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What is the Welsh Government doing to tackle climate change?




On the 29th of April 2019 we became one of the first nations in the UK to declare a climate emergency.




We were already doing some great things with 100 actions in our plan, including:

  • accelerating the deployment of renewable energy  
  • making our homes more energy efficient and reducing fuel poverty 
  • transforming Wales into one of the top three recycling nations in the world.
  • planting over 800,000 trees, and 
  • and creating more than 840 free water refill stations

But we all agree that we can and need to do more.


Since we declared a climate emergency, weā€™ve been talking to groups such as Extinction Rebellion, agencies like your local councils and Natural Resources Wales, and you, the public, about the next steps we should take to create a better future for our planet.


Here are the top 8 things weā€™re doing to tackle the climate emergency in Wales:

  1. Setting ambitious targets to cut carbon emissions. Weā€™re raising our carbon reduction targets to 95% with an ambition to get to net zero by 2050.
  2.  
  3. Making it easier for people to use their car less. Weā€™re investing Ā£30 million on improving active travel, making it easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport. 

  4. Banning some single use plastics. Weā€™re banning and restricting 10 common single use plastics including straws, stirrers and cotton buds, plastic cutlery, polystyrene food packaging and drinks containers. 

  5. Tackling the nature emergency. Weā€™re addressing diversity loss and increasing ecosystem resilience by creating a National Forest and investing Ā£500,000 in community-led projects to improve biodiversity and minimise waste.

  6. Investing in the circular economy. Weā€™re supporting businesses in Wales to reuse existing materials and minimise waste.

  7. More electric vehicle charging points. Weā€™re developing an Electric Vehicle charging strategy and have allocated more than Ā£500,000 for charging infrastructure. Weā€™ve also started introducing electric buses into public transport.

  8. Establishing world-leading renewable industries. Weā€™ve secured nearly Ā£20 million in EU investment to establish a world leading marine energy sector in Wales.
  9.  
  10. Promising to keep the conversation going. Weā€™ve established a permanent Cabinet Sub-Committee to keep climate emergency a priority at the highest level in government. We promise to keep conversations going, especially with young people through our eco-schools and Size of Wales programmes, and the new curriculum.

These are just some of the pledges weā€™ve made to tackle climate change. What pledges are you making?

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with us on the climate emergency so far. Weā€™d love for you to keep talking to us via:
Facebook: facebook.com/welshgovernment/
Twitter: twitter.com/WelshGovernment 

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