Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth - News

Leading Politicians to Speak Up on Climate Change  3rd Dec 2016

The regional Assembly Member Eluned Morgan, who is also a Baroness and the Shadow Minister for Wales in the House of Lords, shared the sense of urgency of those attending the event for more action to cut harmful emissions and to create jobs in areas such as energy saving and renewable energy. Simon Thomas, Plaid Cymru AM who is also Shadow Spokesperson for Energy, Climate Change and Rural Affairs, emphasised the need for a more proactive and innovative approach to support green businesses and technologies. Not only can these technologies save greenhouse gas emissions, they can also make Wales more independent in terms of energy and generally better off.

The discussions were really constructive and we were pleased that both AMs agreed to ask the Welsh Government to set out a plan to meet Wales’ target of 40% cuts in climate-changing emissions by 2020.

The Welsh Government is already running energy-saving projects in homes, and these need to be expanded, especially in areas with poor housing stock. Training and development is needed to make better use of green technologies and to enable local people to take up these jobs.

We want to see progress in tackling climate change because we care about a rich natural environment in Pembrokeshire and about the communities living here. With the election of a dangerous and deluded climate change denying president in the USA, we all have to do more to ensure that efforts to tackle this economic, social and environmental threat are increased, not impeded.

The meetings, which were held at the Bloomfield Community Centre in Narberth, were part of an all-Wales “speak up” on climate change campaign, organised by Stop Climate Chaos Cymru, aimed at all Assembly Members and Welsh MPs in their own constituencies and regions.