Welsh Government Announces 100% Renewable Electricity For Public Services Ahead Of COP22

All electricity bought for public services in Wales by the National Procurement Service (NPS) will be from renewable sources by 2017, Environment Secretary Lesley Griffiths has announced ahead of her attendance at the global COP22 climate talks in Marrakesh. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

From April 2017, all NPS (external link) energy customers will receive 100% renewable electricity. At least 50% will come from Welsh sources, with a goal to increase this to 100%. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

COP22 builds on the success of last year’s event in Paris, during which an agreement to keep global warming below 2°C was reached. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This year’s conference is a chance for the Cabinet Secretary to highlight Wales’ progress and the impact Wales is making. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wales is leading the way in sustainable development, becoming one of the first countries in the world to enshrine in law a reference to the UK’s Sustainable Development Goals, through the Well-being of Future Generations Act. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Speaking ahead of her departure to Marrakesh, the Environment Secretary said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Although Wales is a small country it still has a global responsibility to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change. We recognise this responsibility and continue to strengthen our commitments, setting legally binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 80% per cent by 2050 in our Environment Act. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have also placed sustainable development at the heart of our public services and I am delighted to announce that all electricity bought for public services in Wales by NPS will be from 100 per cent renewable sources by next year. This sends a clear message on our commitment to move towards cleaner energy use in Wales and encourage others to follow suit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m proud that in Wales we are securing in law actions to achieve the Wales we want. I look forward to the opportunities COP22 presents to highlight Wales’ achievements and learn from others. Wales stands ready to play its part in the Paris Agreement.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Welcoming the announcement on renewable energy for public sector NPS customers, Cabinet Secretary for Finance Mark Drakeford, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“At a time of increasing budget pressures, the National Procurement Service offers a great opportunity for the Welsh public sector to do things differently; to work collaboratively and generate efficiencies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Sustainability and the wellbeing of future generations are at the heart of the services it procures. I am therefore delighted that its energy customers will receive electricity generated from 100% renewable sources – half of which will be from Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By working together across the public sector, we can continue to reduce our carbon footprint across Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​