FUW DISCUSSES CLIMATE CHANGE WITH NOBEL PRIZEWINNER

OFFICIALS from the Farmers' Union of Wales Meirionnydd branch have met Nobel Peace Prize winner Sir John Houghton to discuss the implications of global climate change for Welsh farmers.

The meeting was arranged by Meirionnydd FUW county executive officer Huw Jones to coincide with the current Welsh Assembly Government review of land management actions under Axis 2 of the Rural Development Plan for Wales.

It took place at FUW county executive committee member David Roberts' farm near Aberdyfi.

"Given the gravity of this issue, and the impact that the current review of Axis II Schemes could have for Welsh producers, it was a great privilege for the FUW to meet with Sir John in order to hear his views," said Mr Roberts.

During the meeting Sir John provided a detailed account of the various factors influencing climate change, including deforestation, carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane emissions, and the 'feedback' that can occur as carbon dioxide is released from drying soils.

"Sir John explained that while there was uncertainty at one time regarding man 's contribution to climate change, the vast majority of scientists are now in no doubt that it is a real and extreme phenomenon," said Mr Roberts

"The implications are dire, particularly given that the World population is expected to reach nine billion by 2050.

"The melting of the icecaps and glaciers is expected to raise sea levels to the extent that large areas of our most fertile land will become submerged, while rising temperatures will change weather patterns, accelerate desertification, and alter the viability of farming systems around the globe.

"This will mean the large displacement of populations and more food having to be produced on less land.

"Meanwhile, there is a desperate need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maximise carbon absorption and storage, and balancing food production and carbon storage formed a significant part of our discussion."

During the meeting FUW members expressed concern that farmers undertaking costly voluntary or compulsory initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions might place businesses at an economic disadvantage if parallel action was not taken globally.

"Some climate change campaigners only concentrate on reducing emissions in Wales and the UK, without considering the influence on international trade and domestic food security. Yet short-sighted draconian measures implemented at a local level are likely to increase global greenhouse gas emissions," said Mr Roberts.

"Rules that disadvantage Welsh production will simply result in more of our food being grown by unsustainable farming methods in other countries, leading to more deforestation, more CO2 emissions, and more food miles.

"Policies that fail to recognise the full picture, including the need to maintain rural economies and domestic food production, are likely to make matters worse"

There was unanimous recognition at the meeting that 'global problems demand global solutions', and that changes affecting the farming sector should be carefully planned and managed at an international scale.

"There are many things that Welsh farming families can do to help in their small way, and support to do this must be provided by government. However, above all, we need global coordination and local and global investment."

Sir John emphasised the risk that the current financial crisis could eclipse the acute need to take international action on climate change. He emphasised the economic boost that would accompany local and global investments in measures that tackle climate change.

"Such measures would provide the much needed boost that economies need, and would be a case of killing two birds with one stone."

Ends

NOTE TO EDITORS: Sir John Houghton was formerly chief executive of the Meteorological Office and chairman of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. In 1994 he joined the UK government panel on sustainable development and was a recipient of the Global 500 Award, under the United Nations Environmental Programme. Sir John has been chairman of scientific committees for the World Climate Research Programme, the Global Climate Observing System and the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change. In 1998 he was awarded the International Meteorological Organisation Prize and in 2007 he received the Nobel Peace Prize as part of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) delegation, alongside the former vice-president of America Al Gore.

PICTURE CAPTION: David Roberts, Trefrifawr, Aberdyfi welcomes Sir John Houghton to the meeting at his farm, together with Meirionnydd FUW County Officials and staff.