Tackling climate change: Assembly Government’s strategic approach

1. Tackling climate change: Assembly Government’s strategic approach Andy Fraser Head of Climate Change Policy Welsh Assembly Government

2. Hadley Centre How will climate change affect Wales? • 2009 UK Climate Projections (produced by UK Climate Impacts Programme) help us understand the changes we might expect: • Rising temperatures across Wales over the coming decades (over 2°C by 2040s) • Increasing winter rainfall (+11% by 2040s)) • Milder but wetter winters • Reduced summer rainfall (-12% by 2040s) • Warmer and drier summers • Increasing frequency of extreme weather • Sea-level rise (up to 80cm by 2080)

3. Impacts of climate change in Wales • Increased flood risk to homes and businesses • Agriculture and food production • Potential risks for damage and disruption to national infrastructure • Energy supply • Water supply • Telecoms • Transport networks

4. Impacts of climate change for Wales • Impact on wildlife and environment, particularly sensitive habitats • Loss of native species • Coastal and lowland areas • Freshwater ecosystems • Changing demands and social pressures: • Healthcare • Social care • Emergency services • Economic challenges and opportunities

5. Supporting international action • Assembly Government fully engaged in supporting UK Government in taking strong domestic action • Contribution to UN (most recently at Copenhagen) and European Environment Council meetings • Wales is Co- Chair for Europe of the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development (nrg4SD) • Working closely with other regional government partners, UN and European bodies, and organisations such as The Climate Group to increase international recognition for regional government action: • recognition of the role of sub national regions and regional governments as part of a new international agreement

6. UK targets • Through Kyoto Protocol, UK committed to cutting GHG emissions by 12.5% over the period 2008 – 2012 against 1990 baseline • Through the Climate Change Act, it is committed to: • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 against a 1990 baseline • Reducing GHG emissions by at least 34% by 2020 against a 1990 baseline • Establish carbon budgets, on aggregate GHG emissions over five year periods

7. Welsh Assembly Government commitments to tackle climate change • Firm commitment in ‘One Wales’: • Aim to achieve carbon reduction-equivalent emissions reductions of 3% per year by 2011 in areas of devolved competence • Set specific sectoral targets in relation to residential, public and transport • Established Climate Change Commission for Wales • Clear UK, EU and international targets

8. Welsh Assembly Government commitments to tackle climate change • Other commitments: • Agreement to make 40% cut in emissions by 2020 against 1990 baseline • Assembly Government was the first regional government to commit to the 10:10 campaign • Setting targets for carbon neutrality in public builldings • Provide energy efficiency grants, including a non-means tested element within the context of a National Energy Efficiency and Saving Plan • Developing scenarios with Climate Change Commission to explore potential to make deeper cuts of 6 and 9% per year

9. Wales’ 3% emissions reduction target • High Level Policy Statement consultation established our overall approach • In summary: • Includes all greenhouse gases • Covers all ‘direct’ emissions (except heavy industry and power generation) and electricity consumption emissions • Baseline will be an average of emissions in 2006–2010

10. Delivering on our commitments: Wales’ Climate Change Strategy – Programme of Action • Programme of Action set out proposals within the context of UK and EU policy • 23 proposals covering emission reduction in the following sectors: • Transport • Business • Residential • Waste • Public • Agriculture and land management • Also Included proposals on: • supporting behaviour change • climate change adaptation

11. Wales’ Climate Change Strategy • Underpinning principles for our Strategy: • Helping people to make climate-friendly choices • Leading by example and building climate change into Assembly Government decisions • Driving energy efficiency • Identifying where Wales’ natural resources, land management pattern and economy can contribute to delivery • Ensuring that Wales gains maximum benefit from climate change related opportunities • Supporting socially just adaptation measures

12. Wales’ Climate Change Strategy Specific actions include: • Funding to support community energy generation and microgeneration in homes • New climate change development officers for Welsh communities • New pilot to lower the carbon footprint of cities • Rolling out of Sustainable Travel Towns • Support for green energy production • Advice and support for businesses to go green • Buildings skills and research and development for a low carbon economy • Creation of a climate change charter for organisations • The proposals outlined represent plans to commit £300 million by all Ministers and across all departments within the Welsh Assembly Government to contribute to tackling climate change

13. 3% p.a. pathway(Committee on Climate Change advice & Welsh Climate Change Strategy) Emissions reductions: Sector by sector

14. 6% p.a. pathway(CCC advice & Welsh CC Strategyplus greater technology uptake)

15. 9% p.a. pathway(CCC & Welsh CC Strategy, much greater technology uptakeand some demand reduction )

16. …in 2010 • Wales final Climate Change Strategy to be published and implemented in March 2010: • Enable implementation of relevant new measures for 2011 • Confirm targets • Confirm package of actions • More information on partners’ contributions and commitments • Information on implementation, including reporting on progress and future review

17. Further informationwww.wales.gov.uk/climatechange Andy Fraser Head of Climate Change Policy Andy.Fraser@wales.gsi.gov.uk