Cardiff Lib Dems join Climate Change demonstration

5.00.00pm GMT Wed 7th Feb 2007

Lib Dem Assembly candidate, John Dixon (left), joins campaigners from the World Development Movement to raise awareness on climate change.

Welsh Liberal Democrat campaigners from Cardiff joined activists from the World Development Movement today to raise awareness and demand action on climate change.

A new 'Climate calendar' published by the World Development Movement shows that by the end of today (Wednesday 7th February 2007), the average person in Britain will have already produced as much CO2 as the average person in countries such as Peru, Zimbabwe and Tajikistan will all year.

According to the report:

• By 10th January the average UK citizen had already emitted as much CO2 as the average Kenyan will in a year. In sub-Saharan Africa an estimated 375,000 people have already died in the 21st Century due to illness caused by climate change.

• By 9th February, the average UK citizen will have already emitted as much CO2 as the average Indian will in the whole year. If the whole world emitted CO2 at the same rate as India, there would be no climate change problem. India does not currently contribute to climate change.

• By 6th March the average UK citizen will have already emitted as much CO2 as the average person from Ecuador. If the retreat of glaciers continues 50 million people in Latin America will lose their dry season water supplies.

Local Lib Dem, Fenella Bowden, wants government action on climate change.

Top Liberal Democrat candidate for South Wales Central region, John Dixon, attended the demonstration and said:"The Labour government needs to get serious on climate change. We need to have legally binding annual targets to reduce carbon emissions and invest much more heavily in renewable energy to provide a sustainable future. The average person in India emits 1.04 tonnes of CO2 per year, compared to over 9 tonnes by the average Briton. That does not reflect well on us, and government action needs to be taken if we are to reverse the trend."

Rhiwbina Lib Dem activist, Fenella Bowden, added: "The Welsh Lib Dems believe we need to take steps to ensure that 100% of Wales' electricity comes from renewable sources by 2050. We have a duty to be ambitious and bold about the future, and reports such as the one released today show just how important it is to take this issue seriously."

The full report from the WDM can be viewed online at: http://www.wdm.org.uk/resources/briefings/climate/climatecalandar08012007.pdf