This week Plaid MEP Jill Evans hosted a visit of climate campaigners from Wales to Brussels who came to urge European politicians to act decisively ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen later this year.

The group were so moved after seeing the film 'The Age of Stupid' at their local cinema in Pembrokeshire that they decided to act. Jill Evans met the campaigners and invited them to Brussels to put their case directly to politicians and policy makers at the EU institutions. They hope that ideas made in Wales can be put to use to help fight climate change.

Photograph: Jill Evans MEP with the Welsh climate campaigners in Brussels

The Welsh Group visiting Brussels included Vicky Moller, an Ecotour operator, Sue Hutchinson, a town councillor, and Siobhan Ashe from Newport Pembrokeshire, James Cass from the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, Jan Cliff from Sundance Renewables, Carmarthenshire, and Aled Vaughan Owen from Menter Cwm Gwendraeth.

Plaid MEP Jill Evans said:

"Climate change is the greatest threat and the greatest challenge facing our planet today. I wanted Europe's policy makers to listen directly to representatives from Wales who are demanding action. While many governments are finding reasons for inaction, the One Wales Government has taken some radical steps such as the commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions, but there is a lot still to do.

"Wales can take a lead in the fight against climate change. We have already taken practical steps to reduce our own carbon footprint and these campaigners from all over the country have been making the case for a global emissions cut directly to the team that will be negotiating in Copenhagen later this year."

One of the campaigners, Siobhan Ashe, explained:

“We are mostly young parents, passionate about climate change, wanting to influence our leaders before its too late. We may not be scientists but we have common sense, and that is all it takes to stop dangerous climate change. It is at Brussels that the UK and Welsh negotiating positions will be decided, so it's to Brussels we are going”.

Group organiser Vicky Moller added:

"We are not going to be blinded by acronyms. We have environmental researchers in our group, but it is the stark simple reality we bring to the table.”

In Brussels the group met various MEPs, as well as European Commission officials who are working on preparations for the important Copenhagen Climate Conference in December.

Diwedd/Ends