Carbon emissions targets set

NEW regulations passed at the Senedd have introduced statutory carbon emissions targets for Wales.

Under the Climate Change (Wales) Regulations, the Welsh Government is legally bound to reduce emissions by 27% in 2020, 45% in 2030 and 67% in 2040. The targets are thought by the government to be close to the maximum technically feasible for Wales.

Next March the Welsh Government will publish its first Low Carbon Delivery Plan, which will propose how Wales will reduce carbon emissions and achieve its first carbon budget.

A recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found human activity is directly responsible for most or all of the global warming we have seen and highlighted the dangerous impacts if we do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, said: “Cutting greenhouse gases will help reduce the global impact of future extreme weather events.

“It also brings benefits such as good-quality jobs, global market advantages, comfortable and efficient homes, cleaner air and water, and better health. We want to place decarbonisation at the front and centre of everything we do and ensure the Government is held accountable for delivery.

“The regulations demonstrate the Welsh Government is serious about tackling climate change and shows international markets Wales is open to low carbon business.”

Shadow Environment Secretary Andrew RT Davies said: “It’s vital that the Welsh Labour Government takes the general public with them when setting these important environmental targets, as we only need to glance across the English Channel to see that when politicians become disconnected from the electorate the consequences are hugely damaging.

“And it’s imperative that each and every administration in the UK plays its part in the fight against climate change and these regulations go some way to satisfying this aim.”