Transcript Day 3 - Andy Fraser, Welsh Assembly Government

Tackling climate change: Assembly
Government’s strategic approach
Andy Fraser
Head of Climate Change Policy
Welsh Assembly Government
How will climate change affect
Wales?
• 2009 UK Climate Projections (produced by UK Climate
Impacts Programme) help us understand the changes we
might expect:
• Rising temperatures across Wales over the coming
decades (over 2°C by 2040s)
• Increasing winter rainfall (+11% by 2040s))
– Milder but wetter winters
• Reduced summer rainfall (-12% by 2040s)
– Warmer and drier summers
• Increasing frequency of extreme weather
• Sea-level rise (up to 80cm by 2080)
Hadley Centre
Impacts of climate change in
Wales
• Increased flood risk to homes and
businesses
• Agriculture and food production
• Potential risks for damage and disruption
to national infrastructure
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Energy supply
Water supply
Telecoms
Transport networks
Impacts of climate change for Wales
• Impact on wildlife and
environment, particularly
sensitive habitats
– Loss of native species
– Coastal and lowland areas
– Freshwater ecosystems
• Changing demands and social
pressures:
– Healthcare
– Social care
– Emergency services
• Economic challenges and
opportunities
Supporting international action
• Assembly Government fully engaged in supporting
UK Government in taking strong domestic action
– Contribution to UN (most recently at Copenhagen) and
European Environment Council meetings
• Wales is Co- Chair for Europe of the Network of
Regional Governments for Sustainable Development
(nrg4SD)
• Working closely with other regional government
partners, UN and European bodies, and
organisations such as The Climate Group to increase
international recognition for regional government
action:
– recognition of the role of sub national regions and regional
governments as part of a new international agreement
UK targets
• Through Kyoto Protocol, UK committed to
cutting GHG emissions by 12.5% over the period
2008 – 2012 against 1990 baseline
• Through the Climate Change Act, it is committed
to:
– Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by
2050 against a 1990 baseline
– Reducing GHG emissions by at least 34% by
2020 against a 1990 baseline
– Establish carbon budgets, on aggregate GHG
emissions over five year periods
Welsh Assembly Government
commitments to tackle climate change
•Firm commitment in ‘One Wales’:
Aim to achieve carbon reductionequivalent emissions reductions of
3% per year by 2011 in areas of
devolved competence
•Set specific sectoral targets in
relation to residential, public and
transport
•Established Climate Change
Commission for Wales
•Clear UK, EU and international
targets
Welsh Assembly Government
commitments to tackle climate change
• Other commitments:
– Agreement to make 40% cut in emissions by 2020
against 1990 baseline
– Assembly Government was the first regional
government to commit to the 10:10 campaign
– Setting targets for carbon neutrality in public
builldings
– Provide energy efficiency grants, including a nonmeans tested element within the context of a
National Energy Efficiency and Saving Plan
• Developing scenarios with Climate Change
Commission to explore potential to make deeper
cuts of 6 and 9% per year
Wales’ 3% emissions reduction target
• High Level Policy Statement
consultation established our
overall approach
• In summary:
– Includes all greenhouse gases
– Covers all ‘direct’ emissions
(except heavy industry and
power generation) and
electricity consumption
emissions
– Baseline will be an average of
emissions in 2006–2010
Delivering on our commitments: Wales’
Climate Change Strategy – Programme
of Action
• Programme of Action set out proposals
within the context of UK and EU policy
• 23 proposals covering emission
reduction in the following sectors:
– Transport
– Business
– Residential
– Waste
– Public
– Agriculture and land management
• Also Included proposals on:
– supporting behaviour change
– climate change adaptation
Wales’ Climate Change Strategy
• Underpinning principles for our Strategy:
– Helping people to make climate-friendly
choices
– Leading by example and building climate
change into Assembly Government
decisions
– Driving energy efficiency
– Identifying where Wales’ natural
resources, land management pattern and
economy can contribute to delivery
– Ensuring that Wales gains maximum
benefit from climate change related
opportunities
– Supporting socially just adaptation
measures
Wales’ Climate Change Strategy
Specific actions include:
• Funding to support community energy generation and
microgeneration in homes
• New climate change development officers for Welsh
communities
• New pilot to lower the carbon footprint of cities
• Rolling out of Sustainable Travel Towns
• Support for green energy production
• Advice and support for businesses to go green
• Buildings skills and research and development for a low carbon
economy
• Creation of a climate change charter for organisations
• The proposals outlined represent plans to commit £300 million
by all Ministers and across all departments within the Welsh
Assembly Government to contribute to tackling climate change
Emissions reductions: Sector by sector
3% p.a. pathway
(Committee on Climate Change advice & Welsh Climate
Change Strategy)
Absolute % reductions
Residential
78%
Waste
38%
Transport
Agriculture
36%
44%
Public
80%
Business
34%
6% p.a. pathway
(CCC advice & Welsh CC Strategy
plus greater technology uptake)
Absolute % reductions
Residential
89%
Waste
58%
Transport
62%
Agriculture
64%
Public
100%
Business
44%
9% p.a. pathway
(CCC & Welsh CC Strategy,
much greater technology uptake
and some demand reduction )
Absolute % reductions
Residential
89%
Waste
80%
Transport
74%
Agriculture
74%
Public
100%
Business
69%
…in 2010
• Wales final Climate Change Strategy to be
published and implemented in March 2010:
– Enable implementation of relevant new
measures for 2011
– Confirm targets
– Confirm package of actions
– More information on partners’ contributions
and commitments
– Information on implementation, including
reporting on progress and future review
Further information
www.wales.gov.uk/climatechange
Andy Fraser
Head of Climate Change Policy
[email protected]