Wales sets in law 2050 net zero target

The Welsh Government has outlined its legal commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, but is striving to achieve this sooner.

The decision follows a recommendation report by the independent Climate Change Committee, that revealed net zero emissions, previously thought unachievable and unaffordable by experts, was now possible with ambitious policy and a ‘Team Wales’ effort.

The CCC says that greater reductions within the industrial sector will help achieve this goal, as a large proportion of Welsh emissions come from a small number of big emitters, such as Port Talbot steelworks.

The report also draws attention to the interdependency of UK and Welsh actions and targets. The UK cannot reach net zero without action in Wales, but equally Wales needs the UK government to step up to the challenge and ensure a swift, fair and equitable transition to a low carbon future.

Welsh Government has already announced a suite of measures this year to respond to the climate emergency and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, including a shift away from fossil fuel extraction and towards green energy, working towards a net zero public sector in Wales by 2030, and going beyond recycling and making Wales a zero waste nation.

Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, said: “We were the first country in the world to declare a climate emergency, but now we will use the new science to make our long-held ambition of a Net Zero Wales, a reality. While we have set our intention to achieve this by 2050 in law, we will continue to do all we can to get there sooner. The global climate outlook is grave, and we will not shy away from stopping harmful emissions being pumped into our atmosphere and heating our planet. Business as usual is not an option.

“These ambitious new targets to make a Net Zero Wales is the right thing to do, but not the easiest thing to do. Through Covid we have shown a Team Wales effort that has saved lives and protected our NHS, and I am calling on everyone to use the same spirit to build a healthier, cleaner and greener Wales for our future generations.”