SC(3) CR-I&PB6
Sustainability Committee
Inquiry into Carbon Reduction in Wales: Carbon Reduction by Industry and Public Bodies
Response from City and County of Swansea
General questions
1. Is the proposed 3 per cent annual reduction target by 2011 'in areas of devolved competence'1 sufficient to enable Wales to make its full contribution to meeting UK-wide targets? If not, what targets should be put in place?
Response:
This will depend on which UK targets are being referred to here. The 3% reduction will not help Wales meet the 20% reduction by 2010 target adopted by Government in 1997. However it will meet the real progress target (26%-32%) for 2020 outlined in the Climate Change Bill, if this target is continued from now to 2020. However these targets, as shown, will be meaningless unless those responsible for CO2 emissions are given the tools, incentives and disincentives to make changes in technology and lifestyle choices. It is not the level of targets which is the key issue, but whether the UK Government or the devolved administrations can meet such targets.
2. Should the emission reduction target be based on Welsh consumption, or production, or both (ie 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))?
Response:
Targets for both production and consumption are important to maximise Wales’ impact on CO2 emissions, thus avoiding externalising or internalising CO2 production/consumption between different countries.
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?
Response:
There are a number of challenges that the public sector face when reducing carbon emissions. Capital outlay is considered by most to be the biggest barrier. Lower carbon technology and specification of more efficient goods and services invariably invite a higher initial cost. There can be reductions in longer term costs from lower use of fuel or the use of renewable forms of energy, but there are also some additional costs as well, such as maintenance of applications such as solar hot water panels for example. However this focus on capital costs detracts focus from other challenges that may also act as barriers. These include:
Lack of local expertise in low carbon design and maintenance
Guaranteed supply of a range of quality low/no carbon alternative technologies and fuels
Lack of internal expertise, experience and knowledge
Additional resources needed to find quality alternative technologies and fuels
Lack of local success stories
Combined, these serve to act as a barrier to changing the hearts and minds of the people who make the decisions regarding energy use, at all levels within the public sector.
4. Do the current Welsh Assembly Government economic development policies give sufficient emphasis to carbon reduction?
There has been a significant shift in WAG’s economic development policies, giving greater emphasis to carbon reduction. However there still appears to be contradictions between not only WAG’s economic policies but other policy areas such as housing and transport, either explicitly in the policies themselves or in how they are then interpreted for implementation. The Welsh Assembly Government should consider what messages it is giving out when it supports increased road building or air transport expansion.
5. To what extent has the Welsh Assembly Government been successful in utilising the powers available to it in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industry and public bodies?
Response:
With only a 4% reduction in CO2 emissions from the 1990 baseline, Wales has not performed particularly well in reducing CO2 emissions. However it should be recognised that the Assembly’s has limitations to its powers to reduce CO2. Increases in CO2 emissions have resulted from increases in energy production from new Combined Cycle Gas Turbines run power stations in Wales, industrial processes and transport.
The new Assembly policy for BREEAM Excellence and carbon zero on new development by 2011 for all new developments that have WAG involvement shows leadership that has been lacking previously.
A bigger problem exists with the significant carbon produced by current building stock, much of which has low SAP measurement. Welsh Assembly Policy Agreements with the public sector were successful in reducing the carbon produced in corporate building stock. But these reductions were relatively simple involving quick wins. Further sizeable reductions will require significant investment and a more radical innovative approach.
6. Could alternative targeting of Welsh Assembly Government financial resources lead to greater emissions reduction from industry and public bodies than is currently being achieved? If so, where could additional resources lead to greatest impact? (Please provide detail to support your evidence).
Response:
Resources could be targeted to achieve greater reductions in carbon emissions but these would need to be weighed against the impact this would have on the delivery of public services. Money from the Assembly could be linked to carbon performance targets with regard to specific projects or services as opposed to general performance targets, building on the BREEAM 'Excellence’ Policy.
Financial incentives to invest in lower carbon solutions are most effective when they seek to minimise any additional administrative burden on the public sector.
There are a number of low cost incentives that the Assembly could employ such as publishing welsh performance tables for such things such as public buildings energy certificates etc.
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?
Response:
The Assembly could move faster on introducing new policies that support climate reduction especially in planning. For example the "Planning for Climate Change” National Planning Policy is still in draft form despite closing for consultation in March 2007.
8. In the context of the Government of Wales Act 2006, which further means of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from industry and public bodies could only
be achieved with the introduction of further legislative competence for the National Assembly for Wales.
Response:
As stated in previous answers there are a number of policy areas where the Assembly has limited powers. Powers such as regional carbon taxes, where the revenue is used to support increased investment into energy efficiency or renewable technology and greater control on energy policies to encourage greater uptake of large renewable schemes may result in greater reduction in carbon emissions. Aspirations to move to an earlier deadline for carbon zero development will only be fully realised if the Assembly are able to take control of Building Regulations.
9. If specific carbon dioxide emissions targets are to be set for Wales, should those targets be subdivided into shares by sector? If so, what share of the total should reductions by industry and public bodies comprise?
Response:
Ideally it would be better to target reductions to different sectors based upon scope for reduction and capacity for achieving reductions.
10. How will the Carbon Reduction Commitment affect your business? Should the proposed Commitment be amended in any way?
Response:
The CRC has the potential to focus minds on considering this issue, however, asides from placing an additional budgetary and administration responsibility on Swansea Council; there is not enough information yet available to know how it will specifically impact on our services.
1 Welsh Labour Party and Plaid Cymru, One Wales: A progressive agenda for the government of Wales, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/27_06_07_onewales.pdf
