4-Aug-2006
- A giant polar bear will be outside Environment
Agency Wales’ stand at the National Eisteddfod
in Swansea, which opens this Saturday, 5th August.
Not a real-life, but a life-size model of the
majestic animal that is under threat because of
the effects of climate change. With global warming,
ice caps are melting and there are fewer ice flows,
making hunting and survival difficult for the
bears.
Climate change is one of the
biggest problems facing the environment both locally
and globally. This is the Agency’s main focus
at the Eisteddfod this year and it is holding
a climate change discussion forum on Tuesday,
8th August at 4pm at its stand. The forum will
be hosted by Dr Tom Pritchard, Chairman of the
Environment Protection Advisory Committee and
everyone is welcome to join in the discussion.
As a measure to combat climate
change, Environment Agency Wales is working with
Eisteddfod organisers on a pilot project to reduce
their water use. About 300,000 gallons of water
is used and 430,000 gallons of sewage is produced
at the event each year. The project includes a
water usage survey of the whole site that showed
that vacuum toilets used on part of the site reduced
water usage by 80% compared to the standard toilet
blocks.
Chris Mills, Environment Agency
Wales Director who will be at the festival on
Monday (7 August), said: "Climate change
is the biggest environmental threat we are facing.
We in Environment Agency Wales have a key role
to play and we are working with a wide range of
partner organisations on a number of levels. This
includes working with local authorities on managing
flood risks, industry to reduce pollution, water
companies to ensure adequate water supplies, as
well as ensuring we do everything we can to reduce
our own carbon footprint as an organisation".
Environment Agency Wales’ stand
includes some great features and activities for
young and old alike. Come by and look at some
bugs and grubs under a microscope, see two Swansea
schools’ winning submissions for the World Environment
Day promise tree competition and make your own
promise for the earth.
And don’t forget to say hello to the bear!
Indeg Jones
