Oral - Climate Change

Climate change is one of the most important challenges facing the world. Global warming will not be curbed by warm words or by hand wringing; it will only be tackled by action. It is not simply an environmental problem; it has profound implications for our economy and society and for the wellbeing of all of us who live in Wales and for people across the world.

Wales will play a full part in tackling the causes of climate change and adapting to the changes to the climate that will happen whatever steps we take now, because of the activities and carelessness of the past. That means making an appropriate contribution to the UK target of a reduction of 60 per cent in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050—a target that will be made statutory by the Climate Change Bill, which is to be published by the Westminster Government in due course.

The science of climate change is now so well established as to be incontestable. The essential cause of climate change is a sharp rise in greenhouse gas emissions, chiefly carbon dioxide, caused by human activities. The only uncertainties that exist relate to the future scale and severity of climate change. Of course, there are a tiny minority of politicians and one or two scientists who do not agree about the causes of climate change. However, even if we were not 100 per cent convinced about the man-made causes of global warming, the answer is the same: the time to take some insurance out is now.

That does not mean that we ignore the special character of Wales. We are a small country with a high concentration of heavy industrial plants. Every country has its own emission characteristics and every country will define its own role in reducing overall carbon emissions. A central part of our contribution will be to work alongside industry and the other big emitters to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy wastage. It is likely that the impact of climate change in Wales will be an increased frequency of stormy wet winters combined with very dry summers. It might be argued that Wales is in a better position than most countries to respond to summer droughts, particularly when compared with Mediterranean shoreline countries where the future summer climate will be more like that of the Sahara today.
Here in Wales, the latest figures show that, in 2004, there was a 3.3 per cent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990. Within that overall decrease, carbon dioxide emissions rose slightly. These figures make it clear that we have a long way to go to achieve the scale of cuts in emissions that scientists advise are required to ward off dangerous climate change. The main categories of human activity in Wales in emitting carbon dioxide, in order of volume, are: electricity generation, at 40 per cent, manufacturing and construction combined, at 25 per cent, and then road transport and residential sectors at about 10 per cent each.

Generally, the energy-intensive industries and power generation plants do not serve a Welsh market; therefore, the key mechanisms for reducing their emissions, such as the EU emissions trading scheme, EUETS, operate at that level. It therefore makes sense for any volume emissions-related targets for these sectors to be set at a UK or an EU level. My concern in developing any targets for Wales is that they should be meaningful and deliverable, and by that I mean that they should reflect the powers and scope of the Assembly Government to influence their achievement.

I remain to be convinced that an overall annual emission reduction target is beneficial to the global environment. We must do more to actively involve citizens across Wales in achieving reduced wastage of energy and improved energy efficiency. We are taking action already. For example, our home energy efficiency scheme, which also addresses fuel poverty, has helped more than 64,000 households since 2000. The Carbon Trust and the Energy Saving Trust are already providing invaluable practical advice to businesses, the public sector and the public. TAN 8 provides a clear framework to encourage the development of renewable energy in Wales and will help us move towards our targets to increase electricity generation from renewable sources.

Over the coming weeks, we will make a series of announcements that aim to create a step change in Wales’s response to climate change, which will be a key consideration in the new convergence programme. A strategic framework on climate change is being developed in partnership with stakeholders. I hope that the announcement that I made earlier today, with Carwyn Jones and Sue Essex, that a tree will be planted for every child born or adopted in Wales from September this year, will help in connecting people, especially young people, with the natural world and spark them into taking action to improve their local environment. I commend Nicola Vaughan from Coed Glas Junior School in Llanishen, Cardiff, on coming up with the idea.

We are committed to becoming carbon-neutral in our own estate. This afternoon, the Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside, Carwyn Jones, will make a further announcement on sustainable buildings and the expectations we have of developments to deliver significant improvements in their carbon footprint and their wider sustainability. On Thursday, Carwyn will also publish a consultation on adapting to the impacts of unavoidable climate change, that is, preparing for what will happen anyway as a result of emissions that have already occurred and are in the atmosphere.

Next week, Andrew Davies, the Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, will launch ‘Smarter Choices’, a practical guide to making more sustainable travel choices. In March, he will launch a new transport advice programme, which will include introducing green fleet reviews, which aim to reduce the carbon footprint of business travel. The consultation on the transport strategy will close shortly, and work on finalising this key policy document can then begin. Next month, I will publish a paper expanding on this statement, and exploring the further measures that Wales could take. The Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, Andrew Davies, aims to publish the Wales energy route-map, which will set out how we should transform Wales into an exemplar, competitive, low-carbon energy economy.

Climate change poses a huge challenge for Wales, the UK and the world. An effective response will require concerted action from Government, the private and voluntary sectors, and active participation from communities and citizens. I am committed to Wales leading the way, not in gestures but in actions.