Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
The recent storms, the words ringing in our ears from COP30 and the opportunities for growth from change tell us the need to decarbonise our economy has never been more urgent. We must stick to our course. We know that climate change is already impacting different sectors, organisations, communities and individuals in different ways. We also know that tackling these issues can put money in people’s pockets, help people to live healthier lives in cleaner air and protect our precious natural environment. The excellent conversations held during the recent Wales Climate Week highlighted the need to act and to involve those people and communities most likely to be affected.
In Net Zero Wales – Carbon Budget 2 (2021-2025) we made a commitment to deliver a ‘just transition’ away from the fossil fuel-driven economy of the past to a new low-carbon future, learning lessons from previous transitions.
In Wales, a just transition means achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 in a way that distributes the benefits and costs fairly across Welsh society. The aim is to deliver a fairer, greener and more prosperous future in partnership with businesses, workers and communities across Wales.
The Welsh Government’s approach to planning for a just transition is underpinned by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. This means we want to ensure that action on climate is taken in a way that avoids creating or exacerbating inequalities. We want to support a systems-based approach to understanding, and addressing, risks and opportunities.
On 2 December, the Senedd took important steps in agreeing to set Carbon Budget 4 (2031-2035) at an average reduction of 73% against the baseline and to deliver the emissions reductions required in Carbon Budget 3 (2026-2030) through domestic action, rather than purchasing international credits. In doing so, we are securing the maximum possible benefits for the people of Wales, and capitalising on the opportunity to make our society fairer at the same time.
Today, we are proud to publish the Just Transition Framework, setting out our approach to achieving a just transition in Wales to net zero by 2050. The Framework is aimed at those taking climate action, which includes all levels of government, businesses, third sector, and community-level.
Our next step is to collaborate with public sector bodies, private sector businesses and community groups to help embed the Framework into their ways of working. We will listen and be receptive on this journey, to help make sure the right level of targeted guidance and support is provided to those who need it, and to adapt and improve the Framework, where necessary.
We know in broad terms what we must do to get to net zero here in Wales. The detail will be in the next net zero plan, due to be published at the end of next year. This Framework is not focussed on the ‘what’, but on the ‘how’. It will be fundamental in making sure that the policy and decisions made to reduce our emissions deliver not just a greener future, but a fairer future, for everyone in Wales.