News from Welsh Labour

“Davos must offer green route out of global economic crisis” – Welsh AM

A Labour Member of the Welsh Assembly is calling on the forthcoming meeting of world political, business and trade union leaders, to discuss tackling the global economic recession by focusing on addressing climate change, as a route to economic recovery.

Wrexham’s AM, Lesley Griffiths – who is a Member of the Assembly’s Sustainability Committee – was speaking ahead of this week’s 39th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, which will bring together more than 40 heads of state and government along with business leaders, NGOs, Trades Unions and economic experts.

The UK’s delegation at Davos will be led by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.

This year’s annual meeting, which will run between 28th January and 1st February, will address the theme “Shaping the Post-Crisis World”. The meeting will focus on managing the current global economic crisis and shaping the post-crisis agenda, from economic reform to climate change.

Commenting, Lesley Griffiths AM said:

“There is a growing body of opinion right across the world that says that the current global recession should not be used as an excuse by governments to duck the issue of tackling climate change.

“I agree with this view. The economic downturn should be viewed by governments as an opportunity, not a block, to reducing CO2 emissions. In Europe for example, member states are committed to reducing emissions by 20% by 2020. It is important we understand that climate change will not stop or go into reverse, just because of global economic problems.

“Governments – including here in the UK – are currently in a very strong position to ensure we ‘climate proof’ our economies. The tools they can use to achieve this, are threefold:

“Firstly, government-funded schemes to upgrade or deliver new infrastructure projects should focus more on those schemes that do not exacerbate climate change.

“Secondly, governments across the world who have propped up banks in recent months are now in a strong position to exert pressure – like never before on those institutions – to ensure investment and credit flows more easily to those companies involved in green industries or delivering green jobs.

“Thirdly, government assistance in some previously polluting industry sectors can now be used as a lever to deliver greener outcomes. A recent example of this was provided by the Swedish government, whose support for its car industry was dependent upon those companies manufacturing more emission-friendly vehicles.

“My hope is that at the end of Davos 2009 our leaders will have recognised that the problems facing the economy can be partially resolved by addressing the problems relating to the environment and vice versa.”

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• AM welcomes safer rail travel in North Wales - 23 February 2010
• Wales Boiler Scrappage Scheme announced - 11 February 2010