Labour ministers in Cardiff Bay have been accused of “ignoring and forgetting agriculture” on the day they made Senedd statements on the Welsh Government’s plans to decarbonise Wales to meet net-zero emissions targets.
The Welsh Conservatives have long-called for an end to the demonisation of farmers and an end to the negative outlook towards the agricultural industry in the discourse surrounding climate change, often saying farmers are part of the solution, not the problem.
Samuel Kurtz MS, Shadow Rural Affairs Minister, levelled the question at the Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths MS earlier today, asking for a statement from her on the matter, saying:
“This week marks the start of COP26 and I note the absence of a statement from yourself on the positive role that agriculture can play in the fight against climate change…It is our agricultural communities that are the natural custodians of our environment, and so the long-term, sustainable support and involvement of the industry is critical in tackling climate change.”
The Minister replied: “I absolutely agree that the agricultural sector and certainly farmers themselves would say they are the solution to the climate emergency”.
The exchange came after the First Minister answered questions on climate change and before four other ministers were due to make statements on decarbonisation.
The Labour Government have recently built a track record of failing farmers in the fight against climate change: the “sledgehammer to hit a nail” Nitrate Vulnerable Zones regulations are being judicially reviewed after farmer union opposition.
Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters said in a press conference today that we “should eat less meat”. He then doubled down and tweeted “It is self-evident we need to eat less meat. I really don't understand why that's controversial”.
This summer also saw his superior, Julie James MS, stating plans to tackle climate change should include drastically cutting down on meat consumption, saying “eating it as a high days and holidays type of thing” was the way forward, something which would devastate the farming industry.
Commenting outside the chamber, Welsh Conservative and Shadow Rural Affairs Minister Samuel Kurtz MS said:
“Locally produced, sustainable food can be the keystone in our efforts to reverse climate change, and the industry welcomes the opportunity to be positive contributors to our nation’s efforts. But constant swipes at this industry does leave a real sour taste in the mouth of every hard-working farmer across Wales.
“Farming is the backbone of the Welsh economy, creating thousands of jobs beyond the field through the supply chain to high street butchers and supermarket workers, but when the Cardiff Bay government ignores and forgets them like this – especially after events over the summer – it signals that it views them as expendable.
“Sadly, many are treating farmers like the enemy whereas, in reality, they are the feeders of the world and the guardians of nature who should be treated as partners in the fight against climate change. I hope the Minister can finally express that sentiment and put it into action very soon.”
