A COMMITMENT to ambitious climate action has been made by Exmoor National Park Authority which puts it on track to join the UN-backed Race to Zero initiative of global climate leaders.

The national park will lead ‘considerable and immediate’ action across the protected landscape toward the aim of halving global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050 at the latest.

Exmoor intends to become one of the first national parks in the world to join the global initiative, which is aimed at encouraging institutions to deliver a healthier, fairer, zero-carbon world.

Park authority chairman Andrea Davis said: “The latest science shows climate impacts are happening sooner than models predicted just a decade ago.

“Critical tipping points in the Earth’s natural systems are already being breached.

“The future of the natural world rests on delivering accelerated decarbonisation and nature restoration at scale.

“National Parks have a crucial role to play in restoring nature at scale, which is vital in naturally drawing down excess carbon from the atmosphere.”

Among actions already taken by the park authority to cut climate-changing emissions are:

• A switch to a number of electric vehicles in the authority’s fleet and installation of electric vehicle charging points across Exmoor

• Joining the South West Peatland Partnership, restoring carbon-storing peatlands across Exmoor

• Installation of solar panels at various estate sites, a wind turbine at the Pinkery outdoor education centre, and recent installation on the site of a biomass boiler

• Use of battery powered tools for activities and in the park’s sawmills

• Tree planting programmes, helped by volunteers allowing for a sustainable timber supply and ‘seed to sawmill’ events to promote renewable practices

• Nature recovery projects as part of the ‘Farming in Protected Landscapes’ programme, including meadow and orchard restoration

Ms Davis said: “We are keen to join forces with other UN ‘climate champions’ and demonstrate the critical role national parks play in the global effort towards net zero.

“As a climate lead myself in Devon, I am particularly proud of the commitment Exmoor National Park Authority teams have shown in a robust carbon audit and in the numerous projects across Exmoor advancing our climate mitigation strategy.

“We really hope by demonstrating the great work we are doing and sharing carbon reduction knowledge and resources relevant to rural areas like Exmoor we can encourage others to follow our lead.”