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Wales

Population: 2.96 million (2005)
GHG Emissions: 50.1 MtCO2e (2005)

Targets and Goals

Wales is committed to annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions of 3% per year by 2011 in areas of devolved competence as well as specific sectoral targets in relation to residential, public and transport.

This commitment includes all production emissions not falling under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), plus electricity consumption emissions.

Wales is also contributing to wider UK targets:

  • 12.5% GHG emissions reduction for 2008-2012 (Kyoto)
  • 20% CO2 emissions reduction by 2010, compared to 1990 levels
  • 40% CO2 emissions reduction by 2020.

The Climate Change Bill will put the UK Government target of a 80% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050 on a statutory basis.

Top Actions

Energy Efficiency

  • All Welsh Assembly Government influenced projects are required to meet BREEAM Excellent or Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4. All new buildings in Wales should be zero carbon from 2011.
  • The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme provides grants of £20 million (US$28 million) per year for vulnerable households for insulation and heating. In 2007/8 the scheme assisted 18,500 households, and over 93,000 households have benefited from the scheme since 2000 at a cost of some £97 million (US$136 million). Over 21,000 tonnes of carbon per year are now being saved as a result.
  • Wales’ Strategic Energy Performance Investment programme has seen £67 million (US$48.4 million) invested to retrofit homes with insulation and renewable energy in its poorest communities.
  • Wales has begun work on a National Energy Efficiency and Savings Plan.
  • The Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme commenced in April 2010 and aims to cut carbon emissions by 4MtCO2 (equivalent to 1.1MtC) a year by 2020.  A mandatory cap and trade scheme aimed at large organisations in the private and public sector, the scheme has been developed on a UK wide basis, rather than having four schemes operating across Wales, England Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Clean Energy

  • The Renewable Energy Route Map for Wales consultation document shows how it would be possible to generate 33 terawatt-hours of electricity from renewable sources by 2025. This would lead to a potential saving of up to 4 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year. At present, Wales generates about 35TWh/y of electricity and consumes about 24TWh/y.
  • Wales is developing a scheme to install renewable microgeneration in fuel-poor households.

Clean Transport

  • Wales published the Wales Transport Strategy where GHG emissions reductions from transport is a key strategic priority. Work is underway on the National Transport Plan which will show how this key priority will be delivered.

Sustainable Land Use

  • A management strategy for woodlands in Wales was defined so that all Welsh woodlands are more resilient to the uncertain impacts of a changing climate. This is made possible principally through increased diversification of species choice and management systems in Wales' plantation forests. The Strategy is also ensuring that harvested wood products from Welsh woodlands contribute optimally to the substitution for fossil fuels in construction and energy use, and therefore reducing Wales' CO2 emissions. Finally, it is ensuring that the opportunities for trees and woodlands to provide wider climate change adaptation solutions are fully utilized.
  • These opportunities range from the role of small scale tree planting in upper catchments and well-designed floodplain woodland in increasing soil percolation and reducing flood risk. They also include the role of trees and woodlands in urban and peri-urban environments, as a contribution to sustainable urban drainage systems and the reduction of heat islands caused by the micro-climate effects of urban environments.

Waste Management

  • The Welsh Assembly Government’s Waste Strategy Towards Zero Waste proposes a 70% recycling / composting target for all sectors (business, householders and the public sector) and a cap on energy from waste of 30% of municipal waste by 2025. 

International Development

  • Wales is helping over 6000 coffee farmers in the Mbale region of Uganda to adapt to future climate change and aiding in the planting of 1 million trees.

Contact Information

Jon Townley
Head of International Sustainable Development and the Wales for Africa Team
0044(0)7870973903
Jon.Townley@WalesGSI.Gov.UK

Key Links

The Welsh Assembly Government on Climate Change
Help Wales Reduce its Carbon Footprint
climate-change@wales.gsi.gov.uk