Previous work and topic areas covered in meetings, seminars and workshops:
Sustainable Development Integration Tools:
The network looked at the integration tools used by different local authorities to embed the Sustainable Development agenda. The purpose is to meet the Act’s need for good decision making that shapes and demonstrates how policy is developed. Ensuring the rationale for decision making and the consideration of sustainable development is well documented has a significant role in protecting organisations from legal challenge or judicial review and most importantly results in better decision making by ensuring impacts are considered.
Climate Emergency Declarations:
Members provided an update on their organisations Declarations and Climate Change activities including a discussion on what might be in and out of scope for all Declarations. Most Declarations focussed on mitigation/ decarbonisation and were aware that behavioural change aspects need to be integrated into the plans.
Welsh Government’s Decarbonisation Strategy – Prosperity for All: A Low Carbon Wales:
A representative from Welsh Government (WG) presented the WG Decarbonisation Strategy – Prosperity for All: A Low Carbon Wales, which aims to achieve a carbon neutral public sector by 2030. There are 4 priority areas covering buildings, mobility and transport, land use and procurement. An interesting discussion was held on the scope of measurement and subsequent actions including looking at emissions around staff travel and home working and how to capture all relevant emissions.
Carbon Positive Project – Natural Resources Wales (NRW):
A representative from Natural Resources Wales presented their Carbon Positive Project, which is funded by Welsh Government to show leadership in how the public sector can reduce its carbon impact to tackle climate change. NRW are taking positive steps to reduce their carbon emissions, and to enhance and protect carbon stored on the land they manage. They aim to encourage further decarbonisation in Wales by sharing their experiences.
NRW Carbon Positive Project July19
UK Process of the UN Sustainable Development Goals:
The UK Government were undertaking a review of the progress against the goals. Following a series of engagement events to explore how Wales is delivering against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, a separate supplement report was being produced on Wale’ progress, in recognition of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. The network looked at what challenges public bodies were facing and how they are applying the Act to individual decisions to support the delivery of the UN SD Goals.
Carbon Literacy Training:
The network discussed the Cynnal Cymru Carbon Literacy online training, including course content and links with other training resources and the options available to fund this course in the future.
Sustainable Procurement:
The network considered the challenges of sustainable procurement, and listened to case studies on sustainable food procurement in Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board and collaborative procurement from Caerphilly County Borough Council. There was further discussion with the Future Generations Commissioner’s Officer on a number of sustainable procurement pilots taking place across Wales.
Dec18 Cardiff and Vale presentation
Dec18 FGC Eurgain presentation
Welsh Audit Office, Auditor General Examinations 2018-19:
The network received an update from Tim Buckle who outlined the Auditor General’s powers under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. This included an explanation and frequency of the examinations and feedback on the pilot reviews.
The Story of Plastic:
The Network organised a free screening of the feature documentary film The Story of Plastic followed by an online discussion and encouraged participants to make a pledge towards reducing their plastic pollution. The film takes a sweeping look at the man-made crisis of plastic pollution, from extraction of fossil fuels to plastic waste replacing fish in our ocean. The film exposes the ugly truth behind the current global plastic crisis and examines the worldwide effect it has on both the health of our planet and the people who inhabit it.
Regular Updates:
The network also receives regular updates from the Future Generations Commissioner’s Office, Welsh Government and Welsh Local Government Association along with updates from member organisations.