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| Climate change remarks 'blunder' | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Opposition politicians have attacked Wales' first minister who said global warming would not be "entirely unhelpful" if it brought warm sunshine. | |
| During questions, Rhodri Morgan told assembly members some climate change was unavoidable and would have to be adapted to. | |
| The opposition called his remarks a blunder and utterly irresponsible. | |
| The assembly government plans to make a series of announcements to help tackle climate change over the coming months. | |
| It also announced a scheme to plant a tree for every baby born in Wales. | It also announced a scheme to plant a tree for every baby born in Wales. |
| Mr Morgan in a speech on Monday night said: "If our climate in Wales is going to be more like Spain's or southern California's in the summer, then Spain will be more like the Sahara. | Mr Morgan in a speech on Monday night said: "If our climate in Wales is going to be more like Spain's or southern California's in the summer, then Spain will be more like the Sahara. |
| "If that is the kind of climate shift we cannot avoid having by 2050, it will hardly be unhelpful to Wales." | "If that is the kind of climate shift we cannot avoid having by 2050, it will hardly be unhelpful to Wales." |
| During weekly questions the following day, Mr Morgan said he was happy to repeat his comments. | During weekly questions the following day, Mr Morgan said he was happy to repeat his comments. |
| "There is some climate change you can't stop, it's already built into the system and as well as curbing it we need to adapt to it," he argued. | "There is some climate change you can't stop, it's already built into the system and as well as curbing it we need to adapt to it," he argued. |
| STEPS ON CLIMATE CHANGE Consultation to be launched on response to impacts of unavoidable climate changeSmarter Choices - practical guide to more sustainable travelWales energy routemap, to transform Wales into a low carbon energy economyEnvironmental performance of new buildings a core condition for all Assembly Government funding and investmentsSource: Welsh Assembly Government | STEPS ON CLIMATE CHANGE Consultation to be launched on response to impacts of unavoidable climate changeSmarter Choices - practical guide to more sustainable travelWales energy routemap, to transform Wales into a low carbon energy economyEnvironmental performance of new buildings a core condition for all Assembly Government funding and investmentsSource: Welsh Assembly Government |
| "If the north becomes hotter, it will not be entirely unhelpful." | "If the north becomes hotter, it will not be entirely unhelpful." |
| Mr German, AM for south Wales east said he was "amazed" by the first minister's "staggeringly complacent attitude" towards climate change. | Mr German, AM for south Wales east said he was "amazed" by the first minister's "staggeringly complacent attitude" towards climate change. |
| He said Wales should play a "leading role" in the green revolution. | He said Wales should play a "leading role" in the green revolution. |
| "But we cannot do that while we have a "do-nothing" first minister who isn't merely denying climate change, he's positively welcoming it on the grounds that we'd have more sun in the summer," he said. | "But we cannot do that while we have a "do-nothing" first minister who isn't merely denying climate change, he's positively welcoming it on the grounds that we'd have more sun in the summer," he said. |
| New baby | New baby |
| Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones described Mr Morgan's comments as "remarkable and utterly irresponsible." | Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones described Mr Morgan's comments as "remarkable and utterly irresponsible." |
| Conservative leader, Nick Bourne, said this "blunder" was worse than the first minister's failure to appear at the D-day landings commemorations and gave the impression that Wales did not care about global warming. | Conservative leader, Nick Bourne, said this "blunder" was worse than the first minister's failure to appear at the D-day landings commemorations and gave the impression that Wales did not care about global warming. |
| Mr Morgan said he was referring to climate change that scientists have already proved to be inevitable. | Mr Morgan said he was referring to climate change that scientists have already proved to be inevitable. |
| He went to outline how his government plans to tackle climate change with a series of announcements over the next few months. | He went to outline how his government plans to tackle climate change with a series of announcements over the next few months. |
| Meanwhile, a scheme has been launched to plant a tree for every new baby and adopted child in Wales from Autumn 2007. | Meanwhile, a scheme has been launched to plant a tree for every new baby and adopted child in Wales from Autumn 2007. |
| Each child will receive a certificate telling them where their tree was planted, to give them an "immediate link" with their environment, Mr Morgan explained. | Each child will receive a certificate telling them where their tree was planted, to give them an "immediate link" with their environment, Mr Morgan explained. |
| "This scheme will connect young people with the world of nature, and will also show how they can take action themselves to make their local communities a better place environmentally," he added. | "This scheme will connect young people with the world of nature, and will also show how they can take action themselves to make their local communities a better place environmentally," he added. |
| It is estimated the scheme will lead to the creation of 30 hectares of new woodland each year. | It is estimated the scheme will lead to the creation of 30 hectares of new woodland each year. |