Partial peat-burning ban positive as a first step, but limits and loopholes leave cause for climate concern

Partial peat-burning ban positive as a first step, but limits and loopholes leave cause for climate concern - Wildlife and Countryside Link

Nature groups welcome partial ban on peat burning, but say limits and loopholes mean this is just a first step
New polling shows peat burning ban is wanted by 62% of the public and opposed by just 3%

The announcement by the government today of a partial ban on the burning of blanket bogs (one of three types of peatland) across England is welcome news for nature and the climate. But conservationists would like to see the burning ban extended to all upland peat (not just protected areas), and warn that exceptions in the new laws must not be exploited to allow burning to continue. Both nature experts and the public say wider action is needed to protect peatlands, which are the UK’s biggest carbon sink.

New YouGov research on behalf of Wildlife and Countryside Link shows that the public will support the move announced today by government:

62% of the British public support the idea of the government brining in a peat burning ban, with only 3% opposed
70% want the government to ensure our natural carbon stores, like peat, are healthy and capture as much carbon as possible. Older voters 65+ are most supportive with 8 in 10 supporting preserving and enhancing our natural carbon stores

But the new findings also reveal that the public would like further Government action to improve our carbon-capturing peatlands including:

More than two-thirds (67%) of the public want the government to include promises to protect peatlands included in pledges for the COP26 global climate talks, with only 1% opposed
British consumers want to see peat-based compost banned. Only 5% oppose the banning of peat-based compost, with 47% supportive, 22% neither opposed or supportive and 26% unsure. Over 65s are most supportive with almost 6 in 10 (59%) backing a ban (this is important to note as 65-74 year-olds also have the highest spend on gardening products)
67% also support encouraging farm and forestry owners to shift from intensive practices that damage peatland areas, with only 2% opposed

Dr Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said:“Peatlands are deep vaults of carbon and treasure troves of biodiversity, so the restrictions on burning in protected bogs are a very positive step. But with 13% of the world’s blanket bog here in the UK, every acre is internationally significant. It will be essential that the exceptions to the ban are not exploited to allow the burning debate to smoulder on—this practice that is so damaging to nature, climate and communities must stop. We hope that this measure will be followed swiftly by restrictions on burning in peatlands outside the protected area network and by a ban on peat in horticultural compost.”