The Climate Change (Interim Emissions Targets) (Wales) Regulations 2018

Welsh Statutory Instruments

2018 No. 1304 (W. 258)

Climate Change, Wales

The Climate Change (Interim Emissions Targets) (Wales) Regulations 2018

Made

5 December 2018

Coming into force

6 December 2018

A draft of this instrument was laid before and approved by a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with section 48(3) of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.(1)

Before the draft was so laid the Welsh Ministers—

(a) satisfied themselves that each interim emissions target is set at a level consistent with meeting the 2050 emissions target, in accordance with section 32(1) of the Act;

(b) had regard to the matters listed in section 32(3) of the Act; and

(c) obtained and took into account the advice of the Committee on Climate Change(2), in accordance with section 49(1) of the Act.

The Welsh Ministers in exercise of the powers conferred by section 30(1) of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 make the following Regulations.

Title and Commencement

1.—(1) The title of these Regulations is the Climate Change (Interim Emissions Targets) (Wales) Regulations 2018.

(2) These regulations come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

Interim Emissions Targets

2.—(1) The maximum amount for the net Welsh emissions account for 2020 is 27% lower than the baseline.

(2) The maximum amount for the net Welsh emissions account for 2030 is 45% lower than the baseline.

(3) The maximum amount for the net Welsh emissions account for 2040 is 67% lower than the baseline.

Lesley Griffiths

Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, one of the Welsh Ministers

5 December 2018

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision for interim emissions targets under Part 2 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.

The purpose of Part 2 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 is to require the Welsh Ministers to meet targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases from Wales. Section 29 requires that the Welsh Ministers ensure that the net Welsh emissions account for the year 2050 is at least 80% lower than the 1990 baseline.

Section 30 requires that the Welsh Ministers make regulations to set interim emissions targets for the years 2020, 2030 and 2040. These targets are expressed as a percentage below the baseline.

Regulation 3 sets targets to reduce the net Welsh emissions account for the interim target years of 2020, 2030 and 2040.

In accordance with section 32 of the Act, the Welsh Ministers have satisfied themselves that the interim emissions targets are consistent with meeting the 2050 target and in drafting these regulations have had regard to the factors listed in section 32(3).

In accordance with section 49 of the Act, the Welsh Ministers have obtained and taken into account the advice of the advisory body before laying draft regulations.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from the Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.

(1)

2016 anaw 3.

(2)

The Committee on Climate Change is the relevant advisory body to the Welsh Ministers by virtue of section 44(3), of the 2016 Act.