Written - Additional meeting of the Climate Change Commission for Wales

On 28 and 29 January, the Climate Change Commission for Wales held a facilitated workshop in Llandrindod Wells. This was in addition to the usual quarterly meetings, and came about as a result of a Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) review of the Climate Change Commission.

As usual, I provided an overview of the actions which have been undertaken by the Assembly Government since the Commission last met in December. Key update points included:

• The consultation on stage one of the Assembly Government’s Climate Change Strategy was launched in January, and closed on 22 February;
• The announcement at the end of 2008 of significant additional investment in tackling fuel poverty and reducing greenhouse gas emissions before Christmas.  This includes £26m over three years for investment in energy efficiency and micro-generation measures targeted on those who need it most – those in fuel poverty in the most energy inefficient properties.  A second Strategic Capital Investment Fund Project, with a stronger geographical focus, will establish the UK’s largest low carbon zone in the Heads of the Valleys;
• Agreement from the Welsh European Funding Office to £30m from Convergence Programme being used to fund investment in flood and coastal erosion risk measures across Wales. These additional funds will be awarded to projects that support a broad approach to flood risk management including built defences, strong partnership engagement, raising awareness and increasing resilience.   In addition, through the Assembly Government's Strategic Capital Investment Fund, we have allocated another £8m for flood risk management activities;
• The invitation to tender for managing partner for our Community Scale Energy Generation Project was published to the Sell2Wales website shortly prior to the meeting. Appointing a management partner is a key milestone in the development of this project;
• Launch of the results of the initial feasibility assessment of the Severn Tidal Power Study shortly prior to the meeting. The Assembly Government, with Defra and the Southwest RDA, announced funding for an additional study to further develop some of the more innovative options;
• Further community events, led by third sector partners, have taken place in January in North and South Wales;
• The 2009 Climate Change Champions for Wales have been appointed, and have already begun attending events and acting as ambassadors;
• My visit in December to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change conference in Poznan, Poland. Along with representatives of other sub-national Governments, my key focus was to ensure that the new international climate change framework recognises the importance of regional leadership for achieving emission reductions and adapting to climate change.

Commission members also provided brief updates about the work underway in their sectors and organisations.

The meeting was divided into two sessions. On 28 January Commission members met to discuss the contents of the SDC review, and determine the future structure and function of the Climate Change Commission and its subgroups. For the session on 29 January, the Commission invited Welsh Assembly Government Officials and representatives of the subgroups to participate in a workshop focussed around potential policy options for inclusion in the second stage of the Climate Change Strategy for Wales.

During the first session, a representative from the SDC provided a presentation summarising the contents of the SDC review, and highlighted the need for the Commission to develop a new structure to enable it to focus on three main areas of activity. These were strategic input into policy development; detailed input into policy delivery; and leadership within Commissioner’s sectors. In particular, it was highlighted how important it is that the profile of the Commission be raised in future, both within Commissioner’s organisations and across Wales in general.

One of the key outcomes of the SDC review was that the Commission subgroups were not functioning as effectively as Commission members would like. It was agreed that subgroups required more leadership from the Commission, and to be set specific tasks to provide them with greater focus. However, Commission members also recognised that the subgroup represent a huge variety of interests and organisations from around Wales, and as such will remain a critical mechanism for retaining engagement. The discussion on the structure of the subgroups will be continued at the Commission meeting in June after the publication of the second stage of the Climate Change Strategy.

For the second day of the meeting, the Commission invited Assembly Government Officials and subgroup representatives to discuss a wide variety of policy ideas for potential inclusion in the second stage of the Climate Change Strategy. Participants were invited to break into small, sectorally-focussed groups and consider proposals for emission reduction action from Assembly Government Departments, the Commission’s Sub Groups, a report by AEA on Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Policy Options in Wales and the report of the Committee on Climate Change Building a Low Carbon Economy – The UK’s contribution to tackling climate change.

The sectors discussed by the groups were broadly the same as those in the first stage of the Climate Change strategy. Proposals were considered for agriculture and land use, energy, business, public sector, transport and waste. One group also looked at policies which would affect all sectors – mainly calculating emissions baselines, communication and engagement.

The outcomes of this part of the meeting should provide guidance and focus for the work of the Assembly Government and the Commission in the future, particularly with regards to the development of the Climate Change Strategy. It also provided the opportunity for direct, detailed conversation between Commission members and Officials from across the Assembly Government. Developing such dialogue is an essential component of tackling the causes and effects of climate change in Wales.

The next meeting of the Climate Change Commission will be held in Cardiff on 26 March. At this meeting Commission members will be invited to discuss an early draft of the second stage of the Climate Change Strategy.