Cymru Siren

WWF CYMRU NEWSLETTER SPRING 2007

Reduce Wales’ global impact: why your vote matters CONTENTS INTRODUCTION

3. A WWF Cymru Welcome to this election edition of Siren! manifesto for a more As you will be aware there is an election in the next few weeks sustainable Wales – three and WWF Cymru has been busy putting party leaders and key paths to improvement Welsh Assembly Government ministers under the ‘environment’ spotlight. We’ve asked them key questions about their party’s commitment to addressing climate change, protecting our seas and coasts in Wales, and sustainable living.

The need to make the environment a key election issue alongside the more traditional topics of education and health is more urgent than ever.

Last year WWF launched its sixth Living Planet Report. The media in Wales and around the world carried the report’s message that we are seriously exceeding the capacity of the Earth to support us. With a global population of six billion there is an increasing need for us to take stock of the report’s findings. It discovered that wildlife populations around the world are in decline as our ecological footprint – our impact on the world – is growing at a tremendous rate. In some areas species have declined by as much as 30 per cent since 1970, and in the same period the human ‘footprint’ has increased as much as 90 per cent in areas such as carbon dioxide emissions.

WWF’s footprint research has discovered that every person in Wales needs the equivalent of six rugby pitches to support our

© NASA lifestyle – put another way, we would need three planets to support our lifestyle. Worryingly, the average American uses the Wales’ Ecological 4. equivalent of more than five planets, while a person in Footprint Bangladesh uses just quarter of a planet. This is not just an environmental issue but an ethical one that needs to be 5. Climate Change addressed. Moving our lifestyle onto a more sustainable path in Wales is 6. Marine Bill something that WWF Cymru is passionate about doing. This is the driver behind all our work from protecting the habitats of orang-utans in Borneo to reducing carbon emissions from our homes. Our lifestyles in Wales have a local and global impact which can be reduced through ‘One Planet Living’ – a way in which everyone can lead happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the world’s natural resources. A key audience who can help us deliver a One Planet Wales is the Welsh Assembly Government and indeed all 60 Assembly Members. With the Welsh Assembly election just around the corner WWF interviewed the four main parties in Wales to quiz them on their commitments to the environment.

We hope you will consider what each leader has to say and that you’ll turn out to vote on 3 May. Remember you can help to vote in leaders that put the environment at the heart of their policies. 8. Get Involved WWF Cymru, Baltic House, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff, Morgan Parry CF10 5FH, Head of WWF Cymru wwf.org.uk/wales. A WWF Cymru manifesto for a more sustainable Wales – three key paths to improvement © WWF-Canon/Chris Martin © WWF-Canon/Hartmut Jungius © WWF-Canon/Anton Vorauer

Ecological footprint WWF Cymru is supportive of Marine legislation for Wales 1The way we lead our lives in Wales is policies that reduce the energy 3Inadequate management of our seas impacting on the local and global threatens the health of our marine wildlife environment with predictable and dire demands of new and existing and the long-term security of maritime consequences. The message is clear, we are homes and that put us on livelihoods. A new Marine Act is essential to exceeding the Earth’s ability to support our course to achieving zero-carbon halt this degradation and it is important to lifestyles and we need to stop. We only have buildings. ensure that Wales’ interests are recognised one planet – but if everyone on Earth lived and developed within it and in conjunction like we do in Wales we would need three with the rest of the UK. Fish and other planets to sustain our lifestyles, so we must Climate change marine animals do not respect lines on do all we can to achieve a ‘One Planet Average global warming of 2ºC above maps. To conserve them we need to think Living’. This means living within the natural pre-industrial levels will result in dangerous, beyond political boundaries and plan for the capacity of the Earth, while still enjoying a 2 ecosystem as a whole. The challenge, irreversible effects. Research shows us that good quality of life. the window of opportunity to stay below therefore, is to deliver an approach that is this ‘tipping point’ is closing fast, but that consistent with the rest of the UK that also WWF Cymru thinks that the next decisive action is still possible. We already recognises the distinctiveness of the Welsh Welsh Assembly Government have technologies that significantly reduce marine environment. should set targets to stabilise climate-threatening carbon dioxide emissions, but we need to act quickly, WWF Cymru wants a Marine Bill and reduce Wales’ ecological providing clear and decisive direction. passed which ensures that footprint to a ‘one planet’ level. WWF Cymru calls on the next Welsh seas are sustainably Our homes generate nearly 30 per cent of Welsh Assembly Government to managed through a the our carbon dioxide emissions. The way commit to a 3 per cent year on comprehensive system of marine homes and communities are developed year reduction in emissions of spatial planning. This planning determines the lifestyle decisions and the and management must be overall ecological footprint of residents. For carbon dioxide. This will require example, building highly efficient homes a ‘carbon budget’ to track and based on the needs of the whole that can meet their own energy needs from manage greenhouse gases ecosystem, not just within renewables, providing easy access to local political boundaries. amenities, public transport, local food links emitted by Wales as a whole, and recycling facilities enables residents to thus enabling us to contribute choose more sustainable options and reduce their ecological footprint – and in many our fair share to the reductions. cases also improve their quality of their life. Cymru SIREN 3 Wales’ Ecological Footprint We asked each party the following questions regarding Wales’ footprint: “Your policy documents do not mention Wales’ footprint and yet it is a major indicator of sustainable development in Wales. What is your position on ecological footprint in Wales, and will you commit to reducing it?”

