Published: 21 February 2008
Is WAG being ambitious enough? asks WWF
WWF has welcomed the Welsh Assembly Government’s (WAG) Renewable Energy Route Map’s ambition to make Wales’ electricity supply zero carbon within the next 20 years.
WWF, IPPR and RSPB’s 80% Challenge: Delivering a low carbon Britain report launched in November 2007, clearly states that to meet an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 we must have a zero carbon UK wide electricity supply by 2030.
However, it must be acknowledged that there is a need for WAG to demonstrate a strong leadership in the implementation of this route map. WWF Cymru is concerned that the details of the route map are not sufficient to achieve these ambitions.
Among the proposals addressed by the Route Map are:
· Encouraging innovation to capture the tremendous power of the seas of Wales, from both waves an tides, with minimum environmental disturbance
· Proceeding in a measured way to utilise Wales energetic wind resource
· Changes to planning guidance to make it easier for people to install wind turbines, solar panels and other micro-generation technology to power and heat their homes
· Exploring to the full new opportunities in Wales for in river hydroelectric power generation
· Ensuring we make the most of our sustainable biomass resources, whether from our forests, crops or residual waste materials
· Exploring the scope for developing innovative energy supply companies in Wales that could help us all invest in energy saving and micro-generation
· Ensuring all new buildings in Wales are built to the highest possible low carbon standards, with the public sector showing the way in what can be achieved
· Developing a strong ‘green jobs’ strategy to ensure we have the skills base to be a leader in renewable energy
Morgan Parry, Head of WWF Cymru, said:
“Energy efficiency and renewables are the only appropriate response to addressing climate change.
Big bold decisions must be made early on in order for a report such as this to really impact positively on the bigger picture.
All credible parties agree that the quickest, cheapest and most effective route to reducing CO2 emissions is to reduce energy demand in the first place.
We fear that the government will not make firm commitments on increasing investments on energy efficiency schemes.”
WWF Cymru’s priority for the route map combines the need for reducing demand for energy and de-carbonising electricity via a mix of renewables; principally on and off shore wind and tidal stream.
To achieve this, effort should be focused on making existing homes more energy efficient, making new buildings zero carbon, and ensuring we speed up deployment of proven renewable energy technologies such as wind in a similar way to some far more advanced countries in Europe.
It has been recognised by some of the UK’s top scientists that to avoid catastrophic impacts of climate change the world’s developed countries must reduce their emissions by 80% by 2050.
While a crucial step this will not be achieved by decarbonising the electricity supply alone but will need to take the same approach to all energy production including how we travel and heat our homes.
The consultation on the Route Map ends on 13 May 2008.
Further information
Renewable Energy Route Map for Wales
Welsh Assembly Government - Climate change
80% Challenge: Delivering a low carbon Britain
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