Radical overhaul needed to address
the current energy crisis
For Release 00.05 am Wednesday May 31st 2006
The Welsh Assembly Government’s energy and economic policies
need a radical overhaul to address the current energy crisis. This
is the message from two influential writers in the latest issue of
agenda, the journal of the Institute of Welsh Affairs.
In the first article, Gordon James, Welsh Assembly Campaigner with
Friends of the Earth Cymru, argues that the Welsh Assembly Government
needs greater powers of control over energy policy if it is to lead
the way on climate change. James says that the Assembly Government’s
role in energy matters is “little more than shadow boxing”
because responsibility for key policy areas in Wales still resides
largely with Westminster.
In its submission to the Welsh Select Committee inquiry, Friends of
the Earth Cymru argued that energy policy in Wales and elsewhere must
be focussed on the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This would
involve reducing the use of fossil fuels and developing renewable
sources of energy. In Wales, the production of low carbon energy could
lead to what James calls an “energy revolution”, with
“the possibility of reaping economic as well as environmental
benefits”.
In his article, James proposes the direction Wales could take with
energy efficient and renewable alternatives. He sees wind farms as
“the most cost-effective and technologically advanced of all
the renewable options”. James also points out the energy that
could be provided by marine current turbines and notes that one of
the best locations in the UK for these turbines would be off Wylfa
head, which is currently the location of a nuclear power station.
A further form of alternative energy in Wales will be provided by
the Danish company Wave Dragon’s proposed building of the world’s
largest wave energy converter off either Dale or Marloes beach in
Pembrokeshire.
However, the potential for real change in Welsh energy policy is likely
to be hampered by what James sees as “the Assembly Government’s
impotence on energy issues”. He says: “While the UK government’s
plan sets targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from households,
government buildings and the business sector by 2010, no targets or
timetables for delivery are set in the Assembly Government’s
Energy Saving Wales.” He also notes that the Assembly
Government is unlikely to be able to challenge Westminster’s
move towards nuclear power. He concludes that as long as Westminster
retains responsibility for Welsh energy policy, the Welsh Assembly
Government will be severely restricted in developing clean and efficient
energy alternatives.
In the second article, Morgan Parry argues that the Assembly Government’s
new economic development strategy, Wales a Vibrant Economy,
needs a radically different approach. He points out that the serious
implications of climate change need to be addressed and says: “A
‘business as usual’ economic model will produce catastrophic
climate change impacts and resource depletion at a cost which will
dwarf any short-term economic gain.”
Parry, who is head of WWF Cymru and a board member of Cynnal Cymru
– the Sustainable Forum for Wales, notes that although Wales
a Vibrant Economy recognises the importance of developing a low
carbon economy it “implies that we can defer action to some
point in the future”. This, he argues, is not an option. Any
developments in the Assembly Government’s strategy that will
lead to an increase in CO2 emissions will result in a reduction, rather
than an increase, in Wales’s economic wealth because “our
wealth ultimately depends on the protection and enhancement of ecosystem
services, not on their destruction”.
Parry argues that Wales a Vibrant Economy embraces a competitive
regions philosophy that Wales cannot ultimately achieve. He proposes
instead that Wales should strive for a truly sustainable economy by
making some of the changes in policies, institutions and practices
suggested by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. This change in direction
would put Wales at the forefront of environment-driven economic policy
and represent an opportunity for significant development.
For further information please contact IWA Director John Osmond
on 029 2066 0865 or e-mail johnosmond@iwa.org.uk
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