SC(3) CR-I&PB12

Sustainability Committee

Inquiry into Carbon Reduction in Wales: Carbon Reduction by Industry and Public Bodies

Response from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

Question 1

Is the proposed 3 per cent annual reduction target by 2011 ' in areas of devolved competence’ sufficient to enable Wales to make its full contribution to meeting UK wide targets? If not, what targets should be put in place?

Response

Given the necessity to make significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions in the short to medium term to minimise the long-term effects of climate change, a more stringent target should be set. An annual carbon reduction target of 10% by 2011 is suggested.

Establishing an easily achievable target significantly undermines the message that Climate Change is the most serious risk facing our society today and that urgent and dramatic action must be taken now to address the future effects of climate change. Unless the Welsh Assembly Government (and the National Assembly for Wales) begins to support a much greater degree of action, many sections of the Welsh community will continue to ignore climate change and the evident risk that it presents to our children and grandchildren in the future.

Question 2

Should the emission reduction target be based on Welsh consumption, or production, or both (i.e. should it take into consideration the carbon dioxide generated in Wales (production), or the carbon dioxide emissions that Wales’ residents are responsible for, regardless of the source (consumption)?

Response

The emission reduction target should include every sector in Wales. Carbon emission reduction must be tackled both at production and at consumption.  Carbon emission reduction targets and measures must include all sources of emissions and not just concentrate on energy efficiency. Carbon emissions from all anthropogenically-managed sources must be addressed including, waste, transport and land use.

Question 3

What particular challenges does Wales face in reducing carbon dioxide emission from industry and public bodies, and how can these challenges be overcome?

Response

At present, the drive towards carbon emission reduction is predominantly self-regulated and it will be an important component of any carbon emission reduction programme to ensure that reliable, accurate and auditable carbon emission data is available. Consequently better reporting and auditing processes must be established if the public are going to have any confidence in this programme.  Common reporting mechanisms must be created for both industry and public bodies. The Wales Audit Office must be given a greater role in auditing carbon emissions, and other climate change initiatives, throughout the public sector.

Question 4

Do the current Welsh Assembly Government economic development policies give sufficient emphasis to carbon reduction?

Response

Don’t have enough detailed knowledge to answer this although carbon reduction does not seem to be at the forefront of many discussions concerning spatial planning..

Question 5

To what extent has the Welsh Assembly Government been successful in utilising the powers available to it, in order to reduce carbon emissions from industry and public bodies?

Response

We are not aware of any information the Welsh Assembly Government has made public to show the carbon emission reduction savings it has achieved through it use of its existing powers.  It is therefore difficult to state which applications of its powers have had the greatest effect.

Question 6

Could alternative targeting of Welsh Assembly Government financial resources lead to greater emission reduction form industry and public bodies than is currently achieved? If so, where could additional resources lead to greatest impact?

Response

Financial resources for carbon reduction should be targeted towards those areas where the greatest savings can be achieved for the smallest investment. Thousands of vital public buildings such as schools and hospitals are of poor quality and produce significant amounts of carbon emissions. Monies spent in this area would reap high rewards.

Similarly, tens of thousands of older homes are very fuel inefficient and their occupiers are becoming more fuel poor as fuel prices continue to rise. Increased investment in addressing fuel poverty will lead to significant carbon reductions, as well as improving the health and quality of life for those in fuel poverty.

Investment in good integrated public transport, particularly in areas where there is poor public transport, where carbon emissions from private vehicle use could be significantly reduced if the public were presented with a quick, clean, reliable and affordable public transport alternative.

The Welsh Assembly Government must ensure that when allocating resources, carbon emission reduction must be a key part of the criteria for allocating / awarding funding to Assembly Sponsored Public Bodies, the Public sector and other external organisations.

Question 7

What examples from other administrations (devolved, UK and overseas), where other means have been used to achieve reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from industry and public bodies, could be adopted in Wales under current powers?

Response

There are numerous examples of best practice from across the UK and beyond which Wales could emulate e.g. The Merton Rule for all new developments and the excellent work undertaken by Woking Borough Council on carbon reduction and renewable energy.  The use of carbon quotas and carbon trading should be seriously addressed.  The difficulty in addressing climate change through the current method of spatial planning as performed by local development plans is a key issue.  The link between spatial planning and carbon reduction needs to be much more seriously addressed drawing on best practice such as The Merton Rule mentioned above.

However, Wales has its own knowledge base and better use must be made of this 'home grown talent’. We would suggest that a panel of practitioners in the various fields connected with carbon management and climate change should be established to provide ideas for the Welsh Assembly Government; the National Assembly for Wales; the Welsh Public Sector and Welsh Industry to take forward, quickly and effectively.  

Question 8

In the context of the Government of Wales Act 2006, which further means of reducing carbon emission from industry and public bodies could only be achieved w

Response

With the introduction of further legislative competence for the National Assembly for Wales?

In light of response to Question 5, we are not convinced at this stage, whether any additional powers will help to achieve greater carbon emission reductions.

Question 9

If specific carbon dioxide emission targets are set for Wales, should those targets be subdivided into shares by sector? If so, what share of the total should reductions by industry and public bodies comprise?

Response

As stated in our response to Question 6, the targets should be firstly imposed upon those areas of Welsh society where the greatest reductions can be achieved for the smallest investment. Notwithstanding this, carbon reduction targets should be set for all sectors in Wales especially where those sectors are supported financially by the Welsh Assembly Government or by Welsh Public Bodies.  The share of the total reductions required should be initially based on professional views regarding ease of making reductions as well as the current carbon emission levels by sector-i.e. the biggest carbon emitters ought to be targeted for the biggest cuts.  A clear and transparent formula must be established regarding this key point so that responsibilities are clear.

Question 10

How will the Carbon Reduction Commitment affect your business? Should the proposed Commitment be amended in any way?

Response

As a large Local Authority, we are fully committed to reducing our carbon emissions as quickly as possible.  Whilst some carbon emission reduction can be achieved by improving operating procedures and small scale building improvements, major reductions can only be achieved through large scale building refurbishments and / or new build schemes (see Question 6). More financial support for these capital projects would help us realise significant reductions in our carbon emissions.

The proposed Commitment should be amended to include the 10% carbon emission reduction target, suggested in our response to Question 1.