ENERGY experts yesterday painted a bleak picture of Wales in 2050 if urgent action is not taken to combat global warming. The multi-million pound Welsh tourist industry could be wiped out by climate change as heavier winter rains flood coastal resorts. Fewer alpine plants, far less snow, and erosion from rainfall would dramatically change the Welsh mountains. Livestock farming would be replaced by arable farming in some parts of Wale, where irrigation would be needed in dry summers, and more pests would survive milder winters. The outlook was spelled out in Forecasting The Future, released yesterday by the Energy Saving Trust to mark the launch of Energy Efficiency Week. The trust demanded drastic action to curb energy use, warning that Wales' addiction to fossil fuels is leading towards a climate change crisis. The report reveals the potential damage to the ecology, environment and economy could cost the UK £200bn. Bob Cherryman, head of EST Wales, said: "Forecasting The Future paints a disturbing picture of what could happen to the environment if we don't act today. "Without a drastic reduction in our energy use, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) - one of the leading contributors to climate change - could have disastrous results for Wales. "It is imperative that Welsh households become more aware of the energy we use in our homes and act now to reduce our CO2 emissions," said Mr Cherryman. Householders can take simple steps such as turning thermostats down by one degree, replacing ordinary lightbulbs with low energy ones or even walking to the shops instead of taking the car, he said. Over a quarter (28%) of CO2 emissions are caused by energy used in the home. The average home is responsible for six tonnes of CO2 emissions every year, two tonnes of which could be saved by adopting simple energy efficiency measures. Cavity wall insulation costs around £300 to install, and can save over one tonne of CO2 per year and up to 25% off annual heating bills, paying for itself, on average, in three years. The Energy Saving Trust was set up by the UK government after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions by promoting the sustainable and efficient use of energy. * Ideas on how to save energy, money and the environment are available from the Energy Efficiency Helpline on 0845 727 7200 or www.est.org.uk/myhome | 
