Written - Greenhouse gas emissions in Wales in 2007 and update on Climate Change Strategy for Wales

AEA Energy and Environment produce the Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on a regular basis.  The latest disaggregated figures were published on 24 September 2009.

The “basket” of six Greenhouse Gases is measured as follows:

• emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are measured against the base year 1990
• emissions of hydroflurocarbons, perflurocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride are measured against the base year 1995

Carbon Dioxide is by far the most significant component of the basket, representing over 80% of the total.

The September 2009 report shows that, for Wales:

• Total emissions of the six Greenhouse Gases in Wales for 2007 were 46.8MtCO2 equivalent . This represents a 6.8% decrease on 2006 and a 14.7% decrease on base year emissions of the six greenhouse gases.
• Total emissions of CO2  in Wales for 2007 were 39MtCO2 equivalent  , which represents a 7% decrease on 2006 and a 9.5% decrease on base year CO2 emissions

These figures show a reduction in emissions when compared to the base year.  While year on year fluctuations are inevitable, this points to the importance of taking concerted action if we are to see the level of sustained reductions in emissions over time that will be needed to combat climate change.

Our One Wales commitments as a Government recognise the global threat of climate change and that the Assembly Government must be at the forefront of tackling the causes and effects in Wales. There is a specific commitment to aim to reduce emissions in Wales by 3% per year by 2011 in areas of devolved competence, and to set sectoral targets for residential emissions, transport and the public sector.

Through the Climate Change Commission, we have commissioned the Tyndall Centre to explore the action to be taken and the implication from this when seeking to achieve   different emission reduction scenarios – 3%, 6% and 9% per year.  This is because we recognise that the scientific evidence illustrates that even steeper reductions than we are currently committed are required, but that these are very challenging.  We want to try to ensure that we are taking actions that could be intensified to deliver greater reductions in the future and to avoid doing things that lock us into higher emission pathways.

The emissions included in the 3% target will be all those disaggregated to Wales in the annual greenhouse gas inventory except those coming from heavy industry and energy generation, which we have loosely defined as those emissions covered by the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

We also recognise the importance of reducing electricity consumption in reducing emissions, and so will be including emissions resulting from electricity consumption.  

The Climate Change Commission has played a large role in defining the methodology we use to measure our progress in achieving the 3% reduction.

The Commission will continue to provide leadership and build a shared view on the necessary action.

The next meeting of the Climate Change Commission will take place on the 27th October. The Commission will be looking at a summary of the responses to the Climate Change Strategy Programme of Action consultation and considering the best way for these responses to be incorporated into the final Climate Change Strategy. In addition the UK Committee on Climate Change, which is currently reviewing our Climate Change Strategy Programme of Action, will be providing feedback on the consultation document and discussing how well it meets their expectations for the role of the devolved governments in tackling climate change.

We have already taken a number of important steps:

• developing a  ‘National Energy Efficiency and Savings Plan’, the consultation on which has recently ended.
• developing a scheme to install renewable microgeneration technology in fuel poor households.
• developing a project to support community energy generation through the EU Convergence Programme.
• held a series of community events on climate change and developed a community information pack.
• appointed six Climate Change Champions for Wales  (one of whom has also become one of the British Council’s International Climate Champions).
• published the Renewable Energy Route Map proposing that, within 20 years, Wales can produce as much electricity from renewable sources as it consumes.
•  In addition, we want all new buildings constructed in Wales from 2011 onwards to be zero carbon. We are pursuing devolution of the Building Regulations to help us move this forward, and the Sustainable Development Commission has helped up to set up a Low Carbon Hub - a ‘coalition of the willing’ from the building industry and other organisations who want to help us achieve these reductions.
• Strengthening planning policy in relations to climate change.
• The Assembly Government is also earmarking exemplar projects to help us plan effectively for zero carbon. These are being driven by the Department for Economy and Transport. An initial 28 sites have been identified to undergo energy assessments to underpin low/zero carbon developments, many of which are mixed use. The aim is to have a focused strategy in order to learn lessons and gain experience which can be applied to subsequent projects.