“Will you adopt the Code for Sustainable Homes and look at a similar code for existing and non-domestic buildings?”

Conservatives – Nick Bourne “First of all we need to identify what our footprint is, and then seek to reduce it year on year and David Cameron said something very similar in UK terms: that we will need an annual monitor – both in the UK and in Wales. We have to assess it and to see how to reduce it year on year.

“We have to tackle this now. On the energy efficiency side, we are looking for building regulations to be devolved. We would like all new homes and public buildings to be carbon neutral and we will adopt the Code for Sustainable Homes.

“With existing homes, we are recognising that there is a massive financial commitment so we haven’t made a commitment in the manifesto. We would certainly want to encourage it but obviously one cannot legislate for that unless you are going to provide financial means for some people who are poor and vulnerable.”

Labour – Carwyn Jones “We would want to reduce Wales’ ecological footprint. One policy we’ve announced is that every new building, not just residential or public sector, from 2011 should be zero carbon. We try to emphasise zero carbon and not carbon neutral because we know that there is offsetting through planting trees, we don’t want to do that. By 2012, all government buildings in Wales will be carbon neutral – some of them are so old you can’t make them zero carbon. We have a target that all our energy will come from renewable sources by 2010, that’s going to help the footprint. We’ve also put a lot of work into local procurement to reduce food miles – for example, all Welsh NHS trusts, bar one, only use Welsh beef.

“Existing house stocks are more difficult so there’s a real challenge over the next decade in finding a way in improving their footprint.”

Liberal Democrats – Mike German “There’s no question about it, the objective is to reduce our carbon footprint. We will energy rate all new homes, like you have on white goods, and move towards all homes in Wales over a period of time. That will encourage people to take up energy conservation measures.

“We will try to drive forward the whole local food agenda. We want to see the public sector procurement of locally-produced food driven upwards, and measure this as a target.

“We don’t have taxation power, we would like to do that switch, but it is a case of what we can actually do to change consumer behaviour: we can use the building regulations, the procurement rules that we have, and the tools we have on waste disposal and waste collection, which I think are the biggest drivers to change consumer behaviour.

“We also seek to control building regulations so we can make homes carbon neutral by 2016.” Cymru SIREN 4 Plaid – Ieuan Wyn Jones “In a sense we’ve made a commitment to ‘One Planet Living’ through addressing climate change – we were the first to introduce annual targets. The items which we will include in our manifesto will help towards reducing Wales’ footprint.

“As a government we can give grants to people to make their homes more energy efficient, but monitoring is key although difficult to achieve. So it’s not just about the government helping people, there has to be a change in people’s attitudes. We’re trying to lead the debate on this, because people need to be convinced that individual actions count. Alongside the grants we need to give people encouragement to take up these things – we’ll be leading a public debate on the need for people to change their behaviour.

“We will adopt the Code for Sustainable Homes.” Climate change We asked the following questions on climate change to each party: “Climate Change is a major issue which we need to tackle. Reducing CO2 emissions is also crucial to reducing footprint. That is why WWF is part of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition and campaigns with them for at least a 3 per cent annual target for CO2 reductions. Does your party support this, and if not why not?”

