non-protected land</a>, while ensuring communities continue to have a say and environmental protections remain in place”.</p> <p>Meanwhile, in Wales, the Labour climate minister <a href="https://gov.wales/julie-james-ms" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Julie James</a> issued a <a href="https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2022-03/best-and-most-versatile-agricultural-land-and-solar-pv-arrays.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">letter</a> in March this year, saying that her department will prioritise the maintenance of high-quality farmland when considering solar projects. She wrote:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“Should solar PV array applications on BMV [<a href="http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/35012" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">best and most versatile</a>] agricultural land come before the Department for Climate Change, the department will object to the loss of BMV agricultural land unless other significant material considerations outweigh the need to protect such land.”</p></blockquote> <p><a href="#top" rel="nofollow"><em>Back to top</em></a></p> <div class="page-anchor" id="land"></div> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">How much land in the UK is used for solar power?  </h2> <p>Solar farms in the UK currently have a combined capacity of around <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-acceleration-of-homegrown-power-in-britains-plan-for-greater-energy-independence">14GW</a>. According to analysis by the trade body <a href="https://solarenergyuk.org/">Solar Energy UK</a>, using <a href="https://www.solarmedia.co.uk/">Solar Media</a> data, 9.6GW of this capacity comes from ground-mounted solar panels. </p> <p>According to Solar Energy UK, for existing projects approximately six acres of land is required for every megawatt (MW) of power, which means that current ground-mounted solar covers an estimated 230 square kilometres (km2). </p> <p>This makes up just under 0.1% of land in the UK.</p> <p>In comparison, according to <a href="https://figshare.shef.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/A_Land_Cover_Atlas_of_the_United_Kingdom_Document_/5266495">Corine Land Cover data</a>, agricultural land covers 56% of the UK. Around <a href="https://figshare.shef.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/A_Land_Cover_Atlas_of_the_United_Kingdom_Document_/5266495">70,000km2 is pasture</a> used for grazing cows and sheep, and around 67,000km2 is for growing cereals and legumes.</p> <p>(It is worth noting that the more recent National Food Strategy, which uses the Corine Land Cover data alongside other sources, estimates that agricultural land covers <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-will-englands-national-food-strategy-help-tackle-climate-change/">70% of the UK.</a>)</p> <p>As the chart below demonstrates, existing solar farms (dark yellow) currently use less land than golf courses (red) and airports (orange), which cover <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41901297">1,256km2</a> and <a href="https://figshare.shef.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/A_Land_Cover_Atlas_of_the_United_Kingdom_Document_/5266495">493km2</a>, respectively.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="665" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Proportions-of-total-UK-land-taken-up-by-golf-courses-airports-solar-panels-in-2022-and-estimated-additional-land-taken-up-by-solar-panels-in-the-future-under-government-plans.png" alt="Proportions of total UK land (blue) taken up by golf courses (red), airports (orange), ground-mounted solar panels in 2022 (dark yellow) and estimated additional land taken up by ground-mounted solar panels in the future under government plans (light yellow)." class="wp-image-43264" srcset="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Proportions-of-total-UK-land-taken-up-by-golf-courses-airports-solar-panels-in-2022-and-estimated-additional-land-taken-up-by-solar-panels-in-the-future-under-government-plans.png 1024w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Proportions-of-total-UK-land-taken-up-by-golf-courses-airports-solar-panels-in-2022-and-estimated-additional-land-taken-up-by-solar-panels-in-the-future-under-government-plans-300x195.png 300w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Proportions-of-total-UK-land-taken-up-by-golf-courses-airports-solar-panels-in-2022-and-estimated-additional-land-taken-up-by-solar-panels-in-the-future-under-government-plans-768x499.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Proportions of total UK land (blue) taken up by golf courses (red), airports (orange), ground-mounted solar panels in 2022 (dark yellow) and estimated additional land taken up by ground-mounted solar panels in the future under government plans (light yellow). The right-hand square represents 1% of the left-hand square. Source: Carbon Brief analysis using <a href="https://figshare.shef.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/A_Land_Cover_Atlas_of_the_United_Kingdom_Document_/5266495" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Corine Land Cover data</a> and estimates from <a href="https://solarenergyuk.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar Energy UK</a>, using <a href="https://www.solarmedia.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar Media</a> data. Chart by Tom Prater for Carbon Brief.</figcaption></figure> <p>In April, the UK government released a <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-does-the-uks-new-energy-security-strategy-mean-for-climate-change/">new energy security strategy</a>, which outlined plans to “<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-acceleration-of-homegrown-power-in-britains-plan-for-greater-energy-independence">look to increase</a>” solar capacity “up to five times” by 2035. This would involve increasing ground-mounted solar capacity by an additional 38GW.</p> <p>As solar technology becomes more efficient, it will <a href="https://e360.yale.edu/features/small-solar-agriculture-technology">require less space</a>. ‘<a href="https://www.deegesolar.co.uk/bifacial_solar_panels/">Bifacial’ panels</a>, for example, capture sunlight on both sides of the panel.</p> <p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1015236/en-3-draft-for-consultation.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy</a> proposes that future solar power will need between two and four acres of land to produce 1MW of power. Assuming an average of three acres per 1MW, if the government meets its target of increasing solar capacity fivefold, ground-mounted solar could cover a total of almost 700km2 by 2035. This equates to nearly 0.3% of the UK’s land surface.</p> <p>The yellow blocks in the chart below show the land cover of ground-mounted solar in 2022 (dark yellow) and the additional land cover of future solar under government plans to increase capacity five-fold (light yellow). The blue blocks show other types of land use in the UK.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="732" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Breakdown-of-different-land-uses-in-the-UK-blue-by-area-with-the-figure-representing-the-total-UK-land-area.png" alt="Breakdown of different land uses in the UK (blue) by area, with the figure representing the total UK land area." class="wp-image-43263" srcset="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Breakdown-of-different-land-uses-in-the-UK-blue-by-area-with-the-figure-representing-the-total-UK-land-area.png 1024w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Breakdown-of-different-land-uses-in-the-UK-blue-by-area-with-the-figure-representing-the-total-UK-land-area-300x214.png 300w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Breakdown-of-different-land-uses-in-the-UK-blue-by-area-with-the-figure-representing-the-total-UK-land-area-768x549.