Net zero is the term used to describe reducing emissions to effectively zero, in order to tackle harmful climate change that is causing disruption and devastation in Wales and all over the world. 

Last year, the Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge group published a series of reports aimed at renewing and accelerating Wales’ approach to reducing emissions in a way that benefited people and communities. 

A year on, its chair Jane Davidson, has joined the Future Generations Commissioner, Derek Walker, in calling for an update – with a warning that delays on action could be at a cost to lives, livelihoods, health and economic well-being and an already depleted natural world. 

The group, made up of 25 independent members including youth representatives, spent nearly two years identifying the fastest, fairest ways to cut emissions across food, energy, transport, heat and skills.  

Their findings highlighted wide-ranging benefits — from better public health and energy security to low-carbon job creation — and were backed by ministers who pledged the work would not “sit on the shelf.” 

Now, Jane Davidson, a former Welsh Government Environment Minister, and Mr Walker have written jointly to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, asking for an update on progress. 

Jane Davidson said: “Our 10 year evidence-based delivery pathways need to be shaping policy now, in partnership with the people of Wales, to keep Wales climate safe and build a better future for our children.” 

Derek Walker has a role to protect the interests of people not born yet, under the Well-being of Future Generations Act. He said: 

“Achieving net zero will be slower and more difficult if people and communities not fully engaged. 

“We need strong leadership on net zero and we must act now to ensure the benefits — from better public health and energy security to low-carbon job creation.” 

The reports, commissioned under the 2021 co-operation agreement between Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, set out a 10-year action pathway from 2025–2035.  

They emphasised that only a planned transition can be a just transition, and warned that short-term, reactive approaches risk unintended consequences and higher costs. 

The reports also called for urgent public engagement to test and implement ideas, stressing that a large proportion of the Welsh public support action on climate change, and better involvement is essential to ensure that the 2035 target is met. 

The group highlighted the role of communities in delivering net zero, including community ownership of assets such as green spaces and renewable energy. The Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge Group will reconvene this autumn to assess what progress has been made since the reports were published — and what more needs to be done to accelerate change. 

The commissioner is asking Welsh Government to confirm: 

• How the Wales Net Zero 2025 Challenge group’s proposed delivery pathways have shaped policy or delivery. 
• Whether they are informing the next carbon budget (2031–35). 
• How they are guiding early progress on the next net zero plan (2026–30). 

The public, stakeholders and decision-makers are encouraged to support this call for clarity and action. 

When the report was published on September 16, 2024, Mr Walker said any response but an urgent one would be letting down the people of Wales, who deserve climate action now that makes their lives better. He urged Welsh Government and public bodies to work quickly to put the findings into action, using the Well-being of Future Generations Act, developing the right financial models and preparing a long-term plan. 

The commissioner’s Future Generations Report published earlier this year, makes several recommendations for people-centred climate action. 

For example, he urges Welsh Government to raise its ambition and double its community energy targets, so local power, owned and run by communities, can solve Wales’ future energy needs.

*Image: Derek Walker and Jane Davidson outside the Senedd | Photo: Marie Palbom