CAMPAIGNERS from Cardigan Extinction Rebellion took to the water on Saturday to highlight what they say is the inadequate action taken so far towards curbing carbon emissions.

The protest marked the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement in 2015 when world leaders agreed to limit global warming to at most 2 degrees Celsius above pre industrial levels.

Ideally they agreed to allow no more than 1.5°C of warming. The average temperature for 2020 is already 1.2°C higher.

To mark the anniversary, cardboard children were seen floating forlornly in a pink coracle on the Teifi in Cardigan as Christmas shoppers went about their business on Saturday.

A group spokesperson said: “This was a poignant reminder of the flooding which will be seen locally and of the mass movement of populations that will occur as climate change really starts to bite, and climate refugees try to escape conditions and shortages in their homelands.

“New targets from Westminster to cut UK carbon emissions by 68% by 2030 (based on 1990 levels of CO2) were announced by Boris Johnson last week.

“Yet reports from the official Committee on Climate Change in June this year showed that the government had already failed to meet many less ambitious targets towards decarbonising. The same Committee announced on Wednesday that sorting out climate change will cost less than originally thought, at one per cent of GDP.”

Environmentalists and academics argue that more funding needs to be allocated to fight climate change. Government has allocated £27 billion in the next 5 years to building new roads which will lead to increased carbon emissions and the HS2 is projected to cost the taxpayer over £100 billion. Meanwhile just £4 billion has been allocated to the UK green recovery.

“How can we trust the UK Government to deliver what we and the planet urgently need when their spending plans speak very tellingly of their real priorities? The new target does not even try to take aeroplane or shipping emissions into account, a major flaw." said Philippa Gibson, of Pontgarreg.

The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill is due to be debated in March 2021. If passed this would ensure that the UK accounted for all of its carbon emissions including those from imported goods.

The Bill would also legislate for a Citizens Assembly where a group, representative of the whole population would be randomly selected to receive education and make recommendations on how to decarbonise. Their recommendations would be legally binding.

“Governments have repeatedly proved themselves incapable of grappling with the crucial issue of climate change. A Citizens Assembly could empower the decisive actions needed,” said Jane Mansfield, from Newcastle Emlyn.

If you’d like to find out more about Citizens’ Assemblies, the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill, or about how XR is working for change, contact Cardigan Extinction Rebellion on cardigan@xrcymru.org