Wales says stop building new roads

No longer building new roads: it is the shock decision of Wales.
An initiative that catches the eye, as the COP 26 begins Sunday October 31 in Glasgow and will last until November 12. To limit carbon emissions, the country wants to limit car traffic. The already existing roads will of course continue to be maintained but no new projects will emerge if there is an alternative.

This country of 3 million inhabitants clinging to the West of England, has decided to reverse the priorities. From now on, each new road project is examined by a committee of transport and environmental experts. If these specialists find another solution or quite simply decree that this project is superfluous, it will not take place. Stuck in traffic at the exit of Cardiff, Francis remains firmly attached to his steering wheel. “The Welsh government seems to be anti-car. It’s fashionable now. But it’s going to cause problems later. It’s a big mistake.”, he judges.

Lee Waters knew this decision would not please everyone. The Minister for Climate Change talks about “political courage”. 17% of Wales’ carbon emissions come from transport. The goal is to reach zero in less than 30 years. His conclusion is simple: We must act now. “All governments can easily talk to you about what they will do in 2050 Lee Waters notes.It’s harder to say what you decide right now, to make a difference. We have spent 70 years putting the package on the car with the result that we know “, he explains. “The new roads are not just for the cars we own. They are creating the conditions for even more traffic. It must stop.”, assures the minister.

“The money we put in to build roads, we don’t have any more to make alternatives.”

Lee Waters, Minister Responsible for Climate Change

to franceinfo

Haf Elgar is delighted with this decision. A member of the Welsh Friends of the Earth section, she warns the government that it must not stop there. “That would mean telecommuting and less travel for some. But also making journeys on foot and by bicycle safer. With more lanes dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians.”

In the Cardiff Assembly, the opposition speaks of a “blow” to economic recovery. In the Welsh valleys, elected officials and entrepreneurs fear being a little more isolated.