Welsh political parties are being urged to place climate change at the top of their agenda as they finalise their Assembly election manifestos following reports of another severe Amazonian drought [1] and calls by a leading economist for politicians to reap the benefits of the green industrial revolution [2].

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

"News that the Amazon rainforest's hugely important role in absorbing carbon dioxide is now threatened should act as a wake-up call to all of us. Scientists are worried that last year's severe drought in the Amazon, just five years after the previous one, could mean the forest will become a major source of carbon emissions rather than a major sink absorbing this potent greenhouse gas.

"In an average year, the Amazon absorbs about one and a half billion tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere, but it is now estimated that last year's drought may result in the forest emitting eight billion tonnes.

"This news, following confirmation that last year equalled the world record for the warmest year since records began [3], should be taken seriously by politicians everywhere.

"At the same time as scientists were warning about the Amazonian drought, one of the world's leading economists, Lord Stern, was urging Europe's political leaders to embrace the green industrial revolution. Lord Stern has said that the pioneers in this new industrial revolution will benefit from innovation, creativity, investment and growth.

"Friends of the Earth Cymru is urging all political parties in Wales to place climate change at the top of their agenda in their Assembly election manifestos so that Wales can play a pioneering role in cutting climate-changing emissions and reaping the benefits of the green energy revolution."

NOTES

1. 'Amazon drought 'severe' in 2010, raising warming fears'  BBC News 3-2-11
2. Lord Stern speaking on Radio 4's Today programme this morning in advance of an European Union summit on energy
3. World Meteorological Organisation - 2010 equals record for world's warmest year