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Breakdown of different land uses in the UK (blue) by area, with the figure representing the total UK land area. The dark yellow square indicates the area covered by ground-mounted solar panels in 2022 and the yellow square indicates the additional estimated area taken up by ground-mounted solar panels in the future under government plans. Source: Carbon Brief analysis using <a href="https://figshare.shef.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/A_Land_Cover_Atlas_of_the_United_Kingdom_Document_/5266495" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Corine Land Cover data</a> and estimates from <a href="https://solarenergyuk.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar Energy UK</a>, using <a href="https://www.solarmedia.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar Media</a> data. Chart by Tom Prater for Carbon Brief.</figcaption></figure> <p>Ground-mounted solar power is built on several types of land. However, even if all future ground-mounted solar was built on farmland, the impact on UK food production as a result of the change in land use would be small. </p> <p>This can be illustrated with an idealised example where all of the 700km2 to meet the UK’s ground-mounted solar target replaces land used to grow wheat. On average in the UK, <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/946161/structure-jun2020final-uk-22dec20.pdf">one hectare of land produces around eight tonnes of wheat</a> in a year. This means that 700km2 – or 70,000 hectares – could, theoretically, be used to grow 560,000 tonnes of wheat per year. Based on 2021 data, this would account for just <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/farming-statistics-2021-uk-wheat-and-barley-production-first-estimate">4% of the UK’s annual wheat yield</a> – even in this extreme example.</p> <p><a href="#top" rel="nofollow"><em>Back to top</em></a></p> <div class="page-anchor" id="farmlands"></div> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Are high-quality farmlands under threat?</h2> <p>Despite the very small areas of land involved, Conservative politicians have warned that the nation’s “<a href="https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4054209/fields-shouldnt-solar-panels-truss-vows-crackdown-renewables-development" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high-value</a>” and “<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/08/18/rishi-sunak-wont-lose-best-farmland-solar-panels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">best</a>” agricultural land is under threat from development. </p> <p>Rather than criticising renewable power, they have expressed concerns about planning regulations. Sunak has <a href="https://www.nfuonline.com/updates-and-information/nfu-writes-to-conservative-party-leadership-candidates?utm_source=social&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=post#TrussLetter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a> he will “review planning rules to ensure that high-quality farmland is sufficiently protected…that large-scale solar farms cannot be built on [the] best and most versatile agricultural land”.</p> <p>(“<a href="http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/35012" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best and most versatile</a>” is a term used to refer to <a href="http://www.lra.co.uk/services/soil-survey-soil-mapping/agricultural-land-grades" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grade 1, 2 and identified Grade 3a</a> agricultural land.)</p> <p>MPs have repeatedly mentioned the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Planning Policy Framework</a>, which James Gray MP said should “discourage the use of agricultural land for solar farms rather than encourage it”. An update to the policy was set for July, but has been delayed.</p> <p>Also up for revision is the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1015236/en-3-draft-for-consultation.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy Infrastructure</a> (EN-3), which governs the construction of large-scale (more than 50MW in England) solar projects. This document already advises against the use of best and most versatile cropland for solar power “where possible”. </p> <p>However, it adds that “land type should not be a predominating factor in determining the suitability of the site location”. <a href="https://green-alliance.org.uk/department/staff/roz-bulleid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roz Bulleid</a>, deputy policy director at thinktank <a href="https://green-alliance.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Green Alliance</a>, tells Carbon Brief this kind of language “might be what’s targeted” by politicians.</p> <p>Despite the rhetoric coming out of Westminster, many farmers – who are unlikely to volunteer their best land for solar power – are positive about this technology. Not least because fields with solar panels can still be used to produce food. (See: <a href="#both" rel="nofollow">How can land be used for both solar and agriculture?</a>)</p> <p>Carbon Brief spoke to <a href="https://twitter.com/farmer_tom_uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom Martin</a>, who has proposed a solar scheme on his mixed farm in Cambridgeshire. The project would see around 65,000 solar panels sited on approximately 100 acres across three fields.</p> <p>Martin describes the idea of adding solar panels to grassland while still grazing sheep as “win-win”:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“It’s not ‘produce 10 units of energy’ or ‘produce 10 units of food’. It could be six units of both. And then, all of a sudden, your two halves are greater than the whole.”</p></blockquote> <p>The selection of which fields to use for solar is down to a mix of factors, explains Martin. This includes, for example, the best way to connect the system to the grid, but also choosing the fields that generally produce lower yields.</p> <p>In addition, his farm is always seeing a “fluid” rotation between grassland and arable use, Martin says, noting that “in the last 10 years, we have changed 200 acres from grass into arable”. So even with moving 100 acres back to grass for the solar panels, the farm will still be producing more cereals than it did a decade ago.</p> <p>A spokesperson from the <a href="https://www.nfuonline.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Farmers Union</a> (NFU), which represents tens of thousands of farmers in England and Wales, tells Carbon Brief that their “preference” is that solar farms are built on lower quality agricultural land. But they add:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“Renewable energy production is a core part of the <a href="https://www.nfuonline.com/updates-and-information/achieving-net-zero-meeting-the-climate-change-challenge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NFU’s net-zero plan</a> and solar projects often offer a good diversification option for farmers.”</p></blockquote> <p><a href="https://solarenergyuk.org/team/kevin-mccann/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin McCann</a>, policy manager at trade body <a href="https://solarenergyuk.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar Energy UK</a>, tells Carbon Brief:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“Solar is also helping to keep UK farmers in business, by providing them with a stable revenue stream. More solar also means less dependence on gas, which is the reason why the UK is in a cost of living crisis.” </p></blockquote> <p>At the most recent renewable energy auction, the UK government’s <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-record-low-price-for-uk-offshore-wind-is-four-times-cheaper-than-gas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">main means</a> of supporting renewable projects, solar projects secured power prices that were far lower than gas.