Board’s view on decarbonisation welcomed

THE climate and our environment are issues that matter a great deal to the FUW and our members. Without a healthy, vibrant environment and favourable climate conditions, we would struggle to carry out our most fundamental jobs – to produce sustainable, nutritious food. We were therefore happy to engage with the Senedd Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee as they requested views on what the priorities of the Committee should be for the sixth Senedd term.

In our response we welcomed the fact that the Welsh Government’s Climate Change Board is developing a holistic view on decarbonisation in recognition that it needs to take place across Wales’s industries, particularly in relation to transport.

The Welsh Government’s ambition for a net-zero public sector by 2030 is also most welcome, as is their acceptance that meetings can be held remotely as opposed to in person in Cardiff.

Such flexibility has certainly enabled us to reduce our travel costs and emissions and we hope that those arrangements can continue beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, whilst carbon offsetting and tree planting for the purpose of carbon sequestration is generating a great deal of discussion, particularly in the lead up to COP26 and for the benefit of reaching net zero targets, we would like to see a greater emphasis being placed on those sectors and portions of society with the greatest footprints and for them to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

We also recommended that the Wales Agriculture Bill and associated support schemes should include targeted financial support to aid the improvement of on farm efficiency in economic and environmental performance as an important part of reaching net zero, rather than just focussing on carbon offsetting initiatives such as tree planting.

When it comes to tree planting we also raised our concerns that there are numerous reports of farms and farmland in Wales being bought by businesses and individuals from outside of the country for the purpose of tree planting and carbon offsetting.

In some cases, they are also receiving grants from Welsh Government to plant those trees, allowing Welsh tax payers’ money to be taken out of Wales and undermining Wales’s ability to reach net zero through the virtual exportation of Welsh carbon.

Above all else, tackling the problem of climate change should sit alongside, and not eclipse the economic interests of the people and communities of Wales. As such and going forward, all of the Welsh Government’s committees should ensure the three pillars of sustainability – economic, environmental, and social – are given equal consideration and respect and are taken forward together by the Welsh Government and Senedd.