A budget for tackling climate change is not needed yet but will be an important element next year as projects developed by a working group come forward.

Chairman of the policy and pre-decision overview and scrutiny committee Cllr Joshua Beynon, one of the driving forces behind Pembrokeshire County Council’s declaration of a climate emergency, asked for more information about a lack of specific budget to tackle the issue this year.

At Tuesday’s meeting (January 21) Cllr Beynon referred to comments by cabinet member Cllr Neil Prior last week that waiting until the next budget was “too late.”

Clr. Beynon, a member of the working group focusing on ways of combating climate change, asked if the potential £1.5million contingency fund could be used if necessary.

Cabinet member for finance Cllr Bob Kilmister said that a “clear steer” was needed from the working group and Welsh Government on what needed to be done or there was a potential to spend money on the wrong things.

He said many plans would be capital projects and there was funding available for feasibility work with the process leading to the next budget, where provision will be made.

“There’s nothing to stop that work starting, cabinet can do that on a project by project basis and next year I think there will have to be money allocated to it,” said Cllr Kilmister.

The threat of rising sea levels was a concern for many in coastal areas said Cllr Tony Baron who asked what was being done to prepare as any proposals to fight climate change “is not going to stop the sea rises.”

He was told that national plans a few years ago would see Amroth, in his ward, abandoned but Cllr Phil Baker said a “managed adaptation” was more likely although dealing with the issue was “way beyond the capacity of the county council.”

Welsh and UK Government plans to deal with rising sea levels include abandoning some areas, managed adaptation and protection of other areas, the committee heard with areas looking “very different in 20 to 30 years time,” added Cllr Baker.