Climate change affects all aspects of this Partnership Plan. A science-based target is being proposed for the National Park to be net zero by 2038, in line with global commitments to keep global warming within 1.5⁰C. This means that, collectively as a Partnership, we will take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions being re-absorbed from the atmosphere by nature, through increased woodland and tree cover, peatland restoration, improved soil health and other measures. Ensuring that these initiatives deliver cross-cutting benefits for other Aims within the plan will require careful choices and creative solutions. These are challenging targets, but Exmoor National Park, alongside other Protected Landscapes, can also play a part in going beyond zero, through acting as carbon sinks for the nation, and this goes hand in hand with targets to restore and enhance nature.

Some of the actions needed to achieve the net zero target are outside the scope of the Partnership Plan, and will to be driven by national policy, and delivered with partners in the Devon and Somerset climate groups, for example phasing out fossil fuels in heating and transport systems. This Partnership Plan will focus on actions that can be delivered locally including improving energy efficiency in existing buildings, and providing sustainable and active travel options, EV-charging and e-bike networks. Farmers, foresters and land managers will play a key part through sustainable land management and regenerative agriculture, producing food, timber, helping to reduce emissions, and sequestering carbon. Initiatives such as Eat Exmoor will encourage consumption of locally sourced sustainable products, supporting local businesses and livelihoods. The use of local timber in construction, and directing timber into longer term end uses will help to ensure that sequestered carbon is locked up, and reduces the use of high embedded materials such as concrete and steel.  In addition, individual choices around heating, travel, diet, and the goods we buy will all help reduce carbon emissions.

The targets for peatland restoration and woodland and tree cover provide significant opportunities to increase carbon sequestration, but they are also a key component of the targets for nature recovery. They are part of the national Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework set by Government, to support delivery of the statutory targets in the Environment Improvement Plan.

An interim target has been set for peatland restoration to 2030, based on work being undertaken by the South West Peatland Partnership, whilst further work is undertaken to provide a clearer baseline for the extent of deep peat on Exmoor, due to different datasets, and also whilst plans for peatland restoration are being developed through the Landscape Recovery Schemes. The target will be reviewed once there is a better understanding of the scope and extent of peatland restoration required.

Woodland cover in the UK is one of the lowest in Europe, and the Government is looking to Protected Landscapes to help get more trees and woodland in the landscape. This is not just about the establishment of new areas of woodland, but also includes scattered trees, in-field trees, hedgerow trees, small copses, wood pasture, agro-forestry and traditional orchards. Around 18% of Exmoor is currently woodland (14%) and trees (4%) .  The target for establishing an additional 2,080 hectares of woodland and trees by 2030 would increase this figure to 21% woodland and tree cover, and the 2050 target of 6,920 hectares would bring this to around 28% coverage, which is much closer to the European average of 30% woodland and tree cover.  The target will be delivered through a combination of native woodland establishment, mixed, productive woodland creation, wider tree planting and natural regeneration. It will be important to ensure that the location and design of new woodland and tree cover is appropriate and sympathetic to the National Park’s special qualities including landscape character and historic environment. Further details and targets for woodlands and trees are in Section G.2.

Exmoor’s communities, businesses and wildlife also need to be resilient and adapt to the changing climate of warmer, wetter, winters and hotter, drier, summers, along with increased risks of extreme weather events, drought, flooding and coastal erosion. This Partnership Plan aims to enable and encourage adaptation through nature recovery, connecting habitats and providing corridors for species migration; increasing trees and woodlands in the landscape for shelter, shade and natural flood management; enabling sensitive adaptation of historic buildings and the recording of heritage assets at risk, including on the coast; and incorporating measures in maintenance and repairs to the rights of way network which will build greater resilience to extreme weather and storm events. A climate adaptation strategy will be produced for the National Park during this Plan period seeking cross-cutting benefits across the plan’s Aims, and planning policies will be reviewed and updated in the next few years as a new Local Plan is produced.

• B1  Exmoor National Park is net zero by 2038, leading the response to climate change and delivery of national net zero targets  
  -Sustainable energy – 10% pa cut in emissions arising from energy usage by residents, visitors and industry for electricity, heating and travel within the National Park
  -Sustainable food & drink – 3% pa cut in emissions arising from consumption of food and drink
  -Sustainable purchasing – 12% pa reduction in emissions from other goods purchased by residents and visitors  
  -Sustainable travel – 10% pa reduction in emissions from visitor travel to and from the National Park  
  -Sustainable agriculture – 5% pa cut in emissions from farming practices
  -Sustainable land use (excluding agriculture) – 2% increase pa in carbon sequestration and storage
• B2 Restore 800 ha of deep peat by 2030, and 80% of Exmoor’s deep peat by 2050
• B3 Increase tree canopy and woodland cover (combined) by 3% of the total area of the National Park (2,080 ha) by 2030, and 10% (6,920 ha) by 2050, to benefit nature and people, ensuring the right trees in the right place  
• B4  Produce a climate change risk assessment and adaptation plan for Exmoor National Park by 2026 and integrate climate adaptation into all actions and activity
• B5  Encourage individuals, communities and businesses to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change