As the first week of the Copenhagen Climate Change talks come to end, Welsh Environment Minster Jane Davidson says that Wales is already leading the way on tackling climate change.
Ms Davidson who has been representing the nation at the global climate change summit this week said “Wales is already doing its part with a commitment to cut annual emissions by 3% a year from 2011, enabling an 80% reduction before 2050. By 2020, we expect emissions in Wales to have reduced by at least 40% compared to 1990”
“The Climate Change Commission for Wales is central to our work to tackling the causes and consequences of climate change in Wales.”
The Welsh Assembly Government also recently announced that it has signed up to the 10:10 campaign to reduce 10% greenhouse emissions from its buildings, property and activities.
And our universities have also been involved. Work carried out by Bangor University's School of Environment, Natural Resources & Geography, has assisted the Peruvian Government to develop policies which will reduce carbon emissions by safeguarding their forests, while also generating local income in poor parts of the country.
World leaders will be discussing mechanisms for rich countries to pay for protection of tropical forests - as this is seen as an efficient way of slowing climate change. Experts in forestry and natural resource management at Bangor have contributed to one of a few projects funded by the UK Research Councils and the government's Department for International Development to ensure that poorer countries can benefit from payments for avoided deforestation.
Dr Julia Jones, one of the Bangor team explains: "Peru, and other forested nations, provide a global service to the world through the carbon locked up in their forests. If avoided deforestation payments are approved at Copenhagen it will be an important step towards conserving tropical forests, slowing climate change and increasing development in poorer forested nations"
Bangor University was called to join the research team because of its world-leading expertise in tropical forestry and rural livelihoods.
Find out more about Wales’ commitment to climate change at
wales.gov.uk
Related link: Final Copenhagen text must include regional governments says Welsh Environment Minster