Election candidates in the two Pembrokeshire constituencies are being urged to give climate change a high priority.

Supporters of Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth are writing to their candidates to stress the importance of the issue for the next government and to seek support for specific policies.

A spokesman for the group said: “Climate change will be one of the most important issues for whichever party forms the next government. Many now recognise that greenhouse gas emissions must peak and begin to drop within the next five years – the maximum length of the next parliament.

“The next government will have to take tough decisions and make big commitments, but the potential rewards are enormous. Investing in green technology and industry will create jobs, diversify our economy and cut inefficiency – as well as reducing fuel poverty.”

At the local level candidates are being asked to: Support major improvements in public transport and cycling and walking facilities whilst opposing calls for the dualling of the A40. The environmental group believes that current plans to upgrade this route are perfectly adequate.

Support the proposed Wear Point wind farm on the shores of the Milford Haven waterway and work to ensure that Pembrokeshire benefits from the economic and job-creating opportunities of the proposed large Atlantic Array offshore wind farm in the Bristol Channel.

Support local food production and policies that would help farmers move away from imported to home-grown feeds, and also ensure that unhealthy and environmentally damaging foods are not used in local schools, hospitals and care homes.

Call on the government to remove the Pembrokeshire Islands Special Area of Conservation from areas that are being offered for offshore oil and gas licensing.

At the UK level, the candidates are being asked to back a target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020 and to support measures to enable local authorities to cut emissions in their area.

Friends of the Earth is hosting a hustings event at Narberth’s Bloomfield Centre tonight from 7pm.