Committee on Climate Change

In its report published on 18th October, the Committee highlighted progress made by the Welsh Government towards reducing emissions and preparing for climate change.

The Committee’s report considers latest emissions data, showing that emissions in 2009 fell by around 14% as a result of the recession, and suggests that these are likely to have increased in 2010 due to the cold winter.

The report makes a number of recommendations in order to build on progress achieved:

• Acceleration of energy efficiency implementation will be required, and initiatives scaled up using funding from the Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation.
• On transport, it will be important to continue to roll out the Sustainable Travel Centres initiatives, and travel planning measures throughout the urban population.
• Evidence suggests that there is significant potential to reduce emissions from agriculture, much of which can save money for farmers; clear policy ambition should be set out and incentives aligned with this ambition.
• The Welsh Government should also lead by example by committing to making more significant cuts to the carbon footprint of the Government estate, and helping to encourage emission reductions throughout the wider public, business and voluntary sectors in Wales, which are important part of the meeting the strategy’s stretching targets.

On adaptation, the Welsh Government has a good framework in place and has started to deliver on some of the key measures in the last year, mainly focusing on building capacity within organisations and ensuring policies in priority areas factor climate change in to their decision-making.

David Kennedy, Chief Executive of the Committee said:
“The Welsh Government has made good progress this year in setting out ambitious targets and a sound strategy to support these. It has been particularly successful on energy efficiency improvement. Our report highlights the need to build on progress made, through further identifying opportunities and putting in place new policies to accelerate the pace of emissions reductions and prepare for climate change.”

The CCC was asked by the Welsh Environment Minister, John Griffiths, to provide advice on the progress made towards reducing emissions and preparing for climate change in Wales between 2010 and 2011. The Welsh Climate Change Strategy was published a year ago.

Read the report in full here and press release here.