Written Assembly Questions tabled on 16 June 2016 for answer on 23 June 2016
R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
(Self-identifying question no. shown in brackets)
Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What commitments has the Welsh Government made to streamline the way air pollution is managed to meet legislative requirements, and enhance the health of people and the environment in Wales? (WAQ70426)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): In recognition of the widespread impact of air pollution on human health, the Welsh Government has defined one of Wales' national indicators to be the average level of nitrogen dioxide outside dwellings.
I will be publishing details of the proposals to refresh local air quality and noise management in Wales later this year.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): What reporting mechanisms or cross portfolio initiatives are in place to ensure all Welsh Government departments are achieving their carbon emission reduction targets? (WAQ70427)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
Lesley Griffiths: Under the Well-being of Future Generations Act, public bodies (including Welsh Government) need to show how they are delivering on the goals, including on climate action. Complementing this, the Environment (Wales) Act sets a statutory climate change target of reducing emissions by at least 80% by 2050 through a carbon budget approach. The Act provides a robust governance structure, to help demonstrate progress on meeting the targets. Reports must be published for each budgetary period setting out the proposals and policies for meeting the carbon budgets, covering each of the Welsh Government Minister's portfolios. To report on progress, the Welsh Ministers must also publish final statements at the end of each budgetary period, setting out whether the budget has been met.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide the most up-to-date figures on "end-user" emissions for each of Wales's local authorities to 2010? (WAQ70428)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
Lesley Griffiths: Data on the end-user carbon dioxide emissions for all Local Authorities in Wales for the period 2005 to 2013 is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-local-authority-and-regional-carbon-dioxide-emissions-national-statistics-2005-2013
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister clarify the current percentage reduction to date on greenhouse gas emissions in Wales and provide an update on the Welsh Government's progress to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2020? (WAQ70429)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
Lesley Griffiths: The latest figures released this month for 2014 data show in terms of progress against our 40 % target, we have reduced emissions by 18 % compared to base year emissions. Base year emissions were 56.49 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2 e) and emissions in 2014 were 46.40 Mt CO2 e.
There was an 8 % decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in 2014 compared with 2013. This is predominantly driven by a reduction in the use of coal in the power generation sector, a reduction in emissions from refineries and the residential sector. Wales has a proportionately high share of the UK’s electricity generation and heavy industry and is a net exporter of energy. This means electricity and other energy products such as refined oils, produced in Wales are exported and subsequently consumed by homes and businesses across the UK. Taking these energy exports into account, emissions based on Wales’ end-use consumption of energy are lower and have reduced further since 1990 (30 per cent reduction).
Despite the improved performance in 2014, we recognise further action is needed to meet the 40 % target by 2020. This is why we have strengthened action and commitments on climate change through the Environment (Wales) Act and the Well-being of Future Generations Act. This legislation sets out a clear statutory pathway for decarbonisation in Wales, for at least an 80 %reduction in emissions by 2050.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide the most up-to-date figures on Wales's performance to reduce emissions by 3 percent annually for the last three years? (WAQ70430)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
Lesley Griffiths: The latest published data provides an assessment of performance up to 2013 and is reported in the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Annual Report 2015.
The 3 % target baseline was 34.53 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2e). In 2013, emissions were 29.46 Mt CO2e, which equates to a decrease from the baseline of 14.7 per cent.
Wales’ emission reduction performance has exceeded the target of reducing emissions by 3 % of the baseline, every year from 2011 to 2013. The results are outlined below:
In 2011 the target was to reduce by 3 per cent of the baseline and emissions were 14.2 per cent below the baseline,
in 2012 the target was to be 6 per cent below the baseline and emissions were 12.5 per cent below the baseline, and
in 2013 the target was to be 9 per cent below the baseline and emissions were 14.7 per cent below the baseline.
Despite this significant progress in our devolved competence target, the Welsh Government have strengthened action and commitments on climate change through the Environment (Wales) Act and the Well-being of Future Generations Act.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's plan to reduce Wales's output of air pollutants? (WAQ70431)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
Lesley Griffiths: Wales' output of air pollutants will be reduced by our initiatives on energy efficiency, active travel and the promotion of cleaner technologies.
Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): How many air pollution monitoring sites are currently in action across Wales? (WAQ70432)
Answer received on 30 June 2016
Lesley Griffiths: Current information available to the Welsh Government indicates there are 968 sites in Wales where air quality is currently monitored. The majority of sites are owned or operated by Local Authorities.