Welsh Lib Dems demand action to match Welsh Government rhetoric on sustainable plans for Wales (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

Cymraeg
English

Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

Welsh Lib Dems demand action to match Welsh Government rhetoric on sustainable plans for Wales

May 22, 2009 12:00 AM

Welsh Liberal Democrats have welcomed the launch of the Assembly Government's new Sustainable Development Strategy, but warn that action must be taken to match the Welsh Government rhetoric on climate change if Wales is to have any hope of moving forward towards a greener future.

Commenting, Shadow Minister for the Environment Mick Bates AM stated:

"Climate change is becoming an ever increasing concern and I am certain that in Wales many people will be frustrated with the lack of progress made since the 'Learning to Live Differently' strategy in 2000. The Labour-Plaid Government are full of warm words but now it is time for action to match those words by a Government that must lead by example.

"WWF highlight that if current trends continue then Wales' ecological footprint is set to rise 30% by 2050 which is clearly unsustainable. It is crucial that the key principles of the new Sustainable Development Strategy are mainstreamed across all Government departments and policies if we are to reduce our ecological footprint in Wales and ensure that we can live happily and healthily within our fair share of the Earth's resources."

Echoing Jonathan Porritt's assertion that Wales can set a global example, if action matches the rhetoric within the new strategy, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Kirsty Williams said:

"Labour has two more years to show that they have the guts to take this agenda forward, to make tough decisions and break from the lazy growth-at-all-costs developmental mindset of recent years. Just as the credit crunch means Government must show honesty about cuts in public services, the climate and oil crunch demands honesty about the scale of change required.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrats favour adopting 9% annual carbon emission reductions as sound science tells us, instead of using token 3% targets because that's what Labour and Plaid Ministers are comfortable with. Rhodri Morgan says we must change 'within the lifetime of a generation' - we can only hope he's talking about his generation, or this Government will go down in history as the ones who passed the buck on all our futures."

Ends/Diwedd