New strategy sets out Wales’ fight against climate change
The Welsh Assembly Government has set out exactly how it will manage its fight against climate change and achieve its ambition of a 3% year on year reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
The First Minister, Carwyn Jones and Environment Minister Jane Davidson, were in the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth last month to launch Wales’ Climate Change Strategy. The strategy, which is the first of its kind in the UK, highlights that the Welsh approach to tackling climate change will focus not only on reducing carbon emissions but also on helping the country adapt to the inevitable changes to the climate. It is accompanied by two detailed delivery plans that set out exactly how the targets and aspirations will be achieved.
Speaking about the strategy, the First Minister said: “There is no doubt that our climate is changing, and that science states the case that human behaviour is to blame for this change. If we are to successfully address this issue there is a need for urgent and sustained action across the globe.”
“The strategy shows that Wales’ approach to tackling climate change is up there with the best, both in terms of targets and aspirations, and of how we will actually deliver. Yes the strategy is ambitious but the gravity of this issue means we must be ambitious in order to protect our planet for future generations”
These include:
• A comprehensive approach to behaviour change.
• The consideration of climate change in all the Assembly Government’s decision making.
• Delivering increased energy efficiency, making low carbon transport a reality and building the skills to ensure that Wales makes the most of the opportunities associated with a low carbon economy.
• Ensuring that our approach to research and development, technology and skills helps Wales to gain maximum benefit from climate change business and research.
• Creating a framework to help us adapt to climate change.
• Using land use and spatial planning to help us move towards a low carbon economy.
• It also identifies how emission reductions can be made within the transport, agriculture, waste, business, residential and public sectors.
• It also recognises the need to focus on wider consumption and its impacts; hence WAG will include the ecological footprint when reporting progress on climate change action.
Useful link for more information on WAG's Climate Change Strategy -