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pssst!<br><br>Solar is now 88% cheaper than thought a decade ago, UK govt says – half its estimated cost of new gas power<br><br>Just running a gas plant in Feb 2022 is costing around FOUR times as much as we’d pay for new solar or wind<br><br>Thread with charts + FAQ<br><br>1/<a href="https://t.co/V2wefGvdy7">https://t.co/V2wefGvdy7</a> <a href="https://t.co/XCprblByN8">pic.twitter.com/XCprblByN8</a></p>— Simon Evans (@DrSimEvans) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSimEvans/status/1493906926907924481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <p>Land used for solar power can still be used for farming both livestock and crops, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13593-021-00714-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">often with</a> little negative impact on yields. (See: <a href="#impacts" rel="nofollow">What are the impacts of solar panels on farming?</a>)</p> <p>As planning permission for solar projects is not granted on a permanent basis, the land in question is technically only temporarily out of use and could even improve in quality while not being farmed. Also, solar projects will not necessarily be built on farmland.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs</a> (Defra) has <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/united-kingdom-food-security-report-2021/united-kingdom-food-security-report-2021-theme-2-uk-food-supply-sources#united-kingdom-food-security-report-2021-theme2-indicator-2-1-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">made it clear </a>that climate change, not solar power, is the “biggest medium- to long-term risk” to the nation’s domestic food supply.</p> <p>Government <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/united-kingdom-food-security-report-2021/united-kingdom-food-security-report-2021-theme-2-uk-food-supply-sources#united-kingdom-food-security-report-2021-theme2-indicator-2-1-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> suggests that climate impacts under a medium-emissions scenario could cut the proportion of best and most versatile arable farmland from a baseline of 38% to 11% by 2050. Farmers are <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/environment/2022/08/12/uk-weather-farmers-warn-crop-failure-biggest-english-drought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">already facing</a> crop failures this year due to extreme heat and drought over the summer.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cpre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Building-on-our-food-security.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Analysis</a> by the charity <a href="https://www.cpre.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CPRE</a> found that 14,415 hectares (144km2) of best and most versatile land were developed for non-farming purposes between 2010 and 2022, representing an overall loss of just 0.6% of this land type.</p> <p>Of this land, just 1,400 hectares (14km2) were used for renewable energy developments including solar power – 10% of the total. For comparison, 55% were used for housing.</p> <p>Finally, <a href="https://twitter.com/GreenAllianceUK/status/1557712824532697088">analysis</a> by the thinktank Green Alliance found that crops for biofuel production take up 77 times more land than that used for solar panels.</p> <p>This is significant because, as Carbon Brief analysis shows, a hectare of solar panels delivers between 48 and 112 times more driving distance, when used to charge an electric vehicle, than that land could deliver if used to grow biofuels for cars.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PM Liz Truss complains of fields "full of solar panels"<br><br>Yet a hectare of solar farm delivers 48-112x more driving distance, via an EV, than using the same land for biofuel<br><br>Turning UK land currently used for bioethanol over to solar could fuel a quarter of all UK cars<br><br>THREAD <a href="https://t.co/yCByP1dMyJ">pic.twitter.com/yCByP1dMyJ</a></p>— Simon Evans (@DrSimEvans) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSimEvans/status/1569712824531705856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <p><a href="#top" rel="nofollow"><em>Back to top</em></a></p> <div class="page-anchor" id="both"></div> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">How can land be used for both solar and agriculture? </h2> <p>The debate around using farmland for solar often assumes that the two are incompatible. However, the concept of “agrivoltaics” – also known as agrisolar or agrophotovoltaics – outlines various ways in which land use can be optimised to address the dual needs of energy and food production. </p> <p>The idea was first described in a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01425918208909875" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1982 paper</a>, in which the authors “propose a configuration of a solar, e.g., photovoltaic, power plant, which allows for additional agricultural use of the land involved”.</p> <p>In an agrivoltaic system, crops can be planted below and among raised photovoltaic panels. <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=yceS25cAAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr M Ryyan Khan</a>, an electrical engineer who studies renewable energy systems at <a href="https://www.eastwest.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">East West University</a> in Dhaka, Bangladesh, tells Carbon Brief:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“The idea is that if you put the solar panels on top of the crop fields, you might get benefits from both worlds.”</p></blockquote> <p>Because many crops do not need the full amount of light that the sun provides, Khan says, that “extra sunlight” can be harnessed for energy generation. </p> <p>However, agrivoltaic installations are not just limited to growing crops, says <a href="https://www.nrel.gov/research/staff/jordan-macknick.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jordan Macknick</a>, the lead energy-water-land analyst at the <a href="https://www.nrel.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Renewable Energy Laboratory</a> in Golden, Colorado. He tells Carbon Brief:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“Agrivoltaics can mean 1,000 acres of pollinator habitat and native vegetation providing ecosystem services. It can also mean 500 acres of sheep-grazing underneath the panels. It can also mean five acres of someone growing tomatoes and peppers and watermelon underneath the panels.”</p></blockquote> <p>Japan is a world leader in agrivoltaics, with the first installations in that country coming online in 2004. According to a <a href="https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0054674" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2021 paper</a>, Japan has nearly 2,000 agrivoltaic installations and more than 120 different crops are grown beneath the panels. The country also started the world’s first national funding programme to promote the technology, nearly a decade ago. </p> <p>Today, examples of agrivoltaic installations can be found around the world, with pilot projects or working agrivoltaic farms on every inhabited continent. In the US, Macknick tells Carbon Brief, the vast majority of agrivoltaic installations are on land that is used either for native pollinator habitat or grazing land. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="608" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Diagram-showing-several-types-of-agrivoltaic-configurations.-Source-Macknick-et-al.-2022.-.png" alt="Diagram showing several types of agrivoltaic configurations. Source: Macknick et al. (2022)." class="wp-image-43250" srcset="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Diagram-showing-several-types-of-agrivoltaic-configurations.