The climate and nature emergency is the defining challenge of our generation. Our collective response will determine the future for those who come next.

We’re making it our mission to help public bodies on their journey to achieve their net zero and nature positive goals by 2030.

As a result, we’ll be on a path to healthier earth, air and water, with public bodies leading action on climate change including adaptation, at the same time as maximising the benefits to people and communities across Wales.
We will support support brave decisions, do more to proactively champion ‘win-win’ approaches like community energy and understand how Wales can tackle the climate and nature emergencies in a way that prevents unintended consequences.

One of our unique roles is to support brave decisions; to do more to proactively champion ‘win-win’ approaches like community energy that provides low carbon energy while generating local funding and investment; and better understand how Wales can tackle the climate and nature emergencies in a way that prevents unintended consequences, like increasing inequalities.

Climate and Nature Theory of Change 

We will make it our mission to ensure all Welsh public bodies achieve their net zero and nature positive goals by 2030. As a result, public bodies are leading action on climate change including adaptation, in a way that reduces inequalities and maximises the benefits to people and communities across Wales.

Need

While public bodies in Wales are tackling the climate and nature emergencies, action is not consistent across all service areas.

There is not always a good understanding of the inter-dependencies between issues.

Activity

1. Advocate that all decision making takes a preventative and long-term view of the climate and nature emergencies.
2. Ensure levers, like procurement, land use planning and business support, are affecting positive change.
3. Convene Welsh public bodies with others to share good practice and facilitate learning exchanges on the net zero and nature positive agendas.
4. Support public bodies to involve communities in assessments and joint actions to reduce emissions on an area-wide basis.
5. Help and overcome systemic infrastructure problems, such as access to national grid.

Outcomes

More people are involved in collaboration around the transition to net zero, climate adaptation and halting biodiversity decline.

Public bodies and Public Services Boards understand future workforce needs and are equipped with the skills needed to respond to the climate and nature emergencies.

Wales has a more ambitious approach to delivering on the third carbon budget for Wales, including area-based approaches to carbon reduction.

Budget decisions are informed by long-term approaches which support positive outcomes for climate, nature, and our communities.

Wales is mobilising local communities to protect nature and is able to evidence wider benefits for people and society.

Impact 

Cymru has met its net zero and nature positive goals by 2030.

All around Wales the benefits are being felt – from the green spaces and nature that have been protected and enhanced, to having more energy efficient buildings, community-owned renewable energy schemes creating local investment, and more jobs in the green business sectors.

Future Generations Report 2025: Recommendations

1. Welsh Government should introduce a headline statutory target for nature’s recovery by 2050 in primary legislation by 2026, with further targets reflecting the Global Biodiversity Framework in secondary legislation, a clear plan of action and long-term funding arrangements.
2. Using our land wisely matters more than ever. Following its next 5-year review of A Future Wales, Welsh Government should develop an integrated land and marine use framework that balances commitments to restore nature, support food production, improve climate resilience and deliver new housing and infrastructure. The framework should be accompanied by guidance and toolkits to support local decision-making.
3. Building on the investment in nutrient management boards and existing coastal and river forums, Welsh Government should expand their catchment remit as trusted decision-makers in river restoration. These partnerships should bring together a diverse range of stakeholders to co-create shared action plans, while enabling regulators such as Natural Resources Wales to work more collaboratively and drive positive, long-term change.
4. Within the next Government term, legislation is needed to give Natural Resources Wales the same regulatory powers as its English counterpart, including the authority to issue civil sanctions, such as stop orders and fines for polluting activities.
5. Welsh Government should establish an expert and cross-sector team, to support public bodies in preparing investment-ready proposals that can attract private sector finance for nature recovery and net zero, ensuring alignment with sustainable investment principles.
6. Welsh Revenue Authority should be tasked with ringfencing environmental fines and charges to directly fund climate and nature action.
7. From 2025, public bodies must prioritise climate resilience, net benefit for biodiversity, and pesticide reduction in how they manage their estates, including their buildings, tenant farms, parks, roadside verges and other land assets.
8. Local renewable energy, including community and publicly owned energy has a pivotal role to play in achieving net zero. There is a need for more resourcing and support nationally. Public sector organisations should increase their collaboration with local energy projects by releasing land for joint ventures and committing to purchasing the electricity.
9. Climate resilience and adaptation must become a core public service priority. By the end of 2027, Public Services Boards should assess climate risks for their communities, updating their findings every five years as part of their well-being assessments. Public bodies must integrate these findings into their corporate and strategic planning. 15. The public sector must become deforestation-free by 2028, ensuring supply chains do not contribute to global deforestation, habitat loss or human rights violations, including child labour and the abuse of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.