Natural Resources Bulletin - Issue 2 - December 2015

December 2015 • Issue 2

 
 
 
 

1. COP21 - The 2015 United Nations Climate Conference

2. December Highlights – Our top news stories

3. Environment Bill - Updates on the latest legislation

4. Consultations - Information about our open consultations

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COP 21

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Minister visiting COP21

COP21  (21st Confederation of Parties), the 2015 United Nations climate conference, opened its doors this week in Paris. This year’s conference aims to achieve a legally binding agreement, for all nations, on climate with the aim of keeping global warming under 2̊ C. 

climate

The Natural Resources Minister will be attending the conference from 4 – 8 December to voice his support for the under 2̊ C  agreement and to highlight Wales’ success in taking action across a number of key areas to combat climate change. 

The Minister will be taking part in a number of events not only to showcase Wales’ achievements in specific areas like Waste and Energy Efficiency, but most significantly the internationally pioneering legislation we have brought forward through the Well-being of Future Generations Act and the Environment Bill.  As well as further increasing Wales’ international profile, the legislation provides an important example internationally of how the commitment to key UN international agreements can be enshrined at a regional government level.

 Read more

#COP21 #ClimateActionWales.

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Climate change top of the agenda for Welsh pupils ahead of COP21

In early November pupils from 49 of Wales’s platinum Eco-schools took part in The National Eco committee meeting. The pupils had the opportunity to debate the impacts and actions needed to tackle climate change ahead of the United Nations COP21 conference in Paris this week.

eco

The children and young people developed messages for the Natural Resources Minister to take with him to the negotiations in Paris and identify practical actions to help tackle climate change in their schools and their local communities . Schools in Uganda also carried out the same exercise. See film of all their message here

Read more

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December Highlights

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Minister outlines proposals to boost green growth

Proposals exploring how the Welsh Government can increase and accelerate green investment in Wales have been set out by the Natural Resources Minister. The consultation Green Growth Wales – Options for Investment Support focuses on how the Welsh Government can encourage growth in resource efficiency projects, in renewable energy, and in energy from waste. Also published were figures on low carbon energy generation in Wales, which show that generation potential has increased by 70% since 2012. Read more.

hydro
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Changes to current pesticide rules

New Regulations for the use of pesticides were introduced on 26 November 2015. The new regulations will mean everyone who uses plant protection products (PPPs) authorised for professional use must have a specified certificate.  It will also be an offence for anyone to purchase PPPs authorised for professional use unless they have ensured that the intended end user has a specified certificate. Read more

pest
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Minister open's town’s £15m coastal defence works

Natural Resources Minister Carl Sargeant visited Rhyl, in Denbighshire, to officially open the West Rhyl Coastal Defence Scheme, which reduces coastal flood risk to over 2,700 properties. Read more

 

Rhyl
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How clean are our streets?

A Welsh Government funded survey of Welsh streets has found that 96% achieved an acceptable level of cleanliness. Keep Wales Tidy carried out the Local Environmental Audit and Management System (LEAMS) survey across all 22 local authorities in Wales, with over 3,500 streets visited. The survey found that smoking related litter was our biggest problem with chewing gum litter a close second. Read on for the full report.

kwt
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Sprinkler systems to be fitted in all new and converted housing from 2016

Natural Resource Minister Carl Sargeant has announced that fire sprinkler systems will be installed in all new houses built in Wales from 1st January 2016. The announcement was made at a visit to one of the 12 Welsh Government pilot projects where fire sprinklers are already being included in new build homes. Read more

sprin
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Clothing sector ‘looking good’ as it cuts carbon and water impacts on way to 2020 targets

In just two years retailers, brands and organisations from across the clothing supply chain have reduced water impacts by a significant 12.5% per tonne of clothing, against a 15% reduction target by 2020. They are also making encouraging progress to cut carbon impacts, having achieved a 3.5% reduction per tonne of clothing against a 15% reduction target. Welsh Government is one of 82 signatories and supporters of the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan’s (SCAP) sector commitment - SCAP 2020, which is led by WRAP. Natural Resources Minister, Carl Sargeant, said: “ There is much work to be done, but I’m encouraged to see WRAP working with the clothing industry to help them hit their targets.” Read more  

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Environment Bill

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Environment Bill Summary of Part 1 and 2

Subject to the National Assembly’s approval, it is expected that the Bill will receive Royal Assent by spring 2016.  In the run up to this, over the next few months we will feature a summary on the different parts of the Bill. This month we’re focusing on Part 1 (Sustainable Management of Natural Resources) and 2 (Climate Change) of the Bill.

Environment Bill
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Environment Bill completes Stage 2 scrutiny in National Assembly

The Stage 2 proceedings took place on 26 November at the Assembly’s Environment and Sustainability (E&S) Committee to discuss and vote on the amendments. Stage 2 is therefore now complete. A transcript of the session can be found via this link.

Stage 3 of the scrutiny process began on 27 November, preparations are now well underway and a further update will be provided in the New Year.

You can follow the progress of the Bill to see what has happened so far, through the National Assembly for Wales. On 17 November the Minister tabled 37 Government amendments to the Bill which can be found via this link. This follows the 13 amendments that he tabled on 21 October.

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Read on for further information about the Environment Bill.

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Consultations

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Public Sector Waste

We are consulting on the Public Sector Waste and Resource Efficiency Plan. The draft plan covers waste generated by the activities of publicly funded bodies. Have your say by 4 December 2015.

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Packaging Producer Responsibility Scheme

DEFRA has launched a joint UK consultation on changes to the plastic and glass packaging recycling targets. The Consultation will be on changes to the plastic packaging recycling business targets for 2016-17 and new targets for plastic and glass for 2018-20. We are seeking views from: Packaging producers, Packaging compliance schemes, Reprocessors and exporters of waste packaging, Waste management companies and local authorities. Have your say by 23 December 2015.

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Scallop Fishery in Cardigan Bay

Due to a technical issue we have restarted the consultation on the proposed new management measurements for Scallop fishing in Cardigan Bay. If you have already responded to the previous consultation please resubmit your response. Current management measures came into force in 2010 and were based on limited evidence. Following a programme of research by Bangor University we are proposing new changes. Have your say by 17 February 2016.

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Draft water resources planning guideline

The Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, Defra, Environment Agency and Ofwat, are jointly consulting on the technical guidelines for the 2019 Water Resource Management Plans (WRMPs) for England and Wales. Have your say by 9 January 2016.

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Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

We want your views on the proposals for the national indicators to measure whether Wales is achieving the seven well-being goals in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. Have your say by 11 January 2016.

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Green Growth Wales – Options for investment support

We want your views on options to accelerate investment in green growth projects. Green growth addresses one of the major challenges facing Wales: how we become more prosperous in environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive ways. This consultation examines what we can do to support investment in this area. Have your say by 29 January 2016.

 
 

For any queries relating to the Natural Resources Bulletin please email NRBulletin@wales.gsi.gov.uk. If you would like to receive this bulletin in Welsh please click here.

 
 

Natural Resources Bulletin

The Natural Resources Bulletin  - for the latest legislative and policy  updates on the Welsh Government’s commitment to our climate, energy, waste and water and land in ways that will protect our natural environment for future generations.

Find out more on the web:

gov.wales/environment

Follow online:

@WG_NatResMin

@WG_Farmingfood

@CVOWales