This week, ‘Wales’ Fourth Carbon Budget: Advice for the Welsh Government’ was published. This report sets out recommendation to reach its level of the budget, of a reduction of average annual emissions of 73% compared to the 1990 baseline.
Janet Finch-Saunders, the Member of Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, and the Shadow Minister for Climate Change, is extremely concerned with some of the recommendations contained within the report.
Especially the impact that this will have on the agricultural industry, that has already been hit by both UK and Welsh Labour policies. This report calls on the Welsh Government to diversify their incomes away from livestock farming towards woodland creation and peatland restoration.
With the proposed pathway seeing people by 2033, moving towards low-choices, such as taking more public transport, utilising active travel, and a reduction in meat and dairy consumption across the UK.
It is also shocking that there is absolutely nothing mentioned in the recommendations about the marine environment.
Commenting on the recommendations Janet said:
“The recommendations and pathway highlighted in this Carbon Budget, are deeply concerning.
“The move away from livestock farming towards woodland creation and peatland restoration, will have a direct impact on the farming industry. That has already affected by Labour’s disastrous policies, including the changes to inheritance tax for farming families.
“I am also shocked and disappointed that there was no mention of the marine environment, as with the increasing development of infrastructure such as offshore wind farms, considerations and recommendations must be provided to ensure that we protect our marine environment, as well as utilising all of the benefits that our seas have on our way to net zero.
“The Welsh Conservatives have called for the creation of a blue carbon recovery plan, to enhance our invaluable marine blue carbon habitats, and to build on the success of Project Seagrass, which aims to restore 20,000m2 of seagrass.
“While we all strive for an improvement to our environment and to reduce the impacts of climate change. It is vital that we take into consideration the true consequences this will have for industries and livelihoods across the whole of Wales.
“ There needs to be more balance and a through impact assessment taken, throughout our journey to achieving net zero”.
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
Cyhoeddwyd 'Pedwaredd Gyllideb Garbon Cymru: Cyngor i Lywodraeth Cymru' yr wythnos hon. Mae'r adroddiad hwn yn nodi argymhelliad i gyrraedd ei lefel o'r gyllideb, gostyngiad o 73% ar allyriadau blynyddol cyfartalog o'i gymharu â llinell sylfaen 1990.
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, AS Aberconwy, a Gweinidog yr Wrthblaid dros Newid Hinsawdd i’r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, yn poeni'n fawr am rai o argymhellion yr adroddiad.
Yn enwedig yr effaith y bydd hyn yn ei chael ar y diwydiant amaethyddol, sydd eisoes wedi'i daro gan bolisïau Llafur y DU a Chymru. Mae'r adroddiad hwn yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i arallgyfeirio ei hincwm i ffwrdd o ffermio da byw tuag at greu coetiroedd ac adfer mawndiroedd.
O ddilyn yr argymhellion, bydd pobl yn symud tuag at ddewisiadau isel erbyn 2033, megis teithio fwyfwy ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, defnyddio teithio llesol, a gostyngiad yn y defnydd o gig a llaeth ledled y DU.
Mae hefyd yn syfrdanol nad oes unrhyw gyfeiriad at yr amgylchedd morol yn yr argymhellion.
Wrth sôn am yr argymhellion, dywedodd Janet:
“Mae'r argymhellion a'r llwybr a nodwyd yn y Gyllideb Garbon hon yn achos pryder mawr.
“Bydd symud i ffwrdd o ffermio da byw tuag at greu coetir ac adfer mawndiroedd yn cael effaith uniongyrchol ar y diwydiant ffermio. Diwydiant sydd eisoes wedi'i daro gan bolisïau trychinebus Llafur, gan gynnwys y newidiadau i'r dreth etifeddiant i deuluoedd amaeth.
“Hefyd, dwi'n synnu ac yn siomedig nad oedd sôn am yr amgylchedd morol. Gyda datblygiad cynyddol seilwaith fel ffermydd gwynt ar y môr, rhaid darparu ystyriaethau ac argymhellion i sicrhau ein bod yn diogelu ein hamgylchedd morol yn ogystal â defnyddio holl fanteision ein moroedd tuag at ddyfodol sero net.
“Mae'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig wedi galw am greu cynllun adfer carbon glas er mwyn gwella ein cynefinoedd carbon glas morol amhrisiadwy, ac adeiladu ar lwyddiant Prosiect Morwellt, sydd â’r nod o adfer 20,000m2 o forwellt.
“Er ein bod ni i gyd yn ymdrechu i wella ein hamgylchedd a lleihau effeithiau newid hinsawdd, mae'n hollbwysig ein bod ni'n ystyried gwir oblygiadau hyn ar ddiwydiannau a bywoliaethau ledled Cymru.
“Mae angen mwy o gydbwysedd ac asesiadau effaith trylwyr gydol ein taith tuag at gyflawni sero net”.
DIWEDD
Llun: Janet Finch-Saunders AS
