If the locals wish to spend their resources in this way, that's for them to decide, not you. It isn't a waste if it is valued by someone who pays for it.
CO2 sourced from fossil fuels that have been buried for tens of millions of years all being dragged up in the one century.
As opposed to C02 from the surface vegetation cycle of absorption and release; by say, growing pine trees, making pallets, burning pallets, growing more trees.
And you’re right that most of the pallets were made of wood grown for the purpose, and burning them is essentially carbon neutral, but the whole industry requires a steady input of fossil fuels for the machines and electricity for the services, which shifts the whole thing firmly into “waste of energy” territory again.
https://belfastmedia.com/mystery-surrounds-source-of-thousan...
The red and blue pallets specifically are owned by just two companies. The pine pallets are stolen from local shopping centres etc.
You can believe that an event mostly orchestrated by paramilitary gangs is above board if you wish, but I know first hand that many of these palettes are stolen.
And for them being red and blue, I think it is obvious why those colours would be purchased.
They sure didn't buy all those pallets.
They should be raising the money voluntarily and collecting donations without coercion. Otherwise they aren’t helping their cause.