Dear Gareth,
I was disappointed to see the manifesto assessment chart that you've published recently. I believe that the Wales Green Party and Friends of the Earth Cymru are of one mind in believing that environmental issues should be at the top of the agenda in Welsh politics.
As a party that takes addressing climate change and protecting the environment as a starting point for all of our policies, you probably won't be surprised that we were disappointed not to get a better score in the table. I feel this is largely down to the methodology you've chosen.
For example, it feels odd that a commitment to a can and deposit scheme is given the same weighting as an overall commitment to tackling climate change - where of course we were the only party to gain the full mark.
I am also sure you are in no real doubt that the Wales Green Party is unambiguously in favour of a fossil free Wales. We have campaigned extensively against fracking, and open cast mining in communities across Wales, often alongside FoE representatives and volunteers. Activists from the Green Party will be participating in this weekend's Reclaim the Power camp being held in Merthyr Tydfill. Alice Hooker-Stroud, Amelia Womack and Natalie Bennett will all be there, speaking out against open cast mining.
That we score less than full marks on that in your assessment, I feel, misrepresents of our position based on a somewhat narrow reading of our manifesto. Indeed we have received little credit for the array of other environmental policies in our manifesto that don't fall into your key asks.
One of the most important roles Green AM's will play in the next Assembly is calling out other parties when their green policies amount to greenwash and box-ticking. I know from the role you and your colleagues have played in scrutinising key environmental legislation in the last Assembly that you are an organisation we will want to work closely with in doing so.
My fear is that the way FoE Cymru has approached this actually makes it easier for parties to pay lip service to the green agenda, and disguises - in some cases - a commitment to green issues which is superficial at best.
I hope that you will understand my reasons for writing to you. I would be happy to meet to talk to you about our environmental policies and commitments, and hope we will be working closely together in future.
Best wishes,
Hannah Pudner
Deputy Leader of the Wales Green Party