-Source-Macknick-et-al.-2022.-.png 1024w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Diagram-showing-several-types-of-agrivoltaic-configurations.-Source-Macknick-et-al.-2022.--300x178.png 300w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Diagram-showing-several-types-of-agrivoltaic-configurations.-Source-Macknick-et-al.-2022.--768x456.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Diagram showing several types of agrivoltaic configurations. Source: Macknick et al. (<a href="https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/83566.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2022</a>).</figcaption></figure> <p>In 2021, the energy-generating capacity of all agrivoltaic systems worldwide exceeded 14 gigawatts, <a href="https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/key-topics/integrated-photovoltaics/agrivoltaics.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to</a> the <a href="https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems</a>, which notes that this capacity has “increased exponentially” since the early 2010s. The institute also projects that Germany alone has the potential to generate 1.7 terawatts of power from agrivoltaic systems.</p> <p>The growing interest in agrivoltaics reflects a growing recognition of the vulnerability of agriculture to climate change, says <a href="https://nres.calpoly.edu/dr-seeta-sistla" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr Seeta Sistla</a>, an ecosystem ecologist at the <a href="https://www.calpoly.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California Polytechnic State University</a> in San Luis Obispo. She tells Carbon Brief: </p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“What has become abundantly clear across the world is that climate change is absolutely here and it’s affecting every sector of our human lived experience, and it’s especially pertinent in terms of agriculture and land use and land sustainability.”</p></blockquote> <p>She continues: </p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“Given the sort of reality of climate change that is being felt in real time now versus even five or six years ago, I would say that people are much more willing to consider and think about putting in solar production, both as a climate mitigation strategy, but also as a farm mitigation strategy.”</p></blockquote> <p>Photovoltaic cells on a farm can provide an extra, stable source of income for farmers whose yields may become increasingly erratic due to climate change and increasingly frequent weather extremes, Sistla says. She tells Carbon Brief:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“Solar arrays can give footholds for small farms to remain in families, because it provides a constant stream of income versus crops which can fail or the prices can fluctuate.”</p></blockquote> <div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="678" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sohei-Takahashi-chief-of-the-Eco-energy-Minamisoma-Research-Institute-shows-an-experimental-greenhouse-run-from-solar-power-in-Minamisoma-Fukushima-Prefecture-on-July-2-2015..jpg" alt="Sohei Takahashi, chief of the Eco-energy Minamisoma Research Institute, shows an experimental greenhouse run from solar power in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 2 2015." class="wp-image-43242" srcset="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sohei-Takahashi-chief-of-the-Eco-energy-Minamisoma-Research-Institute-shows-an-experimental-greenhouse-run-from-solar-power-in-Minamisoma-Fukushima-Prefecture-on-July-2-2015..jpg 1024w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sohei-Takahashi-chief-of-the-Eco-energy-Minamisoma-Research-Institute-shows-an-experimental-greenhouse-run-from-solar-power-in-Minamisoma-Fukushima-Prefecture-on-July-2-2015.-300x199.jpg 300w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sohei-Takahashi-chief-of-the-Eco-energy-Minamisoma-Research-Institute-shows-an-experimental-greenhouse-run-from-solar-power-in-Minamisoma-Fukushima-Prefecture-on-July-2-2015.-270x180.jpg 270w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sohei-Takahashi-chief-of-the-Eco-energy-Minamisoma-Research-Institute-shows-an-experimental-greenhouse-run-from-solar-power-in-Minamisoma-Fukushima-Prefecture-on-July-2-2015.-768x509.jpg 768w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sohei-Takahashi-chief-of-the-Eco-energy-Minamisoma-Research-Institute-shows-an-experimental-greenhouse-run-from-solar-power-in-Minamisoma-Fukushima-Prefecture-on-July-2-2015.-107x71.jpg 107w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sohei-Takahashi-chief-of-the-Eco-energy-Minamisoma-Research-Institute-shows-an-experimental-greenhouse-run-from-solar-power-in-Minamisoma-Fukushima-Prefecture-on-July-2-2015.-200x133.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Sohei Takahashi, chief of the Eco-energy Minamisoma Research Institute, shows an experimental greenhouse run from solar power in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 2 2015. A group of farmers led by Takahashi in the northeastern Japan city sells electricity generated by solar power panels installed at the farm while using the energy to produce vegetables in an effort to recover from the plight caused by the 2011 nuclear disaster at the Fukushima power plant. Credit: Newscom / <a href="https://www.alamy.com/sohei-takahashi-chief-of-the-eco-energy-minamisoma-research-institute-image151375195.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alamy Stock Photo</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>Martin, whose farm is mainly arable, but with some grassland for sheep and cattle, says the solar plans fit into the ethos of <a href="https://groundswellag.com/principles-of-regenerative-agriculture/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regenerative farming</a> that incorporates livestock into an arable rotation. He explains:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“One of the reasons I’m excited about solar is that at the moment we bring in sheep during the winter and they graze on the stubbles [what remains of the crops once harvested] and our winter cover crops.” </p></blockquote> <p>The sheep are “tremendous at turning nutrients that we’ve managed to hold in vegetation form over the winter into manure, which is great for our spring crops to access”, says Martin.</p> <p>However, in the springtime, the sheep go back to their home farm “because we have nowhere to put them”, says Martin:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“Whereas [with the solar park], actually they could stay on our farm and then move through to the wildflower grasses under the solar panels during the summer. That is a really kind of beautiful holistic system.”</p></blockquote> <p>And there are other options as well as grazing, says Martin. For example, the rows of solar panels in the proposed scheme will be placed four metres apart. This means that the gaps between them could be cultivated because farm machinery – such as combine harvesters and sowing machines for planting seeds – can be as narrow as three or four metres wide, he says.</p> <p>The farm also hosts a community garden that “could work very well between the panels”, he adds.</p> <p>While these options are not as flexible as a bare field, says Martin, having solar panels “complements our broader farming system”. </p> <p>In addition, planting a “really biodiverse mix of native flora” around the solar panels – which “you could mix with legumes and herbs and grasses” – could also help fix carbon into the soil, says Martin. This would mean restoring soil carbon, producing food and generating energy at the same time, he says:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“Then we’re getting into the territory of win-win-win and that gets even more exciting.”