Electric cars, local food and super-insulated homes are all part of the Sustainable Development Commission’s vision for a low-carbon Wales, launched in November.  The SDC’s report ‘Low Carbon Wales: Regional Priorities For Action,’ produced for the Welsh Assembly Government, gives advice on how each region of Wales can make dramatic cuts to carbon emissions, tailored to the unique nature of that area.  At the launch of Low Carbon Wales, Peter Davies, SDC Commissioner for Wales said: 'This is a truly unique report. It’s the first time that anyone has worked out how each region of Wales can make the necessary cuts in carbon emissions, in the ways best suited to that area. Each part of Wales is unique – it’s not enough to give someone in Pembrokeshire the same advice as someone in Cardiff or Dolgellau. It shows that not only is a low carbon Wales essential, it’s also desirable and achievable if we work together.'  The Commissioner also warns that, to effectively tackle climate change, low-carbon lifestyles need to be made much easier for the general public: 'Most of us now recognise the threat of climate change but to make a low carbon Wales a reality we face two main challenges. Firstly, we need to make the right choices ‘citizen-easy’.  It should be easier to take public transport, easier to eat local food and easier to heat our homes cheaply with less fossil fuels. Living a low-carbon life should be a pleasure, not a battle. Secondly, we need to work together at a regional level. The regions of Wales reflect our every day lives – our journey to the shops, the rugby or to work often cross local boundaries. To tackle carbon emissions effectively, we need to break down barriers – by working across sectors and across local boundaries in each region of Wales.'  The advice is designed to help the Welsh Assembly Government deliver on its existing work on cutting emissions and making Wales a sustainable country. 

Contact Richard Nosworthy on 029 2037 6971 or 07919 175680.
Andrew Davies and Peter Davies (SDC)

Article courtesy of GloballySustDCymru

It’s easy to fee powerless in the face of a huge problem like climate change, but by uniting everyone around immediate, effective and achievable action, 10:10 enables us all to make a meaningful difference.  The plan is simple: we work together to cut our carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. 10:10 is an idea whose time has come.  Anyone can join in individuals, businesses, schools, councils, hospitals - everyone!  If you want to find out more on how to cut your carbon emissions go to www.1010uk.org/ and sign up today.   

Wales became the world’s first Fair Trade nation in June 2008. 15 years ago the first products bearing the FAIRTRADE Mark hit the shelves. In 1994, Green & Black’s Maya Gold chocolate, Cafédirect medium roast coffee and three varieties of Clipper tea were the first goods sold in the UK to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark.
On 12 October, Fair Trade Wales Chairwoman, Ann Hemingway, attended number 10 Downing Street to celebrate Fairtrade’s birthday, a reception hosted by Sarah Brown.  Thanks to its supporters, the Fairtrade movement has gone from strength to strength and today shoppers can choose from more than 4,500 Fairtrade certified products including cotton clothing, bananas, wines, ice-cream and cosmetics.  Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation says: ‘Fifteen years ago our dedicated campaigners told us of the excitement they felt when the first Fairtrade products appeared in their local shops. Now we are calling on people to help us re-create that early excitement by encouraging everyone to fill their whole shopping basket with products from the Fairtrade ranges.’  On the same day, the UK Government announced it is to provide £12 million over the next four years in funding to Fairtrade and its international partners, in order to scale up its work supporting farmers in developing countries.
Visit www.fairtradewales.com / www.fairtrade.org.uk.

Story Courtesy of Cynnal Cymru