LANDOWNERS’ leaders have welcomed Ed Davey to his new role as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and urged him to learn about the role farmers and land managers can play in helping to fight climate change.

Ed Davey replaces Chris Huhne, who has stepped down from the role after learning he will face criminal charges over an allegation of avoiding a speeding penalty.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said that as Mr Davey’s favourite piece of legislation would be “a law on energy conservation to tackle climate change” he must also learn to recognise how the land use sector is able to act on climate change.

CLA Deputy President Henry Robinson said: “Farmers and land managers are particularly exposed to the impact of climate change so it is in our interests to adapt to the problem to ensure food and environmental security.

“The CLA supports a 30 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and we look forward to working with the Department for Energy and Climate Change to further develop and promote on-farm renewable energies.

“Land managers everywhere have an important part to play in climate change mitigation. We will continue to urge the Government and the EU to ensure that the role of land managers in this vital area is properly recognised and look forward to meeting Mr Davey to discuss how the CLA can help to drive the agenda on the challenges ahead.”