Wales can do better – response to CCC report on climate change

Faced with the scale of the climate crisis, Friends of the Earth Cymru welcomes the report but says that Wales must not have a lower target than the rest of the UK, and should aim higher than a 95% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on 1990 levels by 2050 that the CCC recommends.

Friends of the Earth has outlined plans for the UK to meet net zero by 2045 at the latest.

For Wales, this would include moving swiftly to carbon-free heating and electricity, planting many more trees to absorb carbon, and not locking ourselves into a high-carbon future with infrastructure like the M4 relief road.

Haf Elgar, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

 “This report is a good start and a clear message that we must all move faster to cut our emissions. But we’re confident that with political will, determination and innovation, Wales can do better than this, and reach net zero emissions.

“Just this week the Welsh Government declared a climate emergency, and we’ve got a strong track record of ground-breaking policies and laws which set us apart, like the Well-being of Future Generations Act. 

“We are achieving great things in Wales and we have every reason to be ambitious.

"We’re seeing a growing clamour for change with school strikes and protests and we need to rise to the challenge.

“The solutions are out there - there are great examples of people making a difference in communities across Wales and we need to work together to create a safe, healthy and sustainable world.”