Besides co-operation with landowners, on-farm solutions, local climatic conditions and the best farming and forestry practices, shown by scientific evidence, should be considered to secure food production, achieve the climate targets and to manage biodiversity and carbon storages. In addition, the sustainable land use for food and forestry is emphasized as a part of the solution.

Furthermore, carbon farming is a tool to increase soil health and productivity, including management of organic soils. Carbon farming offers many solutions to move towards a climate-neutral future. However, there are also concerns regarding the data gap on soil management effects on greenhouse gas emissions and removals if the decisions are made based on incomplete information. There is a lack of information especially on organic soils, where not only the clear definition, but also reliable data to estimate climate impact of different measures, is lacking.

Pietola and Marttila also provided Holzleitner MTK’s previous statement to European Commission on the design of the LULUCF calculation methodology. MTK requests Commission to change the calculation method from the current reference level method to considerably simpler cross-net calculation method. The current reference level calculation methodology treats Member States highly unequally and hinders forest owners’ work on climate not to be seen. Shifting to cross-net calculation would mean that the entire sink would be benefited by the EU climate policy at national level without political reductions.

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