The environmental land management scheme (ELMs) is the government’s main spending programme and means of supporting farmers, who manage 70 per cent of the UK’s land, to cut their carbon emissions. The new proposal to delay its implementation for a further two years would mean its contribution to the fifth carbon budget (2028-32) would halve, leaving a substantial gap in the UK’s net zero plans. Retaining the previous EU scheme for an extra two years means at least £1.2 billion will continue to be spent on the wealthiest farms in England, ie those receiving more than £100,000 each in public subsidy in exchange for no public goods.