“What are the key actions you would take to achieve CO2 emissions reductions?”

Conservatives – Nick Bourne “We support the 3 per cent per annum target, but what’s important is recognising the challenges in Wales of reaching those reductions due to our industrial position. We should focus on things we can do in terms of energy efficiency – light bulbs, green energy and biomass energy plants.

“We have gone as far as we can with the large-scale wind farms, but micro-generators and solar technology needs to be developed. In Wales we will certainly want to use tidal power and increase use of hydroelectricity where possible. We have to look at the , but I do have my reservations. It would be foolish not to look at it but there are issues attached.

“We will also look at energy efficiency and saving energy. A lot of energy is wasted and we must encourage people to do what they can as individuals. Energy efficiency does mean moderate energy reduction in Wales.”

Labour – Carwyn Jones “We support targets at a UK level, but not at a Welsh level. We don’t control energy past 50 megawatts and we don’t have fiscal powers to change people’s behaviour, so we would be setting a target when we wouldn’t have the tools to reach it.

“We’ve invested more in trains, tracks, new rail lines and extending platforms – these things put together make a real difference in getting more cars off the road.

“We’ve set a target of 10 per cent of energy generated by renewables by 2010. To do that, the technology which exists is on-shore wind. Turbines don’t produce CO2 at all, so we need to be serious about that form of technology. Wave and tidal technology come into play, although there are questions about their environmental effects, in particular the Severn Barrage. Older power stations need to be replaced with cleaner ones and by 2010 we won’t have any nuclear power stations in Wales.”

Cymru SIREN 5 Liberal Democrats – Mike German “We have to reduce our carbon emissions and regard this as being one of the key issues for the election. Climate change is something we can’t afford to leave to others and even though some of the UK and European levers are not within our powers, we must do what we can to influence them. We are committed to the 20 per cent reduction in Wales’ carbon emissions by 2020 and we have to reach the 3 per cent target by 2011, with a 1 per cent reduction per annum leading to this point. We seek to achieve this by expanding our programme for getting people to improve their homes and use less energy.

“The Party is in favour of tidal lagoons and believe it can produce more energy than the Severn Barrage. We don’t want to see nuclear energy used. By 2050, we believe Wales should be self sustaining from its own renewable resources.”

Plaid – Ieuan Wyn Jones “A minimum of 3 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions will be in our manifesto. We tried to get the Assembly to adopt that as a target but unfortunately we failed by just four votes. To achieve this we have highlighted three main areas: we aim to reduce energy consumption in private dwellings by 10 per cent through investing a substantial amount of money into energy conservation programmes; we will secondly aim to set targets for all government and public buildings; and thirdly we will seek for building regulations controls to be transferred to the Assembly so we can have a new build with efficiency programmes built in.

“The main problem with energy production is that the Assembly’s powers are extremely limited. Since it is unlikely we will see energy as a new devolved responsibility in the next four years, we will be putting our views forward to the Westminster government.” Marine Bill We asked each of the parties about their commitment to sustainably manage our seas. We asked them the following questions: “Will you commit to passing marine legislation in the Assembly’s third term which will ensure such management?” “Do you accept that to sustainably manage the marine environment, planning must take place at an ecosystem level not just within the political boundaries?” “How will you deliver a planning system that coordinates planning and management with other countries bordering our seas?”

Conservatives – Nick Bourne “I have certain interests in my own constituency and close to my own home, with the dolphins in Cardigan Bay, so we would certainly support a Marine Bill. But we don’t know what commitments there will be in the forthcoming Queen’s speech and what priority a premiership will give to this.

“Our sea is not just a territorial waters issue – it goes beyond to the continental shelf – and it is definitely an issue of ecological protection. A good planning system to coordinate everyone is necessary, and as far as we’re concerned in Wales this will presumably be at an EU level.

