Concern that climate change commission could be a "slow-moving talking shop"

The Welsh Assembly Government's Climate Change Commission might not be able to act quickly enough to tackle the immediate threat of climate change, according to Friends of the Earth Cymru.

Gordon James, Director of the environmental group, said of the launch of the Commission:

"We welcome the launch of the Climate Change Commission as it will help to raise awareness and improve our response in Wales to the immense threat posed by climate change. However, there is a real danger that the Commission could become little more than a slow-moving talking shop.

"Friends of the Earth Cymru is concerned that the Assembly Government has said the Commission will be 'the main driver for action'[1] in tackling climate change. We're worried that such a large body representing so many diverse interests will struggle to agree on the radical actions we now know are necessary.

"To achieve the large cuts in the emission of climate changing gases that we need [2], we have to be acting right now. A talking shop can be no substitute for real action.

"The Climate Change Commission is a small step in the right direction but it must not be just a front, that could slow down or even prevent strong Assembly Government action to cut emissions as quickly as possible.

"The Welsh Assembly Government must drive forward radical policies. This means taking some brave decisions. The Government needs to:

• Switch expenditure from road building to public transport
• Scrap plans to build a Gwent Levels Motorway
• Rescind planning permission for the Ffos-y-Frân opencast coal mine in Merthyr
• Give far greater support to measures that cut energy use in our buildings
• Refuse to support new power stations that do not use Combined Heat and Power systems to use the huge amounts of waste heat they generate
• Give strong support to renewable energy systems such as wind power, tidal energy and solar power"

Notes

1. Jane Davidson, Minister For Sustainability And Rural Development, Oral Statement 16 October 2007
2. The internationally renowned Tyndall Centre for Climate Change at Manchester University has stated that the UK needs to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 90% by 2050, if Britain is to meet its fair share of emission reductions in order to prevent catastrophic consequences of climate change. See Tyndall Briefing Note 17, March 2007 - 'A Response to the Draft Climate Change Bill's Carbon Reduction Targets' (PDF†).