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Friends of the Earth welcomes Action Not Words on Climate Change

Friends of the Earth has welcomed the launch of the Welsh Local Government Association Climate Change document "Action Not Words" and has called on government at all levels in Wales to see that it lives up to its name.  The pressure group is campaigning for legally binding targets so that emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide are reduced by 3% every year. [1]

The WLGA document was launched at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay this morning.

Tony Juniper, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, who spoke at the launch called on the Assembly Government to support local councils in Wales by putting in place a framework for emissions reduction and issuing advice on climate change and the planning system, as has happened in England. [2]

Tony Juniper commented,

"This is is the biggest challenge the world faces today.  The message on carbon emissions is getting through but we need to take action without delay.  If we don't reduce emissions urgently then it will be too late to escape the worst impacts of climate change."

Julian Rosser, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru commented,

"It's very welcome that local government in Wales is taking the threat of climate change seriously but we need strong leadership from the Assembly. Sadly, while the Assembly Government has made some progress in supporting renewable energy schemes it has also committed itself to large increases in aviation and road traffic in Wales which are likely to wipe out its other achievements.

"If the Assembly Government wants to be taken seriously as a leader in tackling this problem then it must also give guidance to local authorities in how to use the planning system to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.  We have seen this happen in England but, once again, we seem to be lagging behind."

Notes

[1] See www.thebigask.com / www.yrherfawr.com
[2]See: www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2118

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