"WAG Sustainable Development Scheme must bring an end to rhetoric and empty promises" - Mick Bates AM (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

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Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

"WAG Sustainable Development Scheme must bring an end to rhetoric and empty promises" - Mick Bates AM

November 19, 2008 12:00 AM

Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for the Environment, Mick Bates AM, has given a cautious welcome to the launch of the 'One Wales: One Planet' consultation, but warns that there is still much work to be done to reduce Wales' ecological footprint from it's current three planet lifestyle to a sustainable One Planet Wales.

The twelve week consultation launched today sets out the Assembly Government's vision to reduce Wales' ecological footprint from its current level of 5.15 global hectares per person, down to the global average availability of 1.88 global hectares per person in order to 'make Wales a fairer and more just society.'

Commenting, Mick Bates AM:

"I welcome the launch of the 'One Wales: One Planet' consultation and fully support the concept of reducing Wales' ecological footprint, which can give Wales the lead in sustainable development. The aim to achieve a 80-90% cut in carbon-based energy use is ambitious and it is crucial to ensure that we have the necessary powers, investment and robust policies in place to reach this goal.

"There must be a strong focus on housing, as housing currently accounts for 25% of our ecological footprint and over 90% of the homes in Wales today will still exist in 2020. In an age where utility costs are increasing and the numbers of people living in fuel poverty is escalating, now is the time to build sustainable housing which is cheap to live in and good for the environment. But without the devolution of building regulations, without a Welsh grant fund system for microgeneration and without a programme for retrofitting we will not meet these targets.

"The aim to cut car travel is welcome, as more people in Wales now travel to work by car than in the rest of the UK. Improving greener forms of travel, such as walking and cycling and public transport must be central to this scheme.

"Local food procurement is an important target, as food accounts for 25% of the Welsh ecological footprint and currently 75% of food eaten in Wales comes from supermarkets. Increasing the amount of locally sourced food that we sell, along with greater promotion of Welsh branded produce, more support for farmers markets and farmers co-operatives will help ensure that we have a more sustainable economy and environment.

"I hope that the Minister will look again at the valuable work being undertaken by our scrutiny Committees, such as the Sustainability Committee which has now produced two reports on housing and transport, which in total account for 43% of Wales' ecological footprint.

"The targets under the proposed Sustainable Development Scheme are ambitious, but they are a step in the right direction. I only hope that this plan will bring an end to the rhetoric and empty promises and trigger real action, so that we can move towards a low carbon economy, by living more sustainable lifestyles, reducing our energy use and creating more renewable energy production."

End/Diwedd