Foot Print Wales

WWF commissioned a report entitled One Planet Wales: Transforming Wales for a prosperous future within our fair share of the Earth’s resources. The report, by the University of Manchester’s Centre for Urban Regional Ecology outlines solutions, as well as challenges to the Welsh Assembly and the private and public sector on how to transform Wales’ economy towards a One Planet Nation through greatly increasing the efficiency of energy and resource use.

Using ecological footprinting as a measure, the report concludes that Wales can reduce its impact by 75% by 2050, and that CO₂ emissions must be reduced by at least 75%.

It warns that if current trends and existing polices are followed Wales' footprint will increase by 30% mainly due to growth in air travel and the food and drink sector.

The report identifies key ways of delivering a One Planet Wales through reducing the footprint of eight key sectors including food, buildings, transport, products, services, energy, resources and our lifestyles.

Each section focuses on recommendations for the short, medium to longer term – starting now up until 2050 these include: Basic conditions for a One Planet Wales:

• Transform Wales' economy towards a One Planet Economy; the UK government has accepted the need to develop a One Planet Economy as outlined in its sustainable development strategy
• Establish procurement policy that demands high standards of resource efficiency and continuous improvement, leading the way for the rest of the public service and generating new markets for low-impact infrastructures
• Set targets for consumer behavior change in government communications campaigns which promote sustainable consumption
• Recognise the scale of resource efficiency improvements required by the business sector and reward businesses that identify business opportunities that contributes to reducing their own footprint and the market sector