UK Committee on Climate Change: Meeting 17 April 2015

Peter Davies Chair of the Climate Change

Commission for Wales

About the Commission

The Commission was established in 2007. It is an independent body providing leadership and advice to Welsh Government, as well as being an open and trusted source of information on climate change. The Commission’s work is central to the Welsh Government’s efforts to tackle climate change, providing advice to Welsh Government, while also scrutinising and reporting on progress. We also seek to mobilise action and build consensus across sectors.

In the early days… Commission established & chaired by Minister; supported by Welsh Government. Role: to feed into development of Climate Change Strategy for Wales, published in 2010. In 2011 - independent chair established.

In 2012 – support moved across to Cynnal Cymru. Strength: cross party and cross sector representation.

Our main roles are to: provide clear leadership on tackling both the causes and effects of climate change in Wales; build agreement on the action needed in Wales to address climate change, and engage all sectors in this process; work to remove barriers to delivering the climate change agenda and advise on solutions where appropriate; advise on the development of Welsh Government policies and programmes; monitor progress and report annually on delivery the Climate Change Strategy for Wales; be proactive in sharing advice and good practice on climate change action.

Building resilience to manage the impact of climate change

Reducing emissions from the built environment

The transport challenge

Accelerating transition to a low-carbon economy

Leadership action in the public sector

Engaging civil society

Managing our land-use

Our Seven Priority areas for Action

Response to Refresh (2014) included 25 recommendations to Welsh Government on

Reducing emissions through community renewables, clear benchmarking of baselines and reporting, retrofit & improvements in energy efficiency. Adaptation & building resilience, promoting green infrastructure Green growth & tackling poverty Clarity on leadership, governance, accountability & reporting (WG) Land Use sub-group: report & recommendations on reducing emissions in agriculture sector Transport sub-group: response to National Transport Plan Adaptation sub-group: support production of Natural Environment Sectoral Adaptation Plan.

Providing Advice

Annual Report 2014 – to highlight activities taking place across sectors for 7 key priority areas including 1. Work of local authorities, Town & Community councils on resilience and in

preparing for climate change 2. Role of Carbon Trust, EST, Hub to reduce emissions from the built environment 3. Moving towards a low carbon economy by promoting Green Growth & CAT’s

Zero Carbon Britain work 4. Land use review & the work of Wales Environment Link and NRW 5. Transport challenge through the Active Travel Act, and work of organisations

such as Sustrans 6. Engaging civil society through The Wales We Want, WWF’s Welsh Wish, Renew

Wales, WCVA’s work supporting action in the third sector 7. Leadership in the public sector provided by local authorities and also in the arts

sector

Mobilising Action

Engagement with new Minister

Funded distinct projects including procurement, green infrastructure, car clubs

Engaging with communications teams; 2 Communications workshops with

COIN (George Marshall)

Building relationship with HE sector

Work Programme for 2015/16 includes

joint working with UK Committee, Scotland (attending June meeting), leading up to Paris Carbon budgets & CC targets (Environment Bill) Political manifesto & Divestment Promoting case-studies from members & elsewhere

Building consensus

New legislation – Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Bill

New Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

The Wales We Want National Conversation highlighted climate change as the most important issue facing future generations (69.5%) Future of CCCW? Lessons from UK CCC’s work to feed into review.

Next 12 months