WALES could reach its net zero target 15 years ahead of schedule, according to new proposals published today by the Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge Group. The reports, which were released on Monday 16th September, aim to renew and accelerate Wales’s approach to tackling climate change, offering a strategic roadmap for reaching net zero by 2035 instead of the current 2050 target.

The proposals encompass a wide range of sectors, including education, food, energy, buildings, and transport, and outline a series of actionable strategies designed to help Wales navigate the changing climate.

Rachel Sharp, Director of Wildlife Trusts Wales, praised the potential impact of these proposals, saying: “The new proposals reveal that huge benefits to the Welsh public are possible through a faster net zero transition, including improved public health, reduced pressure on the NHS, greater energy security, a more resilient food supply, and low-carbon job generation.”

The push for an earlier target comes as Wales, alongside other nations, confronts increasingly severe and frequent weather events that have been predicted by climate scientists. With global leaders emphasising the critical point at which we stand in the fight against climate change, the need for urgent action has never been clearer. Sharp added, “It’s clear that urgent action is needed and that we should all try to reach net zero much faster.”

As a sub-nation to the UK in the upcoming COP 29 summit this November, Wales is seeking to expedite its climate action. The current net zero target is set for 2050, but over the past year, a multidisciplinary group has explored pathways to determine whether achieving net zero by 2035 is feasible.

By examining transformative changes implemented worldwide, the group concluded that with the right investment and political commitment, Wales can indeed accelerate its climate ambitions. They focused on the five key challenges of food, energy, housing, transport, work, and skills, and found a way to elevate Wales’s ambitions and drive forward the necessary actions.

Sharp further emphasised the importance of nature-based solutions in the fight against climate change, stating, “There are real opportunities for harnessing the power of nature, for example, to help Wales adapt to our changing climate. Natural habitats – when healthy and in good condition – can be enormously beneficial. Restored, re-wetted peatlands can store carbon and hold back water in times of heavy rainfall, thus alleviating flooding. Welsh citizens will increasingly need such benefits – sometimes known as ‘public goods’. Such nature-based solutions must form a bedrock of change if Wales is to achieve net zero.”

The Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge Group’s full report can be found at netzero2035.wales.

Rachel Sharp, who serves as Director of Wildlife Trusts Wales and was an independent advisor on the group, ensured that the proposed pathways would also lead to nature-positive outcomes.

With these ambitious proposals on the table, Wales stands at the forefront of the UK’s efforts to combat climate change, potentially setting a precedent for other nations to follow in the urgent race to net zero.

WALES must significantly ramp up its climate ambitions to hit net zero by 2035 according to a new report spearheaded by former environment minister Jane Davidson and supported by Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh.

The Wales Net Zero 2025 Challenge Group warns that both the Welsh Government, the UK Government, as well as society at large, must significantly step up to meet this critical target.

Their new report, Pathways To A Prosperous And Resilient Wales In A Changing Future was commissioned by the leaders of the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru through the 2021 Cooperation Agreement. It presents a comprehensive strategy to guide Wales towards sustainability by 2035, focusing on key areas: emissions reductions, education and employment, food and energy security and the development of housing, transport and infrastructure.

Professor Whitmarsh, Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) at the University of Bath is the Co-Chair of Connections in the group.

Professor Whitmarsh and her colleagues stress the need to transform mobility and connectivity for a healthier, fairer Wales. Their recommendations include enhancing digital connectivity, local services, and sustainable transport options to align with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

Prof Lorraine Whitmarsh who examined connectivity across Wales, said: “We believe that society should be supported to travel less, travel differently and travel better. Our advice supports a transformative mobility agenda to avoid, shift and improve the movement of people and goods, to reduce car dependency whilst also supporting a healthier, fairer future.”

Dr Eurgain Powell from Public Health Wales who also examined connectivity, said: “By enabling and investing in digital connectivity, local services, fairer fares for public transport, walking and cycling, car sharing e-hubs, rail freight and sustainable aviation fuel, we believe our advice offers a better direction for the people of Wales and closer alignment with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.”

The expert group anticipates substantial benefits from a net zero transition, including better health outcomes, reduced NHS pressures, increased energy security, and new jobs in low-carbon sectors. They stress that proactive planning is essential to ensure a just transition to net zero, delivering both environmental and socio-economic benefits.

Jane Davidson, Net Zero Challenge Group Chair, added: “The Senedd was the first national parliament in the world to declare a climate emergency in 2019, pledging to act to reduce the negative impacts of climate change on the Welsh population.

