Spending review falls short on green promises

20 Hydref 2010

Today's spending review has fallen short of what would be expected of a government that has promised to be the 'greenest ever', according to Friends of the Earth Cymru.

Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, Gordon James, said:

"The green measures announced in today's Spending Review are welcome but fall short of what is needed to address climate change, improve energy security and create thousands of green jobs.

"The £1bn funding for the Green Investment Bank is just a sixth of what is required to boost the green economy. Huge opportunities now exist as the low-carbon energy market is predicted to treble over the next decade [1] with Wales aspiring to take a lead role.

"The promised improvements to railway services in south east Wales are welcome but failure to back an electrified railway line between Swansea and London is hugely disappointing as this would bring economic and environmental benefits.

"We hope that some of the £200 million support for offshore wind will reach Wales to improve port facilities at places like Holyhead and Pembroke Dock which could service planned windfarms in the north Irish Sea and off the south Wales coast. This would also create much needed jobs in these areas.

"We're pleased that the immediate threat to feed-in tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive has been fought off. These will help Wales move closer to its ambitious targets for installing the small-scale renewable energy systems that are proving to be so popular."

NOTES

1. Reuters article on HSBC's "Sizing the climate economy" report.

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