Sir, 2003 was the second warmest year in recorded history. The 10 warmest years ever recorded worldwide have occurred in the past 14 years. The 1990s was the warmest decade in the past thousand years. This in turn has led to erratic temperatures, tornadoes and flooding. What's more, climate change is accelerating. And yet, many of us are still failing to make the link between our energy use and its effect on the environment. Every day, Wales, and the rest of Britain, wastes energy worth literally millions of pounds and all that energy creates thousands of tonnes of extra carbon, which is one of the main contributors to climate change. That is why I am offering my support to the Energy Saving Trust's Energy Efficiency Week. This UK-wide campaign is backed by both the Welsh Assembly Government and the Government in Westminster. It aims to raise awareness of the damaging effects that wasting energy has on our climate. There is a growing wave of public interest and concern about climate change, boosted this year by recent extreme global weather conditions. I am asking everyone to think about the importance of saving energy in the home and to get involved in the Big Turn Off. This means simply turning off any electrical appliance not being used for an hour between 2 pm and 3 pm today (Friday), to highlight the importance of not wasting energy. Simple actions you can undertake, such as turning off lights in unoccupied rooms and taking TVs and VCRs off standby, can make a world of difference and a difference to our world's climate. I ask that you to join me today by encouraging your readers to join the Big Turn Off and start saving energy today.
Christine Gwyther, Assembly Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire,
National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff.