About Us
The UK Government has committed to the ambitious task of achieving ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
To become a net zero economy and reverse the loss of wild nature, whilst also maintaining food security and building new homes, we must radically alter our relationship between the economy and the environment on which it crucially depends. Our research combines economics and social science with natural and physical sciences to help government and business decision makers better understand the connections between the natural environment and the economy and the full effect of the decisions they make.
This is particularly important for decisions about land use. For example, a decision to boost agricultural production may provide an important increase in food output but, if carried out without knowledge on connections across the natural environment, could also increase greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution and flood risk, as well as destroying habitat for endangered species and reducing recreational access.
Our team of researchers work with policy makers, land owners and a whole range of practitioners to co-design research projects which help us improve our knowledge and understanding of land use and how changes to UK land use might have consequences for the natural environment, greenhouse gas emissions and sequestration, food and energy production and security, and a whole range of things that affect people and nature.
Our research involves:
This knowledge has been incorporated into decision-making through a number of innovative research programmes which are featured throughout these pages.
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