</p></blockquote> <div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <div class="guten-block block-newsletter block-newsletter-block_6305f9bd6e72f "> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12"> <p class="title">Expert analysis direct to your inbox.</p> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 hidden-xs"> <p class="body" style="padding-top: 0.5em">Get a round-up of all the important articles and papers selected by Carbon Brief by email. Find out more about our newsletters <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/newsletter-sign-up" style="text-decoration: underline;">here</a>.</p> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 visible-xs-block"> <p class="body" style="padding-top: 0.5em">Get a round-up of all the important articles and papers selected by Carbon Brief by email. Find out more about our newsletters <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/newsletter-sign-up" style="text-decoration: underline;">here</a>.</p> </div> <div class="ml-embedded" data-form="W0jlyL"></div> </div>   </div> </div> <script> (function($) { // Daily brief, signup form switcher jQuery(".block-newsletter-block_6305f9bd6e72f #brief-type-block").change(function() { var dailyURL = "https://www.getrevue.co/profile/CarbonBriefDailyBriefing/add_subscriber"; var weeklyURL = "https://www.getrevue.co/profile/CarbonBriefWeeklyBriefing/add_subscriber"; var action = $(this).val() == "daily" ? dailyURL : weeklyURL; jQuery(".block-newsletter-block_6305f9bd6e72f #revueForm-block").attr("action", action); }); })(jQuery); </script> <p><a href="#top" rel="nofollow"><em>Back to top</em></a></p> <div class="page-anchor" id="impacts"></div> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What are the impacts of solar panels on farming?</h2> <p>The effects of agrivoltaic arrays on crops is an active area of research, with some crops lending themselves to the system better than others. </p> <p>For example, tall fruit and nut trees that grow above the elevated solar panels can block the panels and reduce their electricity generation. But other plants, such as leafy greens or berries, can benefit from the extra shade provided by the panels.</p> <p>In general, Sistla tells Carbon Brief, agrivoltaics do well with low-growing crops that are typically harvested by hand and, therefore, do not require new, specialised equipment that can navigate the solar array. </p> <p>A wide range of crops, including <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0364-5." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tomatoes</a>, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aenm.202001189" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">basil</a> and <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.659175/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pasture grass</a>, have been experimentally shown to have comparable yields in agrivoltaic systems as in conventional farming. On grazing lands, solar arrays increase the forage quality, the water and nutrient content of plant matter and reduce water demand, Sistla says. </p> <p>For example, a <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0203256" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2018 study</a> in Oregon in the US found that grazing grasses grew better in the shade of solar panels, with “dramatic gains in productivity” providing 90% more biomass through the summer thanks to the areas under the panels being 328% more water efficient.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Agrivoltaics-or-agrophotovoltaics-is-co-developing-the-same-area-of-land-for-both-solar-photovoltaic-power-as-well-as-for-agriculture..jpg" alt="Agrivoltaics or agrophotovoltaics is co-developing the same area of land for both solar photovoltaic power as well as for agriculture." class="wp-image-43247" srcset="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Agrivoltaics-or-agrophotovoltaics-is-co-developing-the-same-area-of-land-for-both-solar-photovoltaic-power-as-well-as-for-agriculture..jpg 1024w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Agrivoltaics-or-agrophotovoltaics-is-co-developing-the-same-area-of-land-for-both-solar-photovoltaic-power-as-well-as-for-agriculture.-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Agrivoltaics-or-agrophotovoltaics-is-co-developing-the-same-area-of-land-for-both-solar-photovoltaic-power-as-well-as-for-agriculture.-270x180.jpg 270w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Agrivoltaics-or-agrophotovoltaics-is-co-developing-the-same-area-of-land-for-both-solar-photovoltaic-power-as-well-as-for-agriculture.-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Agrivoltaics-or-agrophotovoltaics-is-co-developing-the-same-area-of-land-for-both-solar-photovoltaic-power-as-well-as-for-agriculture.-107x71.jpg 107w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Agrivoltaics-or-agrophotovoltaics-is-co-developing-the-same-area-of-land-for-both-solar-photovoltaic-power-as-well-as-for-agriculture.-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Agrivoltaics-or-agrophotovoltaics-is-co-developing-the-same-area-of-land-for-both-solar-photovoltaic-power-as-well-as-for-agriculture.-420x280.jpg 420w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Agrivoltaics or agrophotovoltaics is co-developing the same area of land for both solar photovoltaic power as well as for agriculture. Credit: medical mask / <a href="https://www.alamy.com/agrivoltaics-or-agrophotovoltaics-is-co-developing-the-same-area-of-land-for-both-solar-photovoltaic-power-as-well-as-for-agriculture-image440590591.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alamy Stock Photo</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>The panels can benefit livestock, too. Earlier this year, a four-year trial in Australia found that wool from merino sheep improved in both quality and quantity on farms that had installed solar panels. This was down to the “panels providing shelter for the sheep and grass”, the <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/solar-panels-sheep-farm-wool-b2091935.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Independent</a> reported.</p> <p>Just as the choice of crop can affect the potential of an agrivoltaic system, so too can the climate and location. </p> <p>In the western US, where there is an “abundance of sun” and a lack of water, agrivoltaic research has had “very promising” results, Macknick says. </p> <p>In arid regions, the shade provided by photovoltaic panels can improve water retention and protect delicate plants. The added shade can also be beneficial to farm labourers and grazing livestock during the heat of the day, Sistla says.</p> <p>By contrast, the research has shown “much more nuanced results” in the northeastern US, Macknick tells Carbon Brief. During a typical summer, agrivoltaics have resulted in depressed yields of some crops. But in unusually hot or dry summers, the results are similar to those seen in arid regions. So agrivoltaics may be able to help mitigate some of the climate extremes, he says.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="511" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Schematic-showing-some-of-the-potential-benefits-of-agrivoltaic-systems.-Source-NREL.-.jpg" alt="Schematic showing some of the potential benefits of agrivoltaic systems. Source: NREL." class="wp-image-43251" srcset="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Schematic-showing-some-of-the-potential-benefits-of-agrivoltaic-systems.-Source-NREL.-.jpg 1024w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Schematic-showing-some-of-the-potential-benefits-of-agrivoltaic-systems.-Source-NREL.--300x150.jpg 300w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Schematic-showing-some-of-the-potential-benefits-of-agrivoltaic-systems.-Source-NREL.--768x383.