Trust renews call for CELT

Trust responds to the Scottish Government’s plan to divert money away from the Nature Restoration Fund, by renewing its call for a Carbon Emissions Land Tax (CELT).

Scotland is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries. Diverting funds away from nature resoration will accelerate the erosion of our vital wild places and their already fragile habitats.

Nature benefits

The Nature Restoration Fund provides significant value. For example, the John Muir Trust, is part of the Nevis Landscape Partnership which recently secured funding to launch the Nevis Nature Network, a landscape-scale nature restoration project. The project encompasses iconic Glen Nevis and Ben Nevis and is restoring Scotland’s rainforest and saving montane scrub.

Alternative funding measure

The Trust’s proposal for a Carbon Emissions Land Tax (CELT) provides an alternative funding measure to continue to support these sorts of important projects.

CELT focuses on reducing carbon emissions using the polluters should pay principle. It would apply to very large landholdings, over 1,000 hectares, with an exemption only for community-owned land.

The proposal is backed by over 50 community groups, trade unions, churches, charities and businesses representing over a million people in Scotland. And our research with scientists, economists, tax experts, tech companies and government bodies shows how this could work in practice.

Call for action

In April, the Scottish Government pledged to take the CELT proposal forward this summer through public consultation. We hope this will still happen. You can help us drive support for CELT. 

• Please help by signing our petition and sharing it with your friends and family.