Energy, environment and waste
A successful low-carbon economy will include industries that require a lot of energy
Energy, environment and waste overview
Energy security and supply is a critical issue for Welsh industry. A successful low-carbon economy will include industries that require a lot of energy. These energy-intensive industries have an essential role to play in delivering Wales's transition to a low-carbon economy as well as contributing to economic growth and employment. With 300 of the UK's landfill sites due to close in the next decade, around 2,000 new waste management facilities need to be built by 2020, at an estimated cost of £10bn.
CBI policy
The CBI believes the Welsh government must better incentivise private sector energy investments by establishing a forum for major energy users and generators that takes a strategic look at Wales's energy needs and advises the next government on how best to maximise benefits for Wales. To aid the urgent reforms needed, the government must transfer responsibility to the department for the economy. The government needs to be bold in its approach to waste policy and recognise its potential to deliver easy wins on a number of big policy areas from meeting climate change targets and bolstering energy security to helping unlock infrastructure investment.
The Welsh Government is on course to create a new Single Environment Body for Wales by 2013. The body will replace the Environment Agency, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission, which will all be abolished. CBI Wales wrote to the Minister for Environment last October, outlining businesses' initial reaction to these proposals. The CBI is particularly concerned that the new body will be empowered to impose certain Wales-only duties on businesses and have called on the Welsh Government to use the creation of a Single Environment Body as an opportunity to recast the relationship with industry. CBI Wales will be responding the consultation rearding the Single Environment Body which closes in May.
CBI publications
Response to proposals for charge on single-use carrier bags (March 2010)
The CBI urged a a continuation of the successful voluntary approach to reducing carrier bag usage and do not believe that a compulsory charge for single use carrier bags is yet needed. Read the full report (pdf)
