A motion has been agreed calling for security that any land planted in Ceredigion to gain carbon credits should bring benefits to Wales and local communities.
At a virtual Council meeting held on Thursday, 23 September 2021, Ceredigion County Councillors unanimously agreed to call on the Welsh Government to take into account local effects when legislating on planting land.
The proposal includes ensuring that any subsidy through government plans for carbon management is retained as a carbon credit for the benefit of the Welsh economy and the people.
This would include ensuring that each county has percentage gains from any credit generated to offset public services and goods from that county.
In addition, the motion calls that any third-party sale or lease of carbon credit outside Wales cannot be activated unless Wales is carbon neutral and where there is a 10% surplus of credit.
The motion was proposed by Councillor Ifan Davies of the Independent Group who said: “The Welsh Government wants Wales to become carbon neutral by 2050, but rural areas are currently facing an emergency where large companies are purchasing local farms to plant trees and take advantage of carbon credits to offset their own carbon production. As a farmer myself, I recognise the need to plant trees, but it’s important that this is managed and that regulations are in place to ensure that companies cannot take advantage of our rural areas and affect our communities, our language and our culture.”
Councillor Ray Quant, Deputy Leader of Ceredigion County Council, said: “I support this great motion by Councillor Ifan Davies. The motion is intended to draw the Welsh Government’s attention to the concerns in rural areas and the need for them to ensure that their legislations can protect communities similar to the ones we have in Ceredigion and that large companies cannot benefit at the expense of our areas.”
The full Motion can be found on Ceredigion County Council’s website.
23/09/2021