By proposing 10 year pathways to deliver outcomes to keep the population of Wales safer, our work has focused particularly on delivering a nature positive and just transition as required by the unique Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act.

Our ambition has been to describe pathways that will deliver benefits to the Welsh people as well as quantifiable emission reductions. While this work is specific to Wales, quantifiable emission reductions are essential for us all if we are to minimise harm to current and future generations. We hope that our work, published before New York Climate Week and this year’s COP29 in Azerbaijan, will help Wales and other countries of all sizes to consider focusing on real actions as part of real pathways to deliver.”

Stan Townsend, Net Zero Challenge Group Secretary, added: “This work offers genuine pragmatism in dealing with challenge of climate change, for Wales and the world. Unlike the so called ‘pragmatism’ that ignores problems, this work acknowledges and confronts them head-on.

Through exploring how to reach net zero earlier than 2050, we’ve highlighted how Wales could accelerate action to address the causes of climate change, while demonstrating that this acceleration shouldn’t wait any longer if we are to seize the benefits, minimise the costs and ensure a just transition.

Importantly, for us, we’ve worked towards a net-zero transition that also addresses related challenges such as public health, inequality, economic stability and the nature crisis. This is what the people of Wales deserve.

As the great-grandson of a coal miner from the South Wales valleys, I don’t want to see a history of unjust transitions repeat itself. A renewed approach to climate change and sustainable development is needed to avoid this and that is what our work offers.”

THE CROWN ESTATE has this week (Sept 11) published its Marine Delivery Routemap, outlining a comprehensive vision for the UK’s seabed, including key areas such as South Wales. The plan aims to support the growth of vital sectors like offshore wind while enhancing biodiversity and addressing the increasing demands placed on the seabed.

As the UK races towards a green energy future, this long-term strategy seeks to unlock the potential of marine resources to accelerate clean energy projects and drive economic growth in coastal regions. The focus is on balancing energy needs with environmental preservation, particularly in biodiversity restoration, a pressing issue as UK marine habitats face increasing strain.

Supporting growth in Wales

With a clear focus on supporting economic development, the Routemap aims to provide much-needed certainty to developers and investors, offering a stable framework for future seabed developments. South Wales is highlighted as a key region for offshore wind projects, especially within the Celtic Sea. The strategy seeks to foster partnerships between industries and local communities to ensure benefits flow onshore through job creation, infrastructure improvements, and investment in ports and supply chains.

In addition, The Crown Estate will work with various stakeholders, including local authorities and environmental agencies, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the marine environment. The Routemap aims to identify new areas for nature restoration and boost the region’s role in helping the UK meet its net zero goals.

A leading role in offshore wind

The UK is already a world leader in offshore wind, and The Crown Estate is building on this foundation. Its partnership with Great British Energy, announced recently, aims to bring 20-30 gigawatts (GW) of additional offshore wind power to market by 2030—enough to power almost 20 million homes. Much of this new capacity is expected to come from the Celtic Sea, benefiting South Wales and South West England.

With a mix of fixed and floating wind farm foundations under consideration, the new offshore wind projects promise to cement the region’s status as a renewable energy powerhouse, creating new skilled jobs and attracting significant investment. The report also proposes measures to de-risk these projects for developers, ensuring faster deployment of wind farms.

Balancing energy and environment

The demand for marine space is growing, particularly as the UK expands its offshore renewable energy capacity. However, this must be balanced with the protection of marine ecosystems. The Crown Estate’s Marine Delivery Routemap places a strong emphasis on biodiversity and nature recovery. This includes identifying new areas for conservation and developing strategies to restore marine habitats that have suffered due to human activity.

Ed Miliband, the UK’s Energy Secretary, praised the Routemap, saying: “The sustainability of our seabed is critical to securing the UK’s energy independence alongside protecting the environment. The ambitious plans set out by The Crown Estate will help deliver homegrown energy and create jobs while ensuring the protection of our marine environment.”

Next steps for the Marine Delivery Routemap

The Crown Estate will continue to work with partners and stakeholders to refine the Marine Delivery Routemap. A series of sector-specific updates, starting with offshore wind, are expected to follow. These will outline further developments in nature recovery, carbon capture, and other marine sectors.

South Wales and the UK’s broader marine sectors now look set to play a key role in not only delivering the energy transition but also restoring and protecting the marine environment for future generations