Following the Environment and Sustainable Development Minister John Griffiths’ recent trip to the COP18 conference in Doha, and in line with the Welsh Government’s launch of a public consultation on proposals for the Sustainable Development Bill this week, Stop Climate Chaos Cymru released a letter to the Western Mail reiterating our call for a strong Sustainable Development Bill for Wales.
Read the letter here
The Welsh Assembly Government recently published a consultation[1] on proposals for a Sustainable Development Bill, legislation which aims to place sustainable development at the heart of all Welsh Government and public sector decision-making. We support such innovative proposals, and believe that it could offer a pioneering opportunity to create a sustainable Wales in the long-term, whilst also setting a positive example to the rest of the world in light of determined actions to approach environmental, economic and social decision making within a long-term and holistic framework.
However, we believe that a number of modifications to the initial proposals are necessary in order to improve the shaping of the legislation, and produce a text that sets Wales truly on the path of delivering a sustainable economy within environmental limits. These suggestions are highlighted within our position paper below, and include the need for the new sustainable development duty to be stronger than the one proposed, backed by supporting statutory strategies as mechanisms for achieving sustainable development, an agreement with the proposal for an independent commissioner to review and assess the Welsh Government’s progress on meeting the legislation, and the need for more clarity in terms of the contained definition of sustainable development.
Read SCCCs position paper here: SCCC formatted SD Bill July 2012
Read more about Sustainable Development here.
Stop Climate Chaos Cymru give Minister a sporting send off to Rio
Friday 15 June 2012
As John Griffiths, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development is leaving for Brazil today Stop Climate Chaos Cymru gave him a sporting send off to go and help save the world at the UN Rio+20 global Sustainable Development Summit.
As part of the UK Delegation, John Griffiths AM will be able to stress the advances and leadership that Wales is showing in Sustainable Development, from specific policy actions such as the Arbed home energy efficiency scheme to the forthcoming Sustainable Development Bill.
Haf Elgar, Chair of Stop Climate Chaos Cymru, said: “We’re very pleased that the Minister will have the chance to show the rest of the world what progress we are making in Wales on Sustainable Development. We hope that through discussions with other nations and regions Wales can build on its ambition for the Sustainable Development Bill and become a true international champion for future generations and those living in poverty.”
UN Summits have in the past seen ground breaking targets set for global action on emission reductions and this time around campaigning organisations are calling for a global vision for a green and fair economy which benefits all people, and a step change in sustainable development.
John Griffiths said: “Sustainability is much more than a green idea, it is about developing the best long-term path for Wales that will deliver a good, healthy sustainable quality of life for all people in Wales both now and in the future. “It means that when we are faced with difficult choices, we choose the option that is best for the long term future of Wales, rather than the option that is quickest, easiest or cheapest.”
The Welsh Government is currently consulting on its plans for a Sustainable Development Bill. SCCC hope that the Rio+20 UN Summit will inspire the ambition of the Minister to demonstrate committed and credible action in the Bill which could Wales apart from the rest of the world.
John Griffiths said: “Wales might be a small country but we are genuinely championing some leading sustainability policies. I believe these must be fed into the global debate and whilst I am in Rio I will be canvassing other governments for their views on our SD policies in an effort to inspire them into similar action and so we can all learn from any relevant experiences.”
Elgar added: “We hope that The Welsh Government will deliver a Sustainable Development Bill that reflects the urgent context of action on climate change. We need to see that public authorities have a clear responsibility to act and that we are responsible for our international impacts.”
Read more here and watch a short video
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Atal Anhrefn Hinsawdd Cymru yn achub ar y cyfle i ddymuno ffarwel!
Dydd Gwener, 15 Mehefin 2012
Wrth i John Griffiths, Gweinidog yr Amgylchedd a Datblygu Cynaliadwy, ddechrau ar ei daith i Brasil heddiw, cafodd Atal Anhrefn Hinsawdd Cymru (AAAC) y cyfle i ddymuno hwyl fawr iddo fynd i helpu achub y byd yn Uwchgynhadledd Datblygu Cynaliadwy y CU Rio+20.
Fel rhan o Ddirprwyiaeth y DU, bydd John Griffiths AC yn gallu pwysleisio y cynnydd a’r arweiniad mae Cymru yn ei ddangos ym maes Datblygu Cynaliadwy, o weithredoedd polisi penodol megis cynllun effeithlonrwydd ynni tâi Arbed i Fesur arfaethedig Datblygu Cynaliadwy.
