Why going green is good

Cambrian News Article

Release/Rhyddhau: 24/05/06

Contact/Cyswllt: Ceirion Rees:
029 2089 8342/ 07733280105/ ceirion.rees@wales.gov.uk 

Let me take you on a journey to the year 2080.  The 22 o'clock (Eurotime) news has announced flash flooding thought Western Europe.  In Mid Wales farmland has been severely damaged and will be unworkable for at least five years.  In Cardiff, the Millennium Stadium has flooded leading to the cancellation of all major sporting events.  In London, the Prime Minister has announced a national state of emergency.  Government scientists are blaming an increase in temperate from climate change.

It may sound like something out of a science fiction novel, but this frightening image could become a reality.  That is unless we do something about it.  We need to take action now to avoid this crisis.  That means changing the way we live and the way we do business.

A few days ago I chaired an Assembly committee in Machynlleth.  The subject of the meeting was green jobs in Wales.

Now, some people say that going green is bad for the economy.  That looking after the environment means losing money.  That the only way to generate wealth was to invest in heavy industry and big business.  They are wrong!  Investing in green industries won't damage the economy, if fact it will enhance it - small local business is good for us.

Let's be straight about one thing.  The days of heavy industry in Wales are coming to an end.  There was a time that every town had a major factory employing generation after generation.  Now they have moved their operations to other countries where production costs - and wages especially - are a lot lower.

Investing in green industry will have major benefits in Wales.  In Machynlleth we are already one step ahead of the game.  Places like the Centre for Alternative Technology, Dulas Engineering and the Mid Wales Energy Agency employ people and boost the local economy.  The rest of the country can learn a lot from them and our local green tourist industry.  The Mid Wales Energy Agency is launching an action plan to expand our green tourism.

The Welsh Assembly Government has a commitment to Sustainable Development.  That means all development in Wales must perform to the highest possible environmental standards.  That presents opportunities throughout Wales to create jobs and increase prosperity.

Just think about it.  Centres that recycle waste, factories that build solar panels, farmers growing fuel crops, builders building homes with the best possible energy efficiency features.  The list goes on and on

Wales has the potential to be the green capital of the world.  Towns like Machynlleth are making it happen.  Let's lead the rest of the country into a better future.