Why Climate Change Is A Welsh Independence Issue

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Last week it was blisteringly hot. This week there was a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms in all of Wales. Climate Change is with us, and yet centuries of Unionist rule has made it singularly unprepared to deal with it.

Let's chat about two examples.

Transport : In Wales the car is the best way to get around, even in Cardiff depending on the time of day, simply because the public transport service is unreliable. After all Wales does not have an integrated rail service that covers all of the nation and as discussed previously the plans for electrification of the South Wales main line stops at Cardiff.

Yes there is the South Wales Metro Project (partly possibly funded it should be noted by EU money) but whilst reaching out to the Rhondda Cynon Taff area and Bridgend it is at the moment yet to be truly started let alone finished and, and this is important, appears to be a Cardiff-centric project. In other words designed for people to go into the Welsh capital.

Therefore Secretary of State for Wales will be happy because his Western Powerhouse vision (South West England/South East Wales up to Cardiff) is being facilitated by this line. But Wales economically and environmentally does not benefit as a whole.

And of course there could be the issue of cost over runs like in HS1 and 2 as well.

So even if it does work (and that's an if) the areas within South Wales it will help will be limited. The whole metro project has the look of something designed to feed Cardiff like that large flower from the Little Shop Of Horrors.

Lack of railways and other easily accessible public transport means that people go on cars. A lot of people's livelihoods depend on going to out-of-town business or retail parks for work. If you want better transport and consequently a better environment for all of Wales then you invest in transport system for all of Wales and not just for it's South East side.

Ah you will say transport is a devolved issue in Wales. Well yes it is. But funding for the Assembly comes from Westminster. You make cuts to that then all devolved issues will suffer which is what Westminster has done.

An independent Wales would invest in a independent and integrated transport system for the nation. I'm not saying that it would either be quick or easy. But it would be done. And it would be done precisely because it is something an independent nation would have to do.

Energy: As discussed previously in this blog Wales could invest in alternative sources of power such as wind or tide. Westminster however seemingly wants Wales to go nuclear. It was Westminster that stopped the Swansea Bay tidal power project but it will be Wales that will have to partly pay for the Hinckley Point power station (from which let's not forget Cardiff Bay received mud thanks to the approval of the Welsh Labour Government).

Therefore it's London that's holding back Wales from investing in the green future. Independence would allow Wales to follow a green policy that it's own natural resources would support.

Again, and this needs to be stressed. This change would not be instant. But it would be done. and again it would be done because it is something an independent nation would do.

An independent Wales can help in the fight against climate change. Relying on Westminster will not.

Until the next time.