How Green are the parties in the Welsh Assembly election?

Julian Rosser, director of environmental pressure group Friends of the Earth Cymru, gives his verdict on each of the candidates.
How green are the parties in the Assembly election? ic Wales - Cardiff, I hope that the National Assembly will start to take seriously the responsibilities placed on it by the 1998 Government of Wales Act. We have the capacity ...

The results were
1.Green party 8/10
2.Plaid Cymru 7/10
3.Forward wales 7/10
4.Conservatives 4/10
5.Lib Dems 6.5/10
Worst :- at the bottom of the league 6.Labour 5/10

On Ann Were, Leader, Green Party Wales, Ann Were is absolutely right that voluntary action is not enough to combat climate change but although stronger laws are needed to reduce emissions, the pill can be sweetened by Government action to create more jobs in public transport, recycling and green energy. Score: 8/10

On Elin Jones AM, Plaid Cymru, Elin Jones seems to be setting a good example. It's great to see Plaid Cymru commit to a 3% cut in carbon emissions, although they are likely to miss this target if Plaid Cymru sticks to its plans to spend millions on upgrading roads in Wales. This money should be invested in public transport and other measures to help people reduce their emissions. Score 7/10
On Brynle Williams AM, Conservative Party, Despite Brynle Williams's good work supporting village shops and planting more hedges to help local wildlife, it's a pity that his party is failing to commit to a 3% cut in Welsh carbon emissions every year. The Tories are making the right sounds on climate change but are failing to deliver the strong policies to back it up. Score: 4/10
On Mick Bates AM, Liberal Democrats Environment spokesperson, As well as Mick Bates's lifestyle changes it's great that the Liberal Democrats have made a real effort to set ambitious environmental targets. The litmus test for the Lib-Dems is whether they will support plans for a massive motorway across the Gwent Levels which would trash precious wildlife sites and increase carbon emissions. Supporting the road would make a mockery of all their other commitments. Score: 6½/10

Carwyn Jones AM Labour,Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside, Although Carwyn Jones seems to have the right attitude, a Labour-led Assembly has seen carbon dioxide emissions rise in Wales when they should be falling. A refusal to set annual targets for carbon emission reduction means their woeful record on tackling climate change is likely to continue. Labour has transformed recycling in Wales and has helped keep our fields free of GM crops, but their support for big environmentally damaging schemes, like the Severn Barrage and the Gwent Levels motorway, lets them down in their attempts to be green. Score: 5/10

On Ron Davies, Forward Wales and independent candidate for Caerphilly Forward Wales have laid out some good policies to boost green energy and Ron Davies seems to be leading the way in taking action. Forward Wales was the only party in the Assembly to stand up for community involvement in the planning system. They should be more positive about wind farms though. Wales has a huge wind resource, the envy of many European countries, and it is being squandered. Score 7/10

In conclusion ... Green issues have never been so important. For the first time, we are seeing all the main parties jockeying for position on environmental issues. People are more concerned about climate change than ever before and they want to know what the politicians should do about it. Despite good intentions from all the parties, we need to make sure our new Assembly Government comes up with policies that are going to deal first hand with the problems caused by climate change. Friends of the Earth's Big Ask campaign is calling on politicians to set annual targets that will reduce Wales' carbon emissions by at least 3% every year.
Building a greener Wales doesn't mean harming our quality of life. We can build a stronger, more sustainable economy with more jobs in public transport, recycling and renewable energy. We can keep our fields free of genetically modified crops to protect Welsh agriculture. We can lead the way in a world which is grappling with the problems of climate change. The Welsh Assembly need to rise to that challenge!