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Schematic showing some of the potential benefits of agrivoltaic systems. Source: <a href="https://openei.org/wiki/InSPIRE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NREL</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>While much of the agrivoltaic research on crops has focused on vegetables, there is growing evidence that such setups can be profitable in “major crop” systems – those that grow staple crops such as rice, wheat and maize, which are typically less shade-tolerant – Khan says. </p> <p>A <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/6/6/65" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2019 study</a> found that stilt-mounted photovoltaic panels could be installed on cornfields without reducing maize production. And a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306261922008728" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent study</a> that Khan worked on found that agrivoltaics deployed on rice paddies “will always be profitable” due to the relative prices of crops and electricity. With the right governmental policies and strategies in place, he says, smallholder farmers could lease their land to energy companies in return for a portion of the profits from the panels. </p> <p>Just as photovoltaics can affect the crops below them, the crops can influence the efficiency of the panels above. One <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-47803-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2019 study</a> found that photovoltaic energy production potential is actually greater over croplands than other types of land because of the cooling effect of the crops’ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evapotranspiration" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evapotranspiration</a>. </p> <p>What that study does not take into account, Khan tells Carbon Brief, is that the increased relative humidity can hasten the panels’ degradation. Instead of the 25-year lifespan of a conventional photovoltaic array, an agrivoltaic array may only last 20 years, he says – which should be taken into account when planning such an array and evaluating its economic potential.</p> <p>The long duration of an agrivoltaic installation means that careful planning must be involved to ensure long-term success, Macknick says. A <a href="https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/83566.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent NREL report</a> (pdf) laid out a number of considerations for successful agrivoltaic deployment. Among other recommendations, getting buy-in from farmers is paramount to success, Macknick says. He tells Carbon Brief:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“The partnerships that are developed right away between the solar developer and the agricultural entity are absolutely instrumental. They need to be working together from the beginning, in order to make sure you do have a successful arrangement where someone would want to farm for the next 20 years, because the solar projects will last 20, 25, 30 years. You’re gonna want someone to be farming all those years as well.”</p></blockquote> <p><a href="#top" rel="nofollow"><em> Back to top</em></a></p> <div class="guten-block block-related-articles-slider block-related-articles-slider-block_6305f9cd6e730 "> <div class="container"> <div class="row col-edges related-slider"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-3"> <div class="card card-category"> <picture class="thumbnail-wide visible-lg-block"> <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chinas-emissions-have-now-caused-more-global-warming-than-eu/"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/EN5EFE-300x200.jpg" /></a> </picture> <div class="content mh"> <p class="text-header-s content"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chinas-emissions-have-now-caused-more-global-warming-than-eu/">Analysis: China’s emissions have now caused more global warming than EU</a></p> <div class="meta-info d-flex justify-content-start align-items-center"> <p class="text-tag-s">Emissions</p> <span class="pipe-spacer">|</span> <p class="text-tag-meta">19.11.24</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-3"> <div class="card card-category"> <picture class="thumbnail-wide visible-lg-block"> <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-global-co2-emissions-will-reach-new-high-in-2024-despite-slower-growth/"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2YCJBRD-300x200.jpg" /></a> </picture> <div class="content mh"> <p class="text-header-s content"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-global-co2-emissions-will-reach-new-high-in-2024-despite-slower-growth/">Analysis: Global CO2 emissions will reach new high in 2024 despite slower growth</a></p> <div class="meta-info d-flex justify-content-start align-items-center"> <p class="text-tag-s">Emissions</p> <span class="pipe-spacer">|</span> <p class="text-tag-meta">13.11.24</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-3"> <div class="card card-category"> <picture class="thumbnail-wide visible-lg-block"> <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-no-growth-for-chinas-emissions-in-q3-2024-despite-coal-power-rebound/"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2WKE006-300x200.jpg" /></a> </picture> <div class="content mh"> <p class="text-header-s content"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-no-growth-for-chinas-emissions-in-q3-2024-despite-coal-power-rebound/">Analysis: No growth for China’s emissions in Q3 2024 despite coal-power rebound</a></p> <div class="meta-info d-flex justify-content-start align-items-center"> <p class="text-tag-s">China energy</p> <span class="pipe-spacer">|</span> <p class="text-tag-meta">29.10.24</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-3"> <div class="card card-category"> <picture class="thumbnail-wide visible-lg-block"> <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/unep-new-climate-pledges-need-quantum-leap-in-ambition-to-deliver-paris-goals/"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2JC5MK6-300x200.jpg" /></a> </picture> <div class="content mh"> <p class="text-header-s content"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/unep-new-climate-pledges-need-quantum-leap-in-ambition-to-deliver-paris-goals/">UNEP: New climate pledges need ‘quantum leap’ in ambition to deliver Paris goals</a></p> <div class="meta-info d-flex justify-content-start align-items-center"> <p class="text-tag-s">Emissions</p> <span class="pipe-spacer">|</span> <p class="text-tag-meta">24.10.24</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script> jQuery(document).ready(function() { jQuery('.block-related-articles-slider-block_6305f9cd6e730 .mh').matchHeight({ byRow: false }); }); </script> <div class="artInfo"> <i class="infoIcon"></i> <p>Update: This article was updated on 26/08/2022 to include a mention of Ben Marlow's article in the Daily Telegraph.</p> </div> <div class="artShareLine"> <div class="artDeTitle">Sharelines from this story</div> <ul>  <li> <div class="leftSLicon"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer?u=https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/&t=Factcheck: Is solar power a ‘threat’ to UK farmland?"><i class="fbArtIcon"></i></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Factcheck%3A+Is+solar+power+a+%E2%80%98threat%E2%80%99+to+UK+farmland%3F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.carbonbrief.org%2Ffactcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland%2F"><i class="twtrArtIcon"></i> </a> </div> <div class="slineR"> Factcheck: Is solar power a ‘threat’ to UK farmland? </div> </li>  </ul> </div> <div class="artComm"> <div class="artDeTitle">Comments</div> <a href="#" class="viewAllComm">View Comments (<span class="disqus-comment-count" data-disqus-url="https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/"><span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="43232 https://www.carbonbrief.org/?p=43232">0</span></span>)</a> <a href="#" class="hideAllComm">Close Comments</a> </div> <div id="commentcontainer"> <div id="disqus_thread"></div> </div>  </div> <aside class="article-aside" style="top: 87%"> <img width="270" height="180" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Workers-clean-photovoltaic-panels-inside-a-solar-power-plant-in-Gujarat-India-270x180.jpg" class="attachment-medlisting size-medlisting wp-post-image" alt="Workers clean photovoltaic panels inside a solar power plant in Gujarat, India." