Thursday, February 08, 2007
Whatever the weatherman says
As we are talking about the weather it is worth reflecting on one exchange in yesterday's Plenary questions to the Environment Minister, or to give him his full title, the Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside.
The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Cardiff Central, Jenny Randerson, started it off with a fairly innocuous question about global warming and then conjured up an image of its impact on Cardiff far worse than anything the City experienced today:
Jenny Randerson: You may be aware that Cardiff will be one of the first places under water. I am sure that you will have seen the thought-provoking picture produced by the World Wildlife Fund of the Millennium Stadium with a boat floating in the middle of it because it is under water. The Stern report said that expenditure of 1 per cent of GDP now could secure our future, avoiding the need to spend a much higher percentage later. Are you aware that the February tranche of the low-carbon building programme grant, funded by the Department of Trade and Industry and administered by the Energy Saving Trust was totally allocated by 11.30 a.m. on 1 February, the first day that it was available? Clearly, there needs to be an increase in the allocation for such grants, and since the DTI is clearly not providing enough money to meet the demand, will you please fill the gap?
David Melding, as ever, provided some reassurance. He is obviously a 'fight them on the beaches' sort of politician, rather than somebody who believes that we have to pick and choose where we do our King Canute thing:
David Melding: Before we all reach for our flippers, we have about 50 years or so before we will see some of the more alarming and measurable increases in sea levels. We must ensure that, in all sorts of infrastructure projects and work, measures to address the expectation of a pressure on our defences are built in. Thereafter, we must ensure that we start to recover the situation, and that we do not add to the climate problems that are now locked in, so that future generations will go on to enjoy our wonderful capital city.
Jenny is right though. The Senedd may have built to last over a 100 years but it will not be too useful if it were under water.
The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Cardiff Central, Jenny Randerson, started it off with a fairly innocuous question about global warming and then conjured up an image of its impact on Cardiff far worse than anything the City experienced today:
Jenny Randerson: You may be aware that Cardiff will be one of the first places under water. I am sure that you will have seen the thought-provoking picture produced by the World Wildlife Fund of the Millennium Stadium with a boat floating in the middle of it because it is under water. The Stern report said that expenditure of 1 per cent of GDP now could secure our future, avoiding the need to spend a much higher percentage later. Are you aware that the February tranche of the low-carbon building programme grant, funded by the Department of Trade and Industry and administered by the Energy Saving Trust was totally allocated by 11.30 a.m. on 1 February, the first day that it was available? Clearly, there needs to be an increase in the allocation for such grants, and since the DTI is clearly not providing enough money to meet the demand, will you please fill the gap?
David Melding, as ever, provided some reassurance. He is obviously a 'fight them on the beaches' sort of politician, rather than somebody who believes that we have to pick and choose where we do our King Canute thing:
David Melding: Before we all reach for our flippers, we have about 50 years or so before we will see some of the more alarming and measurable increases in sea levels. We must ensure that, in all sorts of infrastructure projects and work, measures to address the expectation of a pressure on our defences are built in. Thereafter, we must ensure that we start to recover the situation, and that we do not add to the climate problems that are now locked in, so that future generations will go on to enjoy our wonderful capital city.
Jenny is right though. The Senedd may have built to last over a 100 years but it will not be too useful if it were under water.
Comments:
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Not meaning to change the subject, but since "the environment" is the underlining issue here ... has anyone read this report in today's Guardian?
http://environment.guardian.co.uk/waste/story/0,,2011024,00.html
I am thoroughly shocked.
Peter, I realize that you are responsible for Swansea, but I would be grateful if you would bring the above referenced article to the attention of your colleagues responsible for the greater Cardiff area.
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http://environment.guardian.co.uk/waste/story/0,,2011024,00.html
I am thoroughly shocked.
Peter, I realize that you are responsible for Swansea, but I would be grateful if you would bring the above referenced article to the attention of your colleagues responsible for the greater Cardiff area.
# posted by 
: 5:02 AM
: 5:02 AM<< Home
