Climate protesters in call for Citizens Assembly
FIRST Minister Mark Drakeford has said he is looking forward to working with climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion after meeting with them this week.
The face-to-face talks come just weeks after protesters from the group blocked a Cardiff road for three days – bringing the city centre to a standstill in the process.
Earlier this year, the Welsh Government declared a climate emergency and vowed to do more to tackle the issue
– despite not having a full raft of powers, such being able to make decisions about nuclear power.
However, Extinction Rebellion believe Prof Drakeford should use his standing as Wales’ most senior politician to get “better communicate the climate change urgency” to the public.
On Monday, four members of Extinction Rebellion Cymru met Mr Drakeford in Cardiff – and called on the Labour AM to set up a Citizens Assembly on the climate emergency, as has already been done in Ireland.
Alice MacIntosh, a member of Extinction Rebellion Cardiff, said: “All of us in Extinction Rebellion are just ordinary people concerned about our futures and the futures of our children and people all around the world.
“I think Wales can and should be a world leader in showing a viable path to the
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complete decarbonisation of a modern industrial economy and the benefits that will bring.”
After the meeting, Extinction Rebellion claimed it was agreed that they would “meet with the Welsh Government on a regular basis” and had also been invited to a government conference conference on climate change in October.
It also said Welsh Labour, which is in power at the Senedd, would support “the idea” of a Citizen’s Assembly – although the plan still remains a long way off becoming a reality.
Prof Drakeford said he was pleased with outcome of the get-together.
“I am very glad to have had the opportunity to have met members of Extinction Rebellion,” he added. “This was an opportunity to share ideas, to talk about future opportunities and to begin a dialogue so together we can begin to shape some of the things which this planet and Wales need for the future.”