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Our targets

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European Union Emissions Trading System

This system will help meet targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.

Towards a 2°C future: emission reduction scenarios for Wales

This research explores the implications of annual emission reductions beyond the 3% already pledged.
Water balance railway

We will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3% per year from 2011 in devolved areas.

We will achieve at least a 40% reduction by 2020 compared to figures from 1990.

3% reduction every year

This target will be measured against a baseline of average emissions between 2006 and 2010.

The focus of our work is on how energy is used, rather than how it is generated. For further information on energy generation please see 'A Low Carbon Revolution: Wales Energy Policy Statement'.

The 3% target includes all ‘direct’ greenhouse gas emissions in Wales except those from heavy industry and power generation. Those installations are covered by the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).

Sector targets

We have set target ranges for the minimum level of emission reduction we would expect to see from each sector by 2020.

The targets are set in terms of metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) which is the standard measurement of greenhouse gases.

  • Public sector reduced to a maximum of 0.83 MtCO2e, against a baseline of 1.13 MtCO2e;
  • Business emissions (that fall within Wales’ 3% target) reduced to between 8.33 and 10.30 MtCO2e, against a baseline of 11.24 MtCO2e; 
  • Transport emissions reduced to between 5.21 and 5.78 MtCO2e, against a baseline of 7.14 MtCO2e;
  • Agriculture and land use emissions reduced to between 4.07 and 4.97 MtCO2e, against a baseline of 5.57 MtCO2e;
  • Residential emissions reduced to between 5.46 and 6.04 MtCO2e, against a baseline of 7.48 MtCO2e; and
  • Waste emissions reduced to between 0.64 and 0.95 MtCO2e, against a baseline of 1.30 MtCO2e.

What if Wales had a 6% or 9% target?

We commissioned some research to show the action we would need to take in Wales to achieve 3%, 6% and 9% emission reduction.

The research from the Tyndall Centre is available via Related Links on the right.