Welsh Assembly Government Reveals Plans To Cut Carbon Emissions In Wales

Environment Minister Jane Davidson has revealed details on how the Welsh Assembly Government will cut Wales's carbon emissions to tackle climate change.

In total Ministers are committing £300 million across all departments to contribute to the target as a result of the proposals set out in the consultation document.

The plan sets out a number of initiatives, including:

• New climate change development officers for Welsh communities
• Development of funding to support micro-generation for businesses and households
• 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 to sign up to

Launching the plan, Ms Davidson said: "Climate change is not some academic concept, but a real threat to Wales and the world. As the latest predictions released just last week show, Wales faces drier, hotter summers and warmer, wetter winters.


"There is no silver bullet or easy answer, but we must take action now if we are to have any chance of limiting the damage that could be caused. The latest, cutting edge science says we need to act now. Climate change requires all of us to change our behaviour, change the way we live and work to reduce the emissions which are affecting our climate.

"Some climate change is inevitable due to the impact of past emissions. We need to adapt the way we live and work to cope with a future Wales where there is an increase in severe weather events like heatwaves, droughts and floods. The latest projections show by 2050 the average annual temperatures in Wales will increase by 2.3°C. Rainfall in winter will increase by 14%. Sea levels around our coast could rise by 20cm over the same period. We must take action to prepare and adapt to this new world."

(CD/JM)