A Bridgend Council scrutiny committee will be updated on the council’s climate change work later today (pdf).
Bridgend Council declared a climate emergency in 2020.
Since then, BCBC has set itself the same goal as the Welsh Government to achieve a “net zero” public sector by 2030. That means the amount of greenhouse gases produced by the public sector should match the amount taken out of the atmosphere (i.e. through planting trees and cutting emissions).
Energy efficiency schemes save council money
The bulk of greenhouse gas emissions produced by BCBC comes from “indirect emissions” associated with goods and services, such as transport. Since 2019-20, around 25,000 tonnes of carbon emissions have been cut in this category – though there was an increase in emissions between 2022-23 and 2023-24.
The remainder is made up of emissions from energy. Gas and electricity use has been cut by 12% and 8% respectively since 2021-22, saving the council £660,000. Switching to LED lights and improved lighting controls in buildings were said to have saved BCBC 23,000KWh of electricity.
Elsewhere, a major report commissioned for the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Public Service Board underlined the importance of the public sector coming to terms with the fact that severe weather events are going to happen more often. However, proposals for a “Citizens’ Assembly” in Bridgend to focus on the climate emergency have seemingly been dropped over cost concerns. This has been replaced by summits made up of local authorities and other agencies.
Also, while BCBC, Cardiff Capital Region and the Welsh Government all aim to expand the electric vehicle charging network, only 108 chargers have been installed in the county. Only 12 of those have been commissioned by BCBC. There’s an aim to increase availability, but it’s not clear from the report how many chargers or where.
Welsh Government nature restoration targets “hard to meet”
While BCBC has declared a climate emergency, it’s yet to declare a nature emergency.
There is an acceptance that progress in halting biodiversity/nature loss has “been limited” and will be “a significant challenge”. This is despite the Welsh Government setting ambitious targets to protect and manage 30% of land and 30% of sea to prevent nature loss.
Only 1.15% of land in Bridgend County would qualify as suitable under Welsh Government targets, with a further 26% eligible subject to improved management plans and other conditions.
There’s better news at a local level. The work of voluntary groups to maintain Tremains Wood in Brackla and Bedford Park in Cefn Cribwr was picked out for praise. Both have provided ecological skills training.
Volunteers at Bedford Park are now working on creating a wetland area to protect recently discovered newts, as well as establishing a tree nursery with the Llais y Goedwig charity.
