"Labour Must Give Green Light To Green Action" - Öpik

8.30.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 17th Mar 2006

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will put the spotlight on the Assembly Government's green credentials in their minority party debate next week.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Lembit Öpik MP, who will open a groundbreaking new exhibition at the Centre for Alternative Technology today, has backed his colleagues in Cardiff Bay, and called on Labour to be bold where they have been timid and do more to make Wales a powerhouse of the green economy:

"The green economy can bring enormous benefits to Wales.  Labour should embrace green technology, not shy away from it.

"Wales has arguably the best natural resource base for renewables in Europe, and with cutting edge companies like CAT setting the standard we should be leading the world in this young industry.

"Tony Blair has become the hollow man on green issues.  Behind his grand words, there's precious little action.  Our motion in the Assembly next week gives a clear signal of what the Government should be doing.  If Labour gives the green light to green action, the Welsh economy and the Welsh environment will both benefit massively."

Next Tuesday in the Welsh Assembly Mick Bates AM will be leading a Welsh Liberal Democrat debate, calling on the Labour Assembly Government to do more to turn Wales in to a world leader when it comes to protecting the environment. 

Mick Bates AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson on the environment and chair of the Assembly's all-party group on Sustainable Energy, said: "There's a frustration in Wales that the government are not moving forward with energy efficiency measures, small scale renewable energy measures and exploring the potential for green jobs.

"One thing that would help would be a simple headline indicator for progress. Something that can be easily understood - the present basket of indicators might give policy wonks a complex and complete understanding but does not allow ordinary people to easily gauge how well, or badly, we are doing.

"Until we have a measure that doesn't require a doctorate in ecology to understand, it will be impossible to hold this government to account.

"Wales has the potential to be a world leader, but the Labour Assembly government has sat on its laurels when it should have been setting the pace.  I hope that all parties will be able to support this motion and put Wales back in the driving seat - leading the world in improving the quality of life for this generation, without damaging that same quality of life for generations to come."