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Workers-clean-photovoltaic-panels-inside-a-solar-power-plant-in-Gujarat-India-270x180.jpg 270w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Workers-clean-photovoltaic-panels-inside-a-solar-power-plant-in-Gujarat-India-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Workers-clean-photovoltaic-panels-inside-a-solar-power-plant-in-Gujarat-India-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Workers-clean-photovoltaic-panels-inside-a-solar-power-plant-in-Gujarat-India-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Workers-clean-photovoltaic-panels-inside-a-solar-power-plant-in-Gujarat-India-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Workers-clean-photovoltaic-panels-inside-a-solar-power-plant-in-Gujarat-India-107x71.jpg 107w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Workers-clean-photovoltaic-panels-inside-a-solar-power-plant-in-Gujarat-India-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Workers-clean-photovoltaic-panels-inside-a-solar-power-plant-in-Gujarat-India-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Workers-clean-photovoltaic-panels-inside-a-solar-power-plant-in-Gujarat-India.jpg 1550w" sizes="(max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px" /> <div class="article-aside__text"> <h4> <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/solar-is-now-cheapest-electricity-in-history-confirms-iea/" aria-label="Solar is now ‘cheapest electricity in history’, confirms IEA"> Solar is now ‘cheapest electricity in history’, confirms IEA</a> </h4> <small> <strong><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/energy/">Energy</a></strong> <span>|</span> 13.10.2020 </small> </div> </aside> </div> <div class="container-fluid text-center">   <div class="block-newsletter static-template block-newsletter-67475209b3688"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12"> <p class="title">Expert analysis direct to your inbox.</p> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 hidden-xs"> <p class="body" style="padding-top: 0.5em">Get a round-up of all the important articles and papers selected by Carbon Brief by email. Find out more about our newsletters <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/newsletter-sign-up" style="text-decoration: underline;">here</a>.</p> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 visible-xs-block"> <p class="body" style="padding-top: 0.5em">Get a round-up of all the important articles and papers selected by Carbon Brief by email. Find out more about our newsletters <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/newsletter-sign-up" style="text-decoration: underline;">here</a>.</p> </div> <div class="ml-embedded" data-form="W0jlyL"></div> </div>   </div> </div> <script> (function($) { // Daily brief, signup form switcher jQuery(".block-newsletter-67475209b3688 #brief-type-block").change(function() { var dailyURL = "https://www.getrevue.co/profile/CarbonBriefDailyBriefing/add_subscriber"; var weeklyURL = "https://www.getrevue.co/profile/CarbonBriefWeeklyBriefing/add_subscriber"; var action = jQuery(this).val() == "daily" ? dailyURL : weeklyURL; jQuery(".block-newsletter-67475209b3688 #revueForm-block").attr("action", action); }); })(jQuery); </script>   </div> <div>  </div>  <footer> <div class="container"> <div class="backTop"> <a href="#topBack"><i class="backTop"></i></a> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-5"> <div class="ftrLogo"><img src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/images/logoFtr.png" alt="" /></div> <p>Published under a <a target="_blank" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode">CC license</a>. You are welcome to reproduce unadapted material in full for non-commercial use, credited ‘Carbon Brief’ with a link to the article. Please contact us for commercial use.</p> </div> <div class="col-md-7"> <div class="eFtr secBtm"> <h4>SECTIONS</h4> <div class="menu-footer-menu-1-container"><ul id="menu-footer-menu-1" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-14716" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-14716 menuID-1"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/science/">Science</a></li> <li id="menu-item-14718" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-14718 menuID-2"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/energy/">Energy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-14717" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-14717 menuID-3"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/policy/">Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-14719" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-14719 menuID-4"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/category/in-focus/">In Focus</a></li> <li id="menu-item-41770" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-41770"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/china-briefing/">China Briefing</a></li> <li id="menu-item-41769" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-41769"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/cropped/">Cropped</a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div class="eFtr aboutBtm"> <h4>ABOUT</h4> <div class="menu-footer-menu-2-container"><ul id="menu-footer-menu-2" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-47078" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-47078"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/about-us/">About us</a></li> <li id="menu-item-14723" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-14723"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/contact-us/">Contact Us</a></li> <li id="menu-item-48260" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-48260"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/newsletter-sign-up/">Newsletters</a></li> <li id="menu-item-14721" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-14721"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/privacy/">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-14720" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-14720"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/cookies/">Cookie Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-36807" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-36807"><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/comments-policy/">Comments Policy</a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div class="eFtr smBtm"> <h4>SOCIAL</h4> <div class="menu-footer-menu-3-container"><ul id="menu-footer-menu-3" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-55242" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-55242"><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:2d6kuvaoa7qi6bq5cwq4isee">BlueSky</a></li> <li id="menu-item-41823" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-41823"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/CarbonBrief">Twitter</a></li> <li id="menu-item-14725" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-14725"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/carbon-brief/">LinkedIn</a></li> <li id="menu-item-28447" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-28447"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/carbonbrief">Instagram</a></li> <li id="menu-item-14726" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-14726"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiXgvmQ2jUgUjRpJzvga5Tg">YouTube</a></li> <li id="menu-item-14724" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-14724"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/carbonbrief">Facebook</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ftrSM"> <a href="https://twitter.com/CarbonBrief" target="_blank"><i class="fsmTwtr"></i></a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/carbonbrief" target="_blank"><i class="fsmFB"></i></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carbonbrief" target="_blank"><i class="fsmInst"></i></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiXgvmQ2jUgUjRpJzvga5Tg" target="_blank"><i class="fsmYT"></i></a> </div> <hr /> <div class="container ftrBtm"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-8" style="color: white">Published by Carbon Brief Ltd © <span>2024</span> - Company No. 07222041</div> </div> </div> </footer>  <script type="text/javascript"> var currentPageLink = 'https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland/'; </script> <script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/jquery.1.11.3.