Recent news that there might be up to a trillion tons of coal under Welsh seas should not get us clamouring to dig it out.
Scientists agree that if we are to stop the worst effects of a warming earth (limiting it to 2 degrees C) we must leave all remaining fossil fuels in the ground.
Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party Leader said. “The amount of investment needed to pull out this coal – whether vaporized or otherwise - from below the sea bed will be enormous. We would be pouring money into old-style fuel instead of putting it into clean renewable energies and investing in a decent future for our grandchildren.
She went on to say, “Leaving aside the inevitable and tragic outcome of more burning which will devastate our wildlife and natural places beyond recognition, we simply have to divert this investment to improve and increase our natural clean energy sources.”
It is widely accepted that propping up the outdated business models of the fossil fuel industry will only lead to massive expenditure in trying to mitigate the effects of extreme weather in the future.
The Wales Leader added, ”I am totally against more fossil burning for profit. The costs of bigger sea walls, of drought, flooding and storms will be huge if we fly in the face of scientific advice. The public will have to pay for the damage, but the multinational fossil fuel companies will be only too happy to pocket the profits.”