Committee on Climate Change

The Welsh Government controls a number of key policy levers which influence emissions reduction potential. These include powers relating to promoting energy efficiency, and setting agricultural, land use planning and waste reduction policy.

The WelshGovernment has an important role to play in unlocking the significant opportunities for emission reductions, contributing towards meeting UK carbon budgets.

Wales’s has set a target to reduce their emissions of GHGs by 3% per year from 2011 from areas of devolved competence.

In October 2010, the WelshGovernment published its Climate Change Strategy which was accompanied by an emissions reduction action plan and a framework for adaptation.

In addition to the policies and actions proposed in the Strategy, there are a number of policies currently in place across Wales to reduce emissions from a range of sources:

Decarbonising power

The WelshGovernment’s Energy Policy Statement (March 2010) outlines the aim to generate by 2025 around 48TWhr per annum (more than twice the amount of electricity consumed today in Wales) from renewables. This requires an increase from the current installed capacity of around 2GW, to around 22.5GW by 2025 and it is envisaged that this will be met primarily by offshore wind and marine (tidal range, tidal stream and wave) developments.

Energy efficiency in buildings

There are a range of energy efficiency policies and schemes in place across Wales including:

• The £30 million ‘arbed ’ scheme, launched in May 2010 and aimed at reducing fuel bills and emissions in 6000 homes by March 2011. Measures include retrofitting exterior wall insulation, solar panels and heat pumps
• Following a consultation, the Welsh Government published its National Energy Efficiency and Savings Plan earlier this year.
• The WelshGovernment is seeking to achieve a zero-carbon buildings standard by 2011. Unlike for England, the 2011 ambition in Wales applies to all new buildings (residential and non-residential) from the outset. Transfer of building regulations to Welsh Ministers will be effective as of the end of 2011
• The Welsh Government has developed a £2.1m investment plan for its own estate for the period 2008-11 covering energy efficiency measures and renewable technologies. Across the built estate CO₂ emissions fell 5% in 2008/09 compared to the previous year, In Cathays Park, the largest office of the estate, emissions fell 11% over the same period.

Renewable heat

The Welsh Government aims for virtually all Wales’ local energy needs, including heat, to be met from low carbon electricity generation by 2050. The Bioenergy Action Plan (2009) outlines the aim to secure annual generation of 2.5 TWh of usable heat energy from renewable biomass by 2020 via a range of actions to stimulate demand for bioenergy. Financial support includes funding for local authorities to collect and treat food waste, funding for the establishment of anaerobic digestion plants and the Wood Energy Business Scheme, which aims to install 40MW of renewable heat capacity over its 4 year operation (2009-2013).

Agriculture and land use

The Welsh Government is aiming to reduce emissions from agriculture and land use through increased woodland creation and management of existing woodlands, the ‘Glastir’ programme which is targeted at supporting farmers to develop sustainable land management practices, provision of advice through the Farming Connect programme, and developing roadmaps for the dairy and red meat sectors.

The Land Use and Climate Change group has recently reconvened with a new remit to monitor and report on progress against the 44 agreed recommendations (of the 49 their 2010 report recommended) which the Welsh Government has this year developed in to an implementation plan.

Transport

The Climate Change Strategy outlines a number of proposals under consideration for reducing emissions in the transport sector. These include investment in low carbon transport infrastructure, park and ride schemes and an inter-modal Freight Consolidation Centre.

The new chair of the Welsh Climate Change Commission, Peter Davies, is featured in the CCC’s newsletter discussing how the Commission will help take forward the strategy to reduce emissions in Wales.