27 | Welsh Government Annual Report 2020
A Greener Wales
In 2019, we were one of the first governments in the world to declare a Climate Emergency. We have remained focused on the importance of the climate crisis in the midst of the response to the coronavirus pandemic. Tackling the climate emergency requires serious and sustained action and collaboration here in Wales and at a global level. This year we have continued to make Wales a green, resilient and socially responsible country. We are working to reduce our carbon emissions, promote more sustainable transport use and ensure our natural environment can flourish.
Responding to the climate emergency In 2019 we published our Low Carbon Delivery Plan, presenting a comprehensive assessment and analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in Wales and bringing together a set of cross-government policies to reduce emissions. In 2021 we will bring forward regulations to set in law a target date for Wales to reach Net Zero emissions, making us the only part of the UK to secure an earlier, evidence‑based target to reach that goal. Renewable energy has a key role to play in our response to the climate emergency. The Energy Generation 2019 report, published as part of our 2020 Wales Climate Week, shows more than half of Wales’ electricity needs were met by renewables last year, up from 43% in 2016. It also highlights that there were 72,841 renewable energy projects in Wales in 2019 – 3,841 more than in 2018. We have worked with all regions of Wales on Regional Energy Strategies, which will set out actions to adopt low carbon energy sources and make the most of opportunities for clean growth in each region. We created the Welsh Government Energy Service in 2018 to help create a net zero public sector by 2030. Since it was created, the service has helped to develop 83 energy projects which will save 259,000 tonnes of CO2 over their lifetime, as well as saving the public sector £118m.
We have approved the Pembroke Dock Marine Swansea Bay City Deal project business case, which will create a world-class centre for marine engineering with an immediate focus on low carbon energy. The project is expected to generate more than 1,800 jobs in the next 15 years and £73.5m a year for the regional economy. The amount of municipal waste recycled in Wales has increased from 5% in 1999 to 65% today, exceeding our statutory target. As of March 2020, we are the best nation in the UK, second in Europe and third in the world for household waste recycling. In September 2020, we launched the Be Mighty, Recycle campaign, taking us a step closer to our goal of becoming a zero waste nation by 2050.
