Flooding risk from Welsh temperature rises highlighted: call for investment in environmental industries
Welsh Euro-MP Jill Evans joined colleagues from across Europe in Brussels on Wednesday in a colourful display to welcome the coming into force of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
Ms Evans was amongst forty Euro-MPs who marched to the European Commission building under specially made green umbrellas carrying the slogan 'Stop Climate Change'.
Jill with fellow MEPs Tatjana Zdanoka (Latvia) and the Scottish National Party's Ian Hudghton.
The Plaid Cymru MEP urged the UK Government to fully implement the Kyoto protocol and highlight the flooding risk associated with temperature rises in Wales.
Speaking from Brussels, Ms Evans commented:
"We've waited a long time for this day but finally the Kyoto protocol on climate change comes into force. If we don't reduce the dangerous gases responsible for global warming then we face environmental catastrophe. Too often we see scenes on TV of melting polar ice fields and it all seems so distant. But we have to realise that this is as relevant to Wales as anywhere else.
"Average temperatures in Wales have risen by one degree over the last ten years. Experts agree that once we pass the two degree level, we risk seeing irreversible environmental changes and the consequences could be disastrous.
"Over the past year and a half villages in the Conwy Valley have seen their flood defences breached three times - flooding that shouldn't happen more often than once in twenty years happening three times in such a short space of time. That's why there can be no excuses for inaction to stop climate change - the risks are just to great.
"It's time for New Labour to stop breaking its promises on climate change and implement in full the UK's commitments under the Kyoto protocol - before it's too late."
Plaid Cymru Environment Spokesman Simon Thomas MP added:
"How ironic that in the week the Kyoto protocol comes into force we see Blair's Government trying to wriggle out of its commitments to reduce greenhouse gasses. They're on a collision course with the European Commission after shamefully reneging on earlier pledges on greenhouse gas reduction. This leaves Blair's claims to want to show leadership in the fight on climate change looking particularly weak.
"This is a government that is only ready to fulfil its environmental obligations when it suits them - well that's just not good enough. But even that isn't going far enough - not only do we need a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, we need development of new clean industries. That's why we want to see a commitment from Blair to invest in environmental industries that are both clean and green at the same time."
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