Party hopeful cites national security report on ecosystem collapse and food supply threats

A GREEN PARTY candidate standing in the upcoming Senedd elections has warned that biodiversity loss and environmental decline could pose serious risks to food supplies and national security.

Amy Nicholass, the Green Party’s Ceredigion Penfro lead candidate for the May election, has highlighted the findings of a report titled Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security, which examines how environmental breakdown could affect the stability of societies.

Nicholass, who holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science, said the report shows the need for communities to become more resilient in the face of environmental shocks.

“We need to create resilient communities,” she said. “Such communities are being formed all over the UK at the moment.”

The report outlines how biodiversity decline and ecosystem damage could disrupt food production and increase pressures on national infrastructure.

Environmental campaigners have also launched a new initiative called SAFER – Strategic Adaptation for Emergency Resilience – which aims to help communities prepare for major shocks linked to climate change and ecological decline.

The campaign has been promoted by former Green MP Dr Caroline Lucas and environmental thinker Dr Rupert Read.

Nicholass said the involvement of national security experts highlights the seriousness of the issue.

“There are still people, and political leaders who deny that climate change is real,” she said. “Now is the time to come together to acknowledge the truth and find solutions that are good for nature and good for people, and which do not leave poorer members of our society behind.”

The report also highlights the challenges already facing farmers, with changing weather patterns and biodiversity loss affecting crop production.

Nicholass said farmers are on the front line of the crisis but must also be supported as part of the solution.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Nature underpins our security, prosperity and resilience.”

Nicholass added that communities had shown during the Covid pandemic that rapid change is possible when people understand the scale of a challenge.

“In the Green Party we always look for hope,” she said. “The pandemic showed that people and communities can be resilient and rethink priorities in times of crisis.”

CANDIDATE CRITICISES DARC PROPOSAL

THE GREEN PARTY has voiced strong opposition to plans for a major US military radar installation on Pembrokeshire’s St Davids Peninsula, warning the development risks escalating global tensions and damaging the area’s environment and tourism industry.

The proposed project, known as the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC), would involve the construction of 27 large radar dishes designed to track objects in space. The system would form part of a US-led network intended to monitor satellites and other activity in orbit.

Amy Nicholass, the Green Party’s number one candidate for the Ceredigion Penfro constituency in the upcoming Senedd elections, said the proposals represented a return to Cold War-style thinking.

She said: “The DARC proposals are a disgrace. They benefit no one except the US government. When the US tells Westminster to jump, the Westminster government simply asks how high.

“We should be putting all our efforts into creating lasting peace, not allowing anyone to recreate Cold War tactics where none of us feel safe. Peace is at the heart of Welsh culture.”

Campaigners have also raised concerns about the wider implications of militarising space. The radar system would be used to monitor satellites and other objects in orbit, including those belonging to potential adversaries.

Critics argue that the destruction of satellites could create large amounts of debris in space, which could threaten other satellites used for weather forecasting, telecommunications and navigation.

Local residents have also expressed concern about the potential impact on the landscape and tourism industry.

A community group known as PARC Against DARC has been campaigning against the proposals, warning the development could harm the reputation of the St Davids Peninsula, an area widely regarded as one of Wales’ most important natural and tourism assets.

The campaign group describes the peninsula as a “jewel-in-the-crown natural wonder” and a key attraction for visitors to Pembrokeshire.

Nicholass said developments of this scale must involve local communities in the decision-making process.

“It is vitally important that local people have a say on developments like this,” she said. “We need more local power when it comes to large planning decisions that could fundamentally change our landscape.”

She added that the current international climate made diplomacy more important than ever.

“We understand how precarious the world can feel for many people,” she said. “We are fortunate to live in a peaceful part of the world, but proposals like this risk bringing global conflict closer to home.

“We all share this one planet and need to be part of the conversation about how to stand up for each other in peaceful ways.”

Many voters still unclear which powers belong to Welsh Government and which remain with Westminster

A NEW poll has revealed widespread public confusion about Welsh devolution ahead of the Senedd election in May, with many voters unsure which level of government is responsible for key decisions affecting their daily lives.

