Climate change is real, and it is happening all across the world and impacting on local communities in Pembrokeshire. Sir David Attenborough in 2019 called climate change ‘our greatest threat in thousands of years’, adding, ‘while Earth has survived radical climactic changes and regenerated following mass extinctions, it’s not the destruction of Earth that we are facing, it’s the destruction of our familiar, natural world and our uniquely rich human culture.’ It is up to us all to change this.

While Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) has previously invested in ‘green’ initiatives, this plan aims to bring together all council directorates and services in order to make it a local authority that takes climate change seriously and acts upon it. In May 2019 members of this Council voted to declare a climate emergency, and in July 2019 members voted to create an action plan to steer PCC towards becoming a net zero-carbon local authority by 2030.

As Chair of the Net Zero Carbon Task and Finish Group, I recognise the scale of the challenge faced by all of us and our services but take comfort from the fact that members and officers alike are enthusiastic and willing to change.

As a starting point, this Action Plan outlines a pragmatic route towards the Council becoming a net zero-carbon local authority by 2030. It is intended to be a living document and will evolve over time. This is a long-term plan for the next ten years and, as such, more proposals will be added as it develops. Further technological breakthroughs will inevitably come forward in due course, but the most important thing is that the Council has started on this crucial path.

We want everyone in our communities to be involved in this journey. We look forward to reducing emissions from our own activities and, more widely, to working with partners in order to bring about equal change.

Cllr Joshua Beynon, Chair of the Net Zero Carbon 2030 Group

Background

In October 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (opens in a new tab) (IPCC) published a Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C. The IPCC found that a 1.5°C world would have significantly lower climate-related risks for natural and human systems than a 2°C world, and that global carbon emissions would need to reach net zero around 2050 in order to have no, or limited, overshoot beyond the effects of 1.5°C of climate change. Behind this report is a huge body of scientific research and analysis with near-unanimous agreement among the world’s scientific community.

Consistent IPCC reports and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change summits have come and gone. They attract publicity and media attention at the time, but action by world leaders to work towards the plans agreed at these meetings has been slow.

The IPCC Special Report of October 2018 was the strongest yet – effectively saying that the world had just 12 years to get a grip on this issue or our ecosystem would suffer irreparable damage.

This has led to a realisation that time is fast running out, which resulted in a climate emergency being declare during 2019 by many organisations including Pembrokeshire County Council and over 280 other UK local authorities. The Welsh Government and UK Government have also declared a climate emergency.

From 1 to 12 November 2021, the UK will host the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.

Notice of Motion and Policy Landscape

Notice of Motion

The meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council on 9 May 2019 (Full Council 9 May 2019) received the following Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr Joshua Beynon:

Pembrokeshire County Council resolves to:

Declare a Climate Emergency;
Commit to making Pembrokeshire County Council a net zero carbon local authority by 2030;
Develop a clear plan for a route towards being net zero carbon within 12 months which is then reported back to council;
Call on Welsh and UK Governments to provide the necessary support and resources to enable effective carbon reductions;
Work with the Public Services Board and Swansea Bay City Deal partners to develop exciting opportunities to deliver carbon saving;
Collaborate with experts from the private sector and 3rd sectors to develop innovative solutions to becoming net zero carbon.

The full Council agreed points 1 and 4 of the Motion, and requested that the Motion be referred to the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider points 2, 3, 5 and 6.

The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Committee met on 6 June 2019 (Corporate O&S 6 June 2019), and resolved:

(a) That the Committee noted the progress and actions already taken in delivering carbon reduction and sustainability, which contribute toward Pembrokeshire County Council to be net zero carbon local authority by 2030. Also that the Committee supported the continuation and development of such approaches, and new techniques, to meet the commitment, subject to the development of an action plan.

(b) That the Committee noted the progress on developing approaches for a route towards being net zero carbon, and will receive a further report on a more detailed Action Plan within 12 months.

(c) That the Committee noted the work being done with the Public Services Board and Swansea Bay City Deal partners, and the collaboration with experts from the private sector and third sectors. Also to receive a further progress update on these approaches within 12 months.

