New ‘Net Zero’ body set up to help Welsh businesses decarbonise and create new green jobs
A new body, Net Zero Industry Wales is to be created to support Welsh industry decarbonise and create new jobs in the green industries of the future.
Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, said that the new body would be part of the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government sets out a commitment to ensuring Wales becomes a Net Zero nation by 2050.
Wales-based businesses are responsible for around 20% of the UK’s overall industrial and business carbon emissions, due in large part to Wales’ industrial heritage within the steel, oil, gas and chemicals sectors in south Wales.
Net Zero Industry Wales will work with an existing group of 40 business and academic partners operating within a wide range of energy-intensive industries to help them achieve Net Zero, Gething said.
The new body will have a number of short to medium-term priorities, the Welsh Government said, including:
Enabling industry to explore new economic growth opportunities by becoming a world-leader in low-carbon manufacturing – playing to Wales’ existing strengths;
Support future development of a Circular Economy in Wales;
Stimulate and anchor new investments to create and retain high-skilled jobs;
Engage with stakeholders to support public and private investment.
The Welsh Government will support the new body with £150,000 in support each year for the next three financial years.
To further support Wales to achieve Net Zero, later this year the Welsh Government will publish its Net Zero Skills Action Plan, which will set out how Ministers will support businesses to develop a green, skilled workforce.
Dr Chris Williams, Head of Industrial Decarbonisation at Industry Wales, said:
“Wales has a long and rich industrial heritage, leading the way in the manufacturing and engineering revolution. Now we plan to be a leader of the green revolution and the creation of Net Zero Industry Wales is certainly going to help us achieve that in a more joined up and cohesive way.”
The majority of Welsh industrial and business carbon emissions can be directly attributed to companies along the M4 corridor, with the Minister announcing the creation of Net Zero Industry Wales during a visit to TATA Steel in Port Talbot (pictured)..
