WALES: Red card for Labour's green policies

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 15th Jun 2004

The Welsh Liberal Democrats today gave the Labour Assembly Government a red card, in their opposition party debate, for Labour's lack of environment and sustainability policies.

Mick Bates, environment spokesperson for the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said that the Assembly commitment to sustainable development, as enshrined in section 121 of the Government of Wales act, was one of the Assembly's key initiatives but was in danger of being undermined by Labour's lack of vision.

"We are using this opposition party debate to show the danger that this sleepwalking Labour Assembly Government is causing to the Assembly's flagship environmental commitments. "Major manufacturing and developers now look to Scotland for better environmental guidelines, when Wales had the opportunity to be an example to the world.

"The Assembly Government needs to integrate green energy and energy efficiency strategies, provide leadership in projects that reduce carbon emissions, amend planning guidance to promote community renewable energy projects and for the Assembly Government to meet it's 4 TWh renewable target.

"We are offering solid suggestions for action. Labour should accept these proposals as a means to kick-start the sustainability and renewables agenda in Wales. We have fallen behind regions such as North Austria and Navarre. Their success combined with Labour's lack of vision is a threat to Wales' place as a global leader on sustainable policies and issues," said Mick Bates.