Welsh Nuclear Free Local Authorities today reaffirm their commitment to working for a green nuclear free Wales on this fifth anniversary of the Aberystwyth Declaration.
On 7 March 2017, a packed gathering of anti-nuclear campaigners gathered at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth to hear the irrefutable case for investment in renewable, sustainable energy systems rather than in costly, contaminating nuclear plants, and the assembly issued a collective declaration which ended in a call to ‘the Welsh Government and politicians of Wales to embrace the exciting prospect of a nuclear-free environment and a country free from the inherent dangers of that industry’. One of the speakers at this important gathering was the then-Secretary of the NFLA.
Commenting on this anniversary, Welsh NFLA Chair, Councillor Ernie Galsworthy said:
“2022 marks not only the fifth anniversary of the Aberystwyth Declaration, but also the fortieth anniversary of the first commitment of Welsh local authorities to be nuclear free with the Clwyd Declaration. The NFLA continues to work through its Welsh partner local authorities and with the nation’s anti-nuclear campaigners to make the case for renewables and against nuclear at a time when there are threats of new nuclear developments at Wylfa and Trawsfynydd.
“We make the case that nuclear is too costly, too risky and will take too long to come to fruition and that instead money should be invested in proven renewable technologies that will deliver the sustainable green power that Wales needs more affordably, more quickly, and without the legacy of costly decommissioning and waste management that nuclear brings.”
The Aberystwyth Declaration in English and Welsh follows.
For more information please contact: Richard Outram, Secretary, NFLA email Richard.outram@manchester.gov.uk / mobile 07583 097793
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THE ABERYSTWYTH DECLARATION
A Green Nuclear-Free Wales
In a packed gathering* called to further the debate on our energy future, a meeting in the National Library in Aberystwyth on Saturday agreed UNANIMOUSLY that:
- political leaders in Wales should wise-up to what is happening to the nuclear industry in the rest of the world and to phase it out in this country in favour of newer technologies that are based on indigenous resources as is happening, for example, in Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Denmark has legislation requiring that the whole energy supply — electricity, heating/cooling, and transportation — be met by renewable resources. Government energy policy needs to awaken to the economic reality of developing a low carbon economy.
- the unions in Wales advance the renewable agenda, delivering energy security far quicker than anything new nuclear could create and at the same time provide much needed sustainable employment in some of our most deprived communities
- the dangers posed by creating a further legacy of highly toxic radioactive waste with no pathway for its disposal are unacceptable and an immoral burden for future generations. It is estimated that some 40 terabequerels (mTBq) of radioactive waste will be created during its lifetime should Wylfa Newydd go ahead, a fact that Natural Resources Wales seemed obliviously unaware of during their recent consultation on the proposed ABWR. This is approximately half that of the maximum radioactivity of the legacy wastes stored at Sellafield from all sites over the last 50+ years.
- politicians, both local and national, in Wales and at Westminster, need to be fully aware how current and evolving technologies enable us to store energy in a new generation of batteries, so capturing the power of green technologies on a stable and reliable basis. The Welsh Government should emulate Sweden where a government subsidy covers 60% of the cost of installing a residential energy storage system up to a maximum of $5,600. This applies to the battery, wiring, control systems, smart energy hub, and installation work for homes with rooftop solar systems
- the chances of Wylfa Newydd going ahead are slim to zero without very large subsidies to get off the ground, so echoing the view of Mycle Schneider, an industry specialist who has advised the German, French and Belgian governments on their future energy programmes. Further, in an interview with Philip Hammond in January 2016, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Hitachi made it clear that they would turn their back on the project if it was not financially viable – i.e without a huge subsidy as with Hinkley C
- the Welsh Government should, as a priority, ensure that the housing stock in Wales is retro-fitted with energy conservation measures, reducing energy requirements by some 15%
- the Welsh Government should promote the emerging pattern in Scotland where research has found that Scottish renewable energy businesses are working in more than 40 countries in places as diverse as China, Russia, Taiwan and Cape Verde. Firms are involved in projects worth £125.3 million in 43 countries
- finally, the meeting urged the Welsh Government and politicians of Wales to embrace the exciting prospect of a nuclear-free environment and a country free from the inherent dangers of that industry. A green energy future offers endless opportunities on a scale compatible with our resources, skills, housing, social and linguistic environment without any of the dangers posed by toxic waste, accidents or terrorism. The ultimate no-brainer, and an appropriate response to the Government`s highly acclaimed Well Being of Future Generations legislation!