Researchers at Cardiff University found that large numbers of people in Wales struggle to identify whether policy responsibilities sit with the Welsh Government, Westminster, or local councils.

The survey, conducted with YouGov and based on responses from 1,544 adults in Wales between February 12 and February 25, suggests that gaps in public understanding remain more than twenty-five years after devolution began.

Academics involved in the study say the findings raise concerns about democratic accountability as voters prepare to choose the next Welsh Government.

Professor Stephen Cushion, from Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media and Culture, said confusion about policing stood out as one of the most significant knowledge gaps.

“Almost seven in ten respondents could not correctly identify who is responsible for policing,” he said.

“Nearly half assumed it was devolved to the Welsh Government when it is actually controlled by Westminster.”

The research also found that a significant minority of voters remain unsure about the status of major devolved services.

Around thirty percent of respondents did not know that health and education are run by the Welsh Government – two of the most visible policy areas in Wales.

Professor Cushion said such misunderstandings could affect how voters judge political performance.

“During an election period these gaps matter for democratic accountability because people need to make well-informed decisions about who is responsible for running Wales over the next few years,” he added.

Knowledge of devolved powers

The survey found varying levels of awareness about who controls different policy areas.

Knowledge was weakest around social care delivery, where 81% of respondents either answered incorrectly or said they did not know that local councils hold responsibility.

Policing also showed high levels of confusion, with 69% of people either incorrect or unsure about the role of the UK Government.

Broadcasting was another area where many people were unclear, with 58% unable to correctly identify Westminster as responsible.

By comparison, understanding was stronger in some of the most visible areas of devolved policy.

Seven in ten respondents correctly identified the Welsh Government as responsible for education, while 69% recognised its role in health and social care. Transport was also widely associated with the Welsh Government, with 65% answering correctly.

Immigration was the area where the UK Government was most clearly recognised as responsible, with 71% identifying Westminster.

Recognition of party leaders

The poll also examined how well voters recognise Welsh political leaders.

First Minister Eluned Morgan was recognised by 62% of respondents, while Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth was known by 47%.

Recognition of other leaders was significantly lower. Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar was recognised by 21% of respondents, while Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds was known by 18%.

Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter was recognised by just 4%.

In contrast, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was recognised by 94% of respondents. Dan Thomas, the party’s leader in Wales, was known by 10%.

Understanding the new Senedd voting system

The survey also found limited understanding of the new voting system that will be used at the next Senedd election.

Only 7% of respondents correctly identified the closed-list proportional system that will replace the current arrangement.

Eighteen percent believed the system would be First Past the Post, while 13% thought the Additional Member System would still be used.

Four percent chose the Single Transferable Vote system, while a majority of respondents – 58% – said they did not know.

Media consumption

Researchers also examined how people in Wales consume political news.

The study found that UK-wide media outlets remain the main source of information for many people. Forty-six percent said they rely mostly on UK-wide news, compared with just 10% who mainly use Wales-produced news.

Thirty-four percent said they use both equally.

Online news consumption followed a similar pattern, with 53% mainly using UK-wide websites and 14% relying mostly on Welsh-produced outlets.

When asked to evaluate coverage of Welsh politics, 46% of respondents said UK-wide media do a bad job reporting on the subject, while 28% said they do a good job and 26% were unsure.

Professor Cushion said the findings highlighted the importance of clear reporting about devolved powers.

“The survey underlines the importance of robust reporting that clearly distinguishes between the responsibilities of Wales and Westminster,” he said.

“Clearer signposting of devolved and reserved powers would help voters understand which level of government is responsible for the policies affecting them.”

About the survey

The survey was conducted online by YouGov Plc. A total of 1,544 adults aged 16 and over in Wales took part between February 12 and February 25, 2026.

The results were weighted to be representative of the Welsh population.

The research was funded by the Welsh Government through Creative Wales, with analysis supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s project Enhancing the Impartiality of Political News.