Hutton expertise contributes to Lords inquiry into nature-based solutions for climate change

"Dr Artz’s contribution to this evidence session is an excellent example of research feeding directly into the policy process, and reflects the very high standard of work that Dr Artz and her team undertake on this critical topic"

Dr Rebekka Artz, a senior research scientist within the James Hutton Institute’s Ecological Sciences department, has contributed evidence to an inquiry by the Science and Technology Committee of the House of Lords into the role of nature-based solutions in mitigating climate change.

The inquiry is considering how protecting, managing, and restoring natural ecosystems can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing co-benefits to people and nature. It is also examining any scientific uncertainties surrounding their effects, and barriers to their effective implementation.

During the session, Dr Artz discussed the importance of UK peatlands as a carbon sink and was joined by fellow experts from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and the Sustainability Research Institute of the University of East London.

As part of her evidence, Dr Artz said: “Our current best estimates indicate that UK peatlands contribute 18 megatonnes of carbon dioxide annually. That’s roughly the same as the strength of the entire forestry carbon sink at present, which means emissions from degraded peatlands are all but cancelling out the emissions uptake from the forestry sector. This can be mitigated by re-wetting and restoring our degraded peatlands.”

Professor Rob Brooker, head of the Ecological Sciences department at the Institute, commented: “Dr Artz’s contribution to this evidence session is an excellent example of research feeding directly into the policy process, and reflects the very high standard of work that Dr Artz and her team undertake on this critical topic."

The session can be viewed on the ParliamentLiveTV website.