Wales is not yet doing enough to stop climate change - here’s how to change that

The UK has pledged to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, but this pledge is not uniform across the nation. While Scotland is projected to reduce emissions by 100% before 2050, and England is on target, Wales is expected to reach only a 95% reduction by 2050. This is due to the Welsh economy’s reliance on industries like Tata's steelworks and RWE's gas power station, the two highest emitters in the UK. 

Luckily, there are plans that will help: the Welsh government’s second emissions reduction plan for 2021-2025 will help achieve a 44% reduction in carbon emissions by 2025 through collective action across all sectors. This will involve decarbonising electricity, industry and business using carbon capture, changing the demand for transportation and energy consumption using low or zero-emission technologies, and a total of 133 proposals and policies to transition to a cleaner Wales. 

In the meantime, individual businesses can implement their own methods of reducing net emissions. For farmers, there are a number of practices that could help offset the emissions of agriculture and livestock. These include planting long-term perennial crops which need less frequent ploughing, and improves soil so it stores more carbon. Farms can also purchase carbon offset technology, which can convert carbon emissions into biogas which can then be used for fuel. The combination of government policy and individual or business actions to reduce emissions is vital in achieving our mission of stopping climate change before it’s too late.