Green progress under Rhodri

2 Hydref 2009

There was good progress in a number of environmental areas under Rhodri Morgan's leadership, but there were also significant disappointments, according to one of Wales' leading green groups.

The Director of Friends of the Earth Cyrmu, Gordon James, said:

"Under Rhodri's leadership, the Welsh Assembly Government made good progress in a number of environmental policy areas.

"The most significant has been the setting of a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by three per cent a year from 2011. This was agreed, in the One Wales commitment with Plaid Cymru, ahead of the targets set by the UK government in the Climate Change Act.

"Welcome targets have also been set to generate all of Wales' electricity from renewable sources by 2025 and to recycle seventy per cent of Wales' municipal waste by the same date.

"The setting up of a Low Carbon Zone in the head of the valleys, which will cut fuel bills and greenhouse gas emissions from 40,000 homes, and the aspiration to ensure that all new buildings are 'zero carbon' emitters by 2011, five years ahead of England, are also important steps forward.

"In transport, the recent decisions not to build the Gwent Levels Motorway, a new Cardiff airport road and a dualled A40 in west Wales signify a real shift in policy that will help to cut climate changing emissions.

"We are also pleased that Rhodri has stuck with the policies to keep Wales GM Free and to oppose new nuclear power stations.

"There have, though, been a few disappointments. The most significant of these has been his government's decision to give the go-ahead to the huge Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal site just 35 metres from homes in one of the UK's most deprived communities at Merthyr Tydfil. This will be a major black mark against his environmental record.

"We are puzzled that the man who opposed the Cardiff Bay barrage is now supporting the large Severn Barrage from Cardiff to Weston when better alternatives are available that could harness the energy in the Severn sooner and with less ecological damage.

"It is also regrettable that taxpayer's money is being used to subsidise a north-south Wales air service when this money could be used to further improve bus and train links on this route.

"Overall, Rhodri has presided over welcome developments in environmental policy but with a few major disappointments. It is also important to realise that Wales is still a major emitter of greenhouse gases and that far more has to be done to meet the challenge of climate change."

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