Carbon emissions 'still rising'

The assembly government is taking steps to reduce emissions

The Welsh Assembly Government has failed to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide - the main greenhouse gas - Friends of the Earth Cymru has claimed.

The environment group said new data showed that in 2003, carbon dioxide levels in Wales were higher than in 1990.

But it added that there had been a drop in emissions of other greenhouse gases.

Welsh Environment Minister Carwyn Jones said he had set out measures to move Wales towards a "low carbon" economy.

'Main battle'

A report produced by the Assembly Government, showed that overall emissions of greenhouse gases in Wales were lower in 2003 than in 1990.

But overall emissions of carbon dioxide in Wales were found to have risen since 1990.

Despite the decrease in some of the greenhouse gases, Gordon James, from Friends of the Earth Cymru, said that carbon dioxide was the key to tackling the problem of climate change.

We recognise that more needs to be done to achieve further cuts in emissions Welsh Environment Minister Carwyn Jones

"Reductions in the overall level of greenhouse gas emissions is very welcome but substantially reducing carbon dioxide emissions is the main battle and we are losing it," he said.

"Fine words on climate change from the Welsh Assembly Government are not being matched by action.

"Scientific evidence is now regularly spelling out the severity of the problem we face, warning that we have already passed the point where some climatic changes are irreversible .

"Politicians of all parties need to wake up to the threat posed by a changing climate and have the courage to take tough decisions.

"There needs to be far more emphasis on saving rather than wasting energy, on traffic reduction and public transport, and on developing cleaner sources such as wind, water, solar and biofuel energy."

Assembly action plan

Welsh Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside, Carwyn Jones, said progress had been made.

He added: "Climate change is the greatest international sustainable development challenge we face, and we must play a full part in global efforts to minimise the negative impacts of climate change.

"We recognise that more needs to be done to achieve further cuts in emissions and we have set out in our sustainable development action plan a number of actions to take our work on climate change forward significantly and move us towards a "low carbon" economy.

"I launched our consultation on an environment strategy in July. Climate change, and the challenges it poses, are a central theme in the consultation document.

"The final strategy, which will be completed this winter, will set out what action we all need to" take to address these challenges."