(d) That the Committee recommends to Council that a whole Council working group be set up, to include evidence from experts from the private, third sector and relevant individuals, to develop an action plan, timescales and recommendations to support the Authority in aiming to become a net carbon zero organisation by 2030.

The resolutions of the Corporate O&S Committee went back to full Council for approval – and on 18 July 2019 (Full Council 18 July 2019), it was unanimously resolved:

(a) That a seven-Member politically-balanced Working Group of the Council be set up to consider evidence from experts from the private, third sectors and relevant individuals, to develop an action plan, timescales and recommendations to support the Authority in aiming to become a net carbon zero organisation by 2030.

(b)(i) That the progress and actions already taken in delivering carbon reduction and sustainability which contribute towards Pembrokeshire County Council becoming a net zero carbon local authority by 2030 be noted; and to support the continuation and development of such approaches and new techniques, to meet the commitment, subject to the development of an Action plan.

(b)(ii) That the progress made on developing approaches for a route towards being net zero carbon be noted; and a further report on a more detailed Action Plan be received within 12 months.

(b)(iii) That the work being done with the Public Services Board and Swansea Bay City Deal partners, and the collaboration with experts from the private sector and third sectors be noted; and a further progress update on these approaches be received within 12 months.

(b)(iv) That the Council formally approaches the Welsh Government to express its interest in becoming an ‘early adopter’. This will allow the County Council to gain an early insight into, and potentially shape, Welsh Government’s development of a National Greenhouse Gas Reporting and Footprinting Methodology for public bodies in Wales to meet the net zero carbon local authority by 2030 target; and that the process be subject to a Cost Benefit Analysis being undertaken.

(b)(v) That Councillors Neil Prior and Jon Harvey be appointed as the non-affiliated Members on the Working Group.

The ‘Net Zero 2030 Working Group’, as it has now become known, first met on 20 September 2019 and has subsequently met quarterly (with an interruption due to Covid-19). Subgroups were established for the following areas: Procurement, Energy/Buildings/Housing, Land Use/Assets/Development, Fleet/Transport/ Mobility/Active Travel and Behaviours.

The subgroups have met quarterly between the full group meetings. This proposed Action Plan sets out the recommendations to support the Authority in aiming to become a net zero-carbon organisation by 2030.

Policy Landscape

The policy landscape around decarbonisation is constantly evolving, but relevant recent policy is captured here:

The Welsh Government (WG) target for a carbon-neutral public sector by 2030.

WG Environment Act Part II specifies an 80% reduction in all-Wales net emissions by 2050 against a 1990 baseline [PCC did not exist in 1990 and started recording emissions data in 2003/04, so 2003/04 is PCC’s only viable baseline year].

WG target for 70% of electricity used in Wales to be from renewable sources by 2030 [the equivalent of 50% of Wales’ electricity consumption was met from renewable sources in 2018 compared with 48% in 2017 and 43% in 2016].

WG target for 1 gigawatt (GW) of renewable-electricity capacity in Wales to be locally owned by 2030 and for all new projects to have an element of local ownership by 2020. [Wales is already 77% towards having 1 GW of renewable-energy capacity that is locally owned, with the total installed capacity of locally owned electricity projects up to the end of 2018 at almost 778 megawatts (MW)].

In March 2019, WG launched ‘Prosperity for All: A Low Carbon Wales’ – a cross-government plan to cut emissions and contribute to the global fight against climate change.

In May 2019, the UK Committee on Climate Change (UKCCC) recommended that a 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions should be legislated for ‘as soon as possible’, and urged government to set a net-zero CO₂ emissions target by 2050.

In June 2019, WG declared that Wales would accept the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) recommendation for a 95% reduction in (Wales-specific) greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and go further with an ambition to reach net zero.

In May 2019, following the lead set by both Welsh and Scottish governments, the House of Commons declared a climate emergency.

ID: 11701, revised 17/10/2024