“Our manifesto will commit to a devolution forum to specifically look at cross-border issues. This could also be extended to the Republic of Ireland. An appropriate forum is important because we have signed up to the devolution settlement and must exchange good practice.” Cymru SIREN 6 Labour – Carwyn Jones “We will commit to passing the marine legislation. The Marine Bill in its present form contains provisions for England but for Wales it’ll be for us to fill in the gaps – it gives us more flexibility than we normally would have. Because of the energy situation, it is effectively DTI who are in control of marine spatial planning, even though we will have a strong input. So apart from the energy side, we are looking at enhancing our power in regards to fisheries and nature conservation.

“I think planning at an ecosystem level and within political boundaries can both be done. We do have to recognise political boundaries because it is becoming complicated when it comes to legislation, but there are no difficulties in working with other administrations because we know that ecosystems do not respect political boundaries. It happens elsewhere in the world, so there’s no reason why it can’t happen here.

“We have experience already with managing cross-border issues, especially in the environment field. We have worked closely with England previously – particularly on water issues with the Environment Agency – and may very well in the future work with other administrations such as the Isle of Man as well as the Republic of Ireland.”

Liberal Democrats – Mike German “The first stage is to get the powers over our seas, and the second stage is to redefine where Wales’ boundaries end. We would be seeking from the Marine Bill to have the maximum amount of power transferred to Wales, and then for the debate to be how we can use it. Regardless of whether we can legislate within the next four years, or whenever, we simply want to get those powers transferred. We would seek to legislate as soon as we possibly could.

“An international agreement on the use of our seas is also something that I know is crucial. UK and Irish councils have looked at these issues and I think there’s a much bigger job to be done here. Managing the marine environment outside political boundaries is a must, hence I know it is something the Irish would look very favourably at and would like to see happen.”

Plaid – Ieuan Wyn Jones “We are very much committed to marine legislation in Wales – we understand the importance of this area. Often marine issues bring conflicting interests that need to be resolved, so consultation needs to be done with the broadest possible political support, hopefully on a cross-party basis, before it starts because then these issues can be addressed in a much more positive way.

“An ideal forum to coordinate the entire seas would be the forum which brings the countries together – like the British-Irish council – which would open up discussions. I’m not saying it has to be done this way or that way, as long as a broad agreement can be reached between the stakeholders involved. I have no strong views whether this should be done through part of the Westminster bill or done as an Assembly measure. It may be easier to do it through a UK bill but an Assembly measure would give us greater flexibility. As long as we can get what we want out of the bill, we will take a route which secures that. In Westminster we could take the lead on this policy and the rest may follow. If you take the smoking ban as an example, Wales and Scotland led on the ban and then England followed.”

Cymru SIREN 7 GET INVOLVED

Use your vote Take action online

Voting is the single most If you’re prepared to spare a few important thing you can do to minutes once a month or so to make your voice heard in Wales. send a letter or e-mail to a By voting, you’re helping to decision-maker whenever there’s decide who will make decisions an opportunity to influence on the issues that affect you environmental policy or legislation every day. for the better, or to lobby against environmentally damaging If the environment is important to practices, then WWF Cymru you, here are some questions would love you to become an you could ask your local online campaigner. For more candidates when you’re deciding information on how to get who to vote for: involved please visit wwf.org.uk. • Will your party commit to reducing Welsh CO2 emissions Events in Wales by an average of at least 3 per cent annually. This will help In the run-up to the Welsh combat climate change. What Assembly elections, the Stop other key actions would you Climate Chaos coalition, which

take to achieve these CO2 WWF Cymru is part of, will be emission reductions? holding a series of hustings • What is your party’s position events. These will offer you a on the ecological footprint in chance to quiz the candidates Wales, and will you commit to from the main political parties reducing it? about environmental issues you • Will your party adopt the Code care about. for Sustainable Homes in They are free to attend and open order to achieve zero-carbon to everyone. homes, and look at a similar code for existing and non- They are being held on domestic buildings? Wednesday 18 April, 7.00-9.00pm at • Will your party commit to the Thornhill Centre, Llanishen, Cardiff. passing marine legislation in Monday 23 April, 7.30-9.30pm at the Assembly’s third term The Environment Centre, Pier Street, which will ensure the Swansea. sustainable management of Tuesday 24 April, 7.15-9.30pm our seas? Llangefni Town Hall, Anglesey.

For further information about additional Stop Climate Chaos hustings events, visit wwf.org.uk/wales

Cymru SIREN 8