Meddai Haf Elgar, Cadeirydd Atal Anhrefn Hinsawdd Cymru: “Ry’n ni’n falch iawn bydd gan y Gweinidog gyfle i ddangos gweddill y byd cynnydd Cymru yn Natblygu Cynaliadwy. Gobeithiwn y gall Cymru, drwy drafodaethau â gwledydd eraill, adeiladu ar ei huchelgais ar gyfer ei Mesur Datblygu Cynaliadwy a bod yn geffyl blaen ar gyfer cenhedlaethau’r dyfodol a’r rhai sy’n byw mewn tlodi”.
Yn y gorffennol mae Uwchgynhadleddau CU wedi gweld targedau byd-eang arloesol yn cael eu gosod ar gyfer lleihau allyriadau a’r tro hwn mae mudiadau ymgyrchu yn galw am weledigaeth fyd-eang ar gyfer economi deg a gwyrdd all fod o fudd i bawb, ac yn torri cwys newydd yn natblygu cynaliadwy.
Meddai John Griffiths: “Mae cynaladwyedd yn gymaint mwy na syniad gwyrdd, mae’n ymwneud a datblygu’r llwybr gorau ar gyfer Cymru yn y tymor hir – ansawdd bywyd da, iach a cynaladwy i bawb yng Nghymru nawr ac yn y dyfodol.
“Mae’n golygu pan fo gennym benderfyniadau anodd, ein bod yn dewis yr opsiwn sydd orau i Gymru yn y tymor hir, yn hytrach na’r opsiwn cyflyma’, rhwyddaf neu rhataf.”
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymgynghori ar hyn o bryd ar ei chynllun ar gyfer Mesur Datblygu Cynaliadwy. Gobaith AAAC yw y bydd Uwchgynhadledd Rio+20 yn ysbrydoli uchelgais y Gweinidog i ddangos ymrwymiad a gweithredu credadwy yn y Mesur all roi Cymru ar flaen y gad.
Meddai John Griffiths: “Falle bod Cymru yn wlad fach ond ry’n ni’n wirioneddol arwain ar rai polisiau cynaladwy blaenllaw. Credaf fod yn rhaid bwydo rhain i mewn i’r drafodaeth fyd-eang a tra byddaf yn Rio byddaf yn gofyn wrth llywodraethau eraill am eu barn am ein polisiau DC fel ymdrech i’w hysbrydoli nhw i weithredu yn debyg ac fel y gallwn oll ddysgu o unrhyw brofiadau perthnasol.”
Ychwanegodd Elgar: “Gobeithiwn y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyflwyno Mesur sy’n adlewyrchu cyd-destun argyfyngus gweithredu ar newid hinsawdd. Mae angen i ni weld yn glir fod gan awdurdodau cyhoeddus gyfrifoldeb I weithredu ac ein body n gyfrifol am ein heffeithiau rhyngwladol.”
Darllenwch mwy yma a gwyliwch y ffilm
This June, 20 years on from the Earth Summit in Rio de Janiero, Brazil in 1992, government representatives from around the world are meeting at a ‘Rio+20’ summit to discuss sustainable development.
Stop Climate Chaos Cymru is gearing up for The Rio Connection, a week of action across the UK, in the run up to the summit. 16-22 June, grassroots networks will be holding Rio-themed events with their elected representatives to connect local, national and global sustainability issues, inspire new people to talk about sustainability and encourage MPs, Welsh Assembly Members and MSPs to sign up to a sustainable future.
Interested in getting involved? Organise a Brazilian coffee morning? Rio carnival? Film screening? Photo exhibition? Football match?
Join the Rio Connection in Wales by signing up on the map http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/rio-connection and contact wales@stopclimatechaos.org / @SCCCymru
RT @pdpartnership: Summary of consultation responses on SD Bill now online - SD Bill Reference group meeting tomorrow http://t.co/vJWRxH1pYg
RT @SCCCymru: Cool heads needed! Alun James of @wwfcymru writes on what we can do on #climatechange as we pass #400ppm http://t.co/XSR8d6LPvn
RT @SCCCymru: Cool heads needed! Alun James of @wwfcymru writes on what we can do on #climatechange as we pass #400ppm http://t.co/XSR8d6LPvn
RT @SCCCymru: Cool heads needed! Alun James of @wwfcymru writes on what we can do on #climatechange as we pass #400ppm http://t.co/XSR8d6LPvn Cool heads needed! Alun James of @wwfcymru writes on what we can do on #climatechange as we pass #400ppm http://t.co/XSR8d6LPvnCopyright © 2013 stopclimatechaoscymru.org. We’re grateful to the Co-operative Membership Cymru for their support in disseminating the report’s findings. 
