Sustainability Committee

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

Response from the National Public Health Service for Wales

The National Public Health Service for Wales welcomes the opportunity to comment on this important issue. Climate change is likely to have considerable impacts on public health and populations already suffering health inequalities are likely to be the most vulnerable. Most of the following responses are from a public health point of view but many will also be applicable to commercial and industrial sectors.

General questions

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?

This target needs to be increased as carbon emissions could need to be cut by 80-90% by 2030 in order to avoid catastrophic climate change.¹ It has been estimated that the NHS in England and Wales will need to reduce energy consumption by between 6% and 8% per year. The Sustainable Development Commission wants the public sector to make a zero contribution to climate change.

2. Should the emission reduction target be based on Welsh consumption or production or both? 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 their source (consumption)?

Both should be taken into consideration as carbon reduction is a global problem Including production only could give an over optimistic picture of carbon reduction in Wales and possibly encourage purchase of imported rather than home produced goods in order to meet targets. In addition to distorting carbon reduction figures it could also be detrimental to home production.

Questions specific to emissions of carbon dioxide from industry and public bodies

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

Wales has a relatively small population and few areas of high population density, with rural mid Wales dividing urban populations in the north and south. The geography of much of Wales results in circuitous routes between locations which, when consulting a map, can appear much closer. Lack of reliable public transport makes car journeys a necessity for many. Limited rail infrastructure means that most industrial/commercial transportation is by road.

These challenges can be overcome to some extent by:

Negotiating for improvement in the rail network and services
Developing the potential of coastal and inland waterways
Developing green/renewable energy sources, including the Severn barrage.
Providing incentives to walk, cycle and/or use public transport
Restricting car use where there is a viable alternative
Prroviding incentives for car sharing where this mode is unavoidable
Locating meetings only at venues accessible by public transport
Substituting tele or video conferencing for face-to-face meetings
Sourcing goods and services locally

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

There is a tension between different policies that needs to be resolved, for example, development and extension of open-cast mining versus carbon emissions reduction.

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

There may have been individual small-scale success stories but there does not seem to be any evidence in terms of reduced emissions overall. Greater emphasis is needed on reducing carbon emissions within other schemes including healthy schools, workplace health, local authority best value, etc.

6. Could alternative targeting of Welsh Assembly Government financial resources lead to greater emissions reductions from industry and public bodies than is currently being achieved? If so, where could additional resources lead to greatest impact?

Campaigns based on social marketing principles to raise awareness and change behaviour:

For the individual, by linking sustainable development to health and wellbeing issues and to reducing health inequalities. For example, less car use and increased walking and cycling equals not only lower carbon emissions but also healthy weight maintenance, improved mental health and wellbeing and reduced risk of major diseases. The personal dimension of an all-round winning formula should be emphasised.
From a commercial point of view, linking improved insulation, avoiding over-heated buildings and switching off lighting and equipment when not in use with staff wellbeing and cost savings.

Funds could be dedicated to promoting sustainability as an element of all induction courses and appointing a sustainability champion in large organisations. This would be a means of encouraging use of impact assessments on the closely linked topics of equality, health and sustainability.

Public, commercial and industrial sectors need active encouragement to install micro-generation including solar panels and solar photovoltaic cells. Financial incentives could be introduced for use of renewable energy and for overall reductions in energy consumption.

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?

The Department of Health and the Scottish Government have set up funds to help the NHS make energy savings.¹ This may have contributed to carbon emission reductions in Scotland.

The NHS in Scotland has made significant progress on energy reduction, including microgeneration.²

Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge has developed a green travel plan which has reduced staff car use by 22% and 25% of staff now cycle to work.

References

1. Sustaining a Health Future. Faculty of Public Health. January 2008. www.fph.org.uk

2. Scottish Executive 2007. Energy efficiency and microgeneration: Achieving a low carbon future. Strategy for Scotland. www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/09144516/9