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Business sector

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Business Sector Action Highlights: Climate Change Strategy for Wales

The Sector Action Highlights document was published in September 2011.

Capturing the Potential: A Green Jobs Strategy for Wales

Capturing the Potential: A Green Jobs Strategy for Wales
The strategy delivers the commitment made in the One Wales programme of Government and outlines the proposals to direct the transition to a more sustainable economy.

The National Energy Efficiency and Savings Plan

The National Energy Efficiency and Savings Plan
This plan focuses on what we are doing. It will support the environmental, economic and social wellbeing of the people of Wales.
Aerial view of the Solutia site and wind turbines

There are significant market opportunities for businesses that position themselves at the front of the transition to a low carbon economy.

Businesses of all sizes can develop new products, services and revenue-generating opportunities to assist the move from ‘business as usual’ and enable Wales to lead the way on low carbon innovation.

The business sector (not including direct emissions from heavy industry and energy generation) is responsible for approximately a third of the greenhouse gas emissions covered by the 3% target.

Key actions

Our actions to reduce emissions in the business sector include: 

  • Offering relevant advice within our support for businesses, including Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs);
  • Supporting Research and Development, and both skills and business development to ensure Wales can benefit from the opportunities of a new green economy; 
  • Better sharing of good practice across businesses; 
  • Ensuring that resource use is minimised and that waste is regarded as a resource for use; and 
  • Ensuring that the planning system enables low carbon development.

Our approach to reducing emissions

Sustainable development is the key principle underpinning the Economic Renewal Programme. Tackling climate change is one of the key objectives of the programme.

Energy generation, consumption and efficiency are important to reducing business sector emissions. A Low Carbon Revolution: our Energy Policy Statement and the National Energy Efficiency and Saving Plan set out how we intend to support low carbon energy generation and increased energy efficiency.

The Green Jobs Strategy is part of a range of measures to create a sustainable economy.

We fund the Carbon Trust to provide specialist support for businesses to reduce their emissions through saving energy and commercialising low carbon technologies. The organisation provides a range of services including training and business loans.

Visit: Carbon Trust website (external link)

We have funded Business in the Community to:

  • organise “Seeing is Believing” visits encouraging businesses to reduce their carbon footprint;
  • measure the carbon footprint of the businesses engaged in their Prince of Wales May Day network; and 
  • encourage employees to take action.