Recent rising flood waters forced the residents of some of the houses on Teifi Terrace, Newcastle Emlyn to evacuate once again.

For most in Teifi Terrace the worst effects were averted by the flood barriers that they themselves had installed since the severe flooding of Storm Callum in 2018.

In addition to flood barriers and sandbags, purchased and loaned pumps were employed as soon as the water started to come into their homes.

After much help from families and friends, all bar one were back in their homes within 48 hours.

“The damage would have been much worse if we had not taken measures ourselves,” said Colin Davies who moved into the terrace when he was a child, with his mother in 1963.

During the 57 years that he has lived there the house has only flooded once - in 2018 thanks to the storm - but would have let water in again last weekend if it had not been for his flood barrier.

Over those 57 years he recalls two other occasions when the water came close, but never actually reached the house.

“But this year there has been a near miss each month for the last three months,” he said.

Jill Sutton lives in the terrace next door to Pete, her 92-year-old father. They both had to move out over the weekend.

“Climate change is getting worse. We need to move to a zero carbon economy in a way that will protect jobs and our environment.

"That's why I am supporting the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill,” said Jill.

The CEE Bill is due to be debated by Westminster later this year and has been co-sponsored by Ben Lake MP for Ceredigion.

Jill also runs a small Fairtrade business and helps to coordinate Fair Trade Fortnight in Newcastle Emlyn each year.

This year the focus of Fairtrade Fortnight throughout the UK is on the growing challenges that farmers, communities and suppliers are facing because of climate change.

These communities have done the least to cause climate change but along with others in the global south, they are being affected more.

“They need extra money to help deal with the challenges that climate change is making for them... but most of all they need the world to stop emitting carbon,” says Jill.

Scientists who have helped draw up the CEE Bill say that every tiny increase in temperature brings more destruction - the frequent flooding demonstrates that. The point to the fact that last year the UK wheat crop was down by 40 per cent.

If passed, the CEE Bill would set out a path to transition to a zero carbon economy in a way that would protect both jobs and the environment.

It would require the government to rapidly reduce the whole carbon footprint of the UK by also taking responsibility for goods that are made outside the UK but consumed here.

The bill would stop government delaying and hoping that future technologies may save the day.

The Bill would call for a Citizens' Assembly, a democratic innovation gaining popularity around the globe to work alongside government and guide it, bringing together people from all walks of life to solve tough problems.

“Most agree that the current five-year electoral system encourages short termism and the postponing of difficult decisions.

"We need this democratic add-on that will help governments to grapple with the big issues such as climate change. "Governments all over the world are starting to use Citizens' Assemblies to advise on difficult issues,” said Hywel Davies also from Newcastle Emlyn.

“We know that weaning ourselves off carbon won't be easy," said Jill, “but we need to start now; postponing will just mean more disruption and bigger changes down the road.

"Covid has shown us how government can move when it wants. This is an emergency.”

If you wish to support the CEE Bill you can write to your MP and can find the details of the Fair Trade Fortnight including how to link to the online quiz at 7pm on March 6th via the Newcastle Emlyn Fairtrade Group Facebook page.