Committee on Climate Change

Peter’s career background is in the field of corporate social responsibility working for the Confederation of British Industry, Department of Trade and Industry and Business in the Community.

Awarded the OBE in 1995 for work in establishing links between business and education under the DTI’s Enterprise Initiative. He is currently independent Chair to the Climate Change Commission for Wales.

1.    Wales has recently launched its Climate Change Strategy – what was the role of the Commission in developing the strategy?

The Commission was established in 2007 under the One Wales programme of government agreed by the coalition of the Labour Party and Plaid Cymru, with the aim of creating cross party, cross sector consensus for action on climate change. The Commission established a number of sub groups that engaged a wide range of expertise in order to contribute to policy on key issues such as the built environment, transport, business, land use and adaptation.  This work included the commissioning of the Tyndall Centre to explore the implications of differing levels of annual emission (3%,6% and 9%) recognising that the current 3% per annum reduction target may not be enough to avoid dangerous climate change

2.    What are the key aspects of the Strategy that will help reduce emissions in Wales?
The strategy focuses on reducing emissions in key areas of: transport, residential, business , public sector, agriculture and land use and waste. Each area has a clear reduction delivery plan that sets out Welsh Assembly Government interventions and the role of UK Government policies.  The plans include distinctive strategies for developing a low carbon economy, area based strategies for domestic energy efficiency (the Arbed programme), support for community energy generation, zero/ low carbon new build and an ecosystems approach to land management. The strategy recognises that success will depend on people, communities and organisations making different choices in order to reduce emissions, so features approaches to behaviour change.

3.    You’ve recently taken over as Chair of the Commission, how will you take forward the Commission’s role?

The Commission’s key role is to provide a focal point for climate change which draws together the political parties, sectors of society, and communities in mobilising action across Wales. The Commission needs to move from being a policy advice forum to being a more visible leadership body, promoting best practice, supporting action, convening across sectors and holding Government and delivery partners to account

We will be ensuring our approach to climate change is promotes a fairer and more just society

4.    What are the greatest opportunities and challenges facing Wales in tackling climate change?

Our greatest opportunity and challenge lies in our potential to lead the low carbon economic transition in the same way we led the first industrial revolution. Wales has a proud industrial heritage which means we have a larger concentration of heavy industry than other parts of the UK. This sector is not included within our 3% annual reduction target, as these installations are covered by EU Emissions trading scheme and are outside our devolved competence, but it will be critical to work with companies such as Tata Steel who are developing world leading innovation in carbon reduction to lead this transformation.

Wales has unique natural advantages in the generation of renewable energy with our low carbon revolution strategy setting out the route map to self sufficiency by 2025. This revolution provides the basis for the growth in “green jobs” and the expansion of new sustainable technologies based on close partnerships with our higher education sector.