CIC 07/03/2017
* PAWB, CADNO, Greenpeace, Nuclear Free Local Authorities, CND Cymru, Cymdeithas yr Iaith and Friends of the Earth
DATGANIAD ABERYSTWYTH
Cymru Werdd Ddi-Niwclear
Mewn cyfarfod llawn yn y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol yn Aberystwyth ddydd Sadwrn, Mawrth 11 a drefnwyd er mwyn datblygu’r drafodaeth am ddyfodol ein hynni, cytunwyd yn UNFRYDOL:
- Dylai arweinwyr gwleidyddol yng Nghymru ddeffro i’r hyn sy’n digwydd i’r diwydiant niwclear ledled y byd, a throi cefn arno yn y wlad hon er mwyn ffafrio technolegau newydd sy’n seiliedig ar adnoddau cynhenid fel sy’n digwydd, er enghraifft, yn Nenmarc, yr Almaen a’r Swisdir. Mae gan Denmarc ddeddfwriaeth sy’n mynnu fod yr holl ddarpariaeth ynni – trydan, cynhesu/oeri, a thrafnidiaeth – yn dod o ffynonellau adnewyddadwy. Rhaid i bolisi ynni’r Llywodraeth fod yn effro i realaeth economaidd datblygiad economi carbon isel.
- Yr undebau yng Nghymru i hyrwyddo’r agenda adnewyddol, gan ddarparu sicrwydd ynni yn llawer iawn cynt nag y gellid gan niwclear newydd tra ar yr un pryd yn darparu cyflogaeth gynaliadwy sydd ei wir angen yn rhai o’n cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig.
- Annerbyniol yw’r peryglon fyddai’n deillio o greu gwaddol pellach o wastraff ymbelydrol hynod o wenwynig heb unrhyw lwybr i gael ei wared, ac yn faich anfoesol ar genedlaethau’r dyfodol. Amcangyfrifir y byddid yn creu tua 40 terabequerel (mTBq) o wastraff ymbelydrol yn ystod oes Wylfa Newydd, pe bai’n cael ei hadeiladu, ffaith nad oedd Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn ymddangos yn ymwybodol ohoni yn ystod eu hymgynghoriad diweddar ar yr ABWR arfaethedig. Mae hyn tua hanner yr holl wastraff hanesyddol a gediwr yn Sellafield o bob safle dros y 50+ blynedd diwethaf.
- Mae angen i wleidyddion,yn lleol yn ogystal chenedlaethol, yng Nghymru ac yn San Steffan, fod yn gwbl ymwybodol o sut mae technolegau presennol a rhai sy’n esblygu yn ein gallougi i storio trydan mewn cenhedlaeth newydd o fatris, gan ddal pwer technolegau gwyrdd felly ar sail sefydlog a dibynadwy. Dylai Llywodraeth Cymru ddilyn Sweden lle mae cymorthdál llywodraeth yn cyfrannu 60% o gost gosod system storio ynni yn y cartref hyd at uchafswm o $5,600. Mae hyn yn gymwys i’r batri, weirio, systemau rheoli, hyb ynni clyfar, a gwaith gosod i gartrefi gyda systemau solar ar ben to.
- Mae’r cyfleoedd i Wylfa Newydd ddigwydd yn denau neu ddim o gwbl heb gymorthdaliadau mawr iawn i gychwyn y gwaith, gan adleisio barn Mycle Schneider, arbenigwr ar y diwydiant niwclear sydd wedi cynghori llywodraethau yr Almaen, Ffrainc a Gwlad Belg ar eu rhaglenni ynni i’r dyfodol. Ymhellach, mewn cyfweliad gyda Philip Hammond yn Ionawr 2016, gwnaeth Cadeirydd a Phrif Weithredwr Hitachi yn glir y byddent yn cefnu ar brosiect Wylfa Newydd os nad oedd yn ariannol hyfyw –hynny yw heb gymorthdál enfawr fel yn achos Hinkley C.
- Dylai Llywodraeth Cymru, fel blaenoriaeth, sicrhau bod bod stoc tai Cymru yn cael eu hôlffitio gyda mesuaru arbed ynni, gan ostwng gofynion ynni o rhyw 15%.
- Dylai Llywodraeth Cymru hyrwyddo’r patrwm sy’n codi yn yr Alban lle canfu ymchwil fod busnesau ynni adnewyddadwy Albanaidd yn gweithio mewn dros 40 o wledydd mewn lleoedd mor amrywiol á Tseina, Rwsia, Taiwan a Cape Verde. Mae cwmnïau yn cymryd rhan mewn prosiectau gwerth £125.3 miliwn mewn 43 o wledydd.
- Yn olaf, anogodd y cyfarfod Lywodraeth Cymru a gwleidyddion o Gymru i gofleidio addewid cyffrous amgylchedd diniwclear a gwlad yn rhydd o beryglon cynhenid y diwydiant hwnnw.Mae dyfodol ynni gwyrdd yn cynnig cyfleoedd di-ben-draw ar raddfa’n cydweddu á‘n hadnoddau, sgiliau, tai, amgylchedd cymdeithasol a ieithyddol heb y peryglon a gynigir gan wastraff ymbelydrol gwenwynig, damweiniau neu derfysgaeth. Dyma’r ateb cwbl amlwg, ac yn ymateb priodol i ddeddfwriaeth Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol y Llyodraeth a gafodd glod uchel!
CIC 07/03/2017
* PAWB, CADNO, Greenpeace, Awdurdodau Lleol Diniwclear, CND Cymru, Cymdeithas yr Iaith a Chyfeillion y Ddaear Cymru