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/bootstrap.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/Autolinker.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/owl.carousel.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/moment.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/slick.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/jquery.matchHeight.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/jquery.webticker.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/general.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/jquery.progressScroll.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/bootstrap-datepicker.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/jquery.fullsizable.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/screenfull.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/twitter.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script> window.twttr = (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], t = window.twttr || {}; if (d.getElementById(id)) return t; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); t._e = []; t.ready = function(f) { t._e.push(f); }; return t; }(document, "script", "twitter-wjs")); </script> <script> window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId: '825336777587820', xfbml: true, version: 'v2.4' }); }; (function(d, s, id){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function() { // $.get( "http://graph.facebook.com/?id="+window.location.href, function( data ) { // if(data.shares > 0) { // $('.shareCount').html('<i class="shareTopIcon"></i> '+data.shares+' Social shares'); // }; // }); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-includes/js/dist/hooks.min.js?ver=2810c76e705dd1a53b18" id="wp-hooks-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-includes/js/dist/i18n.min.js?ver=5e580eb46a90c2b997e6" id="wp-i18n-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="wp-i18n-js-after"> /* <![CDATA[ */ wp.i18n.setLocaleData( { 'text direction\u0004ltr': [ 'ltr' ] } ); /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/includes/swv/js/index.js?ver=5.9.8" id="swv-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="contact-form-7-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var wpcf7 = {"api":{"root":"https:\/\/www.carbonbrief.org\/wp-json\/","namespace":"contact-form-7\/v1"},"cached":"1"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/includes/js/index.js?ver=5.9.8" id="contact-form-7-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="disqus_count-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var countVars = {"disqusShortname":"carbonbrief"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/disqus-comment-system/public/js/comment_count.js?ver=3.1.1" id="disqus_count-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="disqus_embed-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var embedVars = {"disqusConfig":{"integration":"wordpress 3.1.1"},"disqusIdentifier":"43232 https:\/\/www.carbonbrief.org\/?p=43232","disqusShortname":"carbonbrief","disqusTitle":"Factcheck: Is solar power a \u2018threat\u2019 to UK farmland?","disqusUrl":"https:\/\/www.carbonbrief.org\/factcheck-is-solar-power-a-threat-to-uk-farmland\/","postId":"43232"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/disqus-comment-system/public/js/comment_embed.js?ver=3.1.1" id="disqus_embed-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="ppress-frontend-script-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var pp_ajax_form = {"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/www.carbonbrief.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","confirm_delete":"Are you sure?","deleting_text":"Deleting...","deleting_error":"An error occurred. Please try again.","nonce":"3db0fed0b9","disable_ajax_form":"false","is_checkout":"0","is_checkout_tax_enabled":"0"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-user-avatar/assets/js/frontend.min.js?ver=4.15.13" id="ppress-frontend-script-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/core.min.js?ver=1.13.3" id="jquery-ui-core-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/menu.min.js?ver=1.13.3" id="jquery-ui-menu-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-includes/js/dist/dom-ready.min.js?ver=f77871ff7694fffea381" id="wp-dom-ready-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="wp-a11y-js-translations"> /* <![CDATA[ */ ( function( domain, translations ) { var localeData = translations.locale_data[ domain ] || translations.locale_data.messages; localeData[""].domain = domain; wp.i18n.setLocaleData( localeData, domain ); } )( "default", {"translation-revision-date":"2024-07-09 16:06:37+0000","generator":"GlotPress\/4.0.1","domain":"messages","locale_data":{"messages":{"":{"domain":"messages","plural-forms":"nplurals=2; plural=n != 1;","lang":"en_GB"},"Notifications":["Notifications"]}},"comment":{"reference":"wp-includes\/js\/dist\/a11y.js"}} ); /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-includes/js/dist/a11y.min.js?ver=d90eebea464f6c09bfd5" id="wp-a11y-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/autocomplete.min.js?ver=1.13.3" id="jquery-ui-autocomplete-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="my_search-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var UserSearch = {"url":"https:\/\/www.carbonbrief.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/themes/carbonbrief/js/search.js" id="my_search-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?render=6LdnL6IUAAAAAABqRBs9TKUDXXRCcAccPz4OadVi&ver=3.0" id="google-recaptcha-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-includes/js/dist/vendor/wp-polyfill.min.js?ver=3.15.0" id="wp-polyfill-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="wpcf7-recaptcha-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var wpcf7_recaptcha = {"sitekey":"6LdnL6IUAAAAAABqRBs9TKUDXXRCcAccPz4OadVi","actions":{"homepage":"homepage","contactform":"contactform"}}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/modules/recaptcha/index.js?ver=5.9.8" id="wpcf7-recaptcha-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="search-filter-plugin-build-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var SF_LDATA = {"ajax_url":"https:\/\/www.carbonbrief.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","home_url":"https:\/\/www.carbonbrief.org\/","extensions":[]}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/search-filter-pro/public/assets/js/search-filter-build.min.js?ver=2.5.11" id="search-filter-plugin-build-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-content/plugins/search-filter-pro/public/assets/js/chosen.jquery.min.js?ver=2.5.11" id="search-filter-plugin-chosen-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.carbonbrief.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/datepicker.min.js?ver=1.13.3" id="jquery-ui-datepicker-js"></script> </body> </html>