Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment met young people attending a Youth Climate Strike at County Hall this morning (Friday).

The action was organised by 13 year-old Phyllis Davies, a Youth Climate Ambassador for Wales, who read out a speech highlighting the impact of climate change.

Clr. Cris Tomos and Director of Education Steven Richards-Downes thanked Phyllis for organising the action and discussed environmental concerns with the young people and explained the actions the Council is taking to help tackle climate change.

The Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has since set up an action plan to steer the Council towards becoming a net zero-carbon local authority by 2030.

Clr. Tomos said: “It was great to meet the young people this morning and to see how passionate they are for the environment in Pembrokeshire.

“As an administration we share their passions and have clearly set out that responding to climate change is one of our key aims and aspirations.

“By co-incidence, as this Climate Strike was happening outside County Hall there was a planned Managers’ Forum taking place inside to discuss climate change and our efforts going forward.

“Among the questions I received today were those about the teaching of climate change in schools and environmental impact of school dinners.

“It was good to be able to reassure that the Council deliver the Sustainable Schools Award Scheme, enhancing the delivery of climate change learning in the curriculum.

“Also our food suppliers are local to Pembrokeshire, the majority of packaging we use is sustainable and food wastage is kept low through our cashless pre-ordering system we have in place.

“We have detailed our plans to become a net zero-carbon local authority by 2030 in the action plan which is publicly available on our website.

“This details the pathway to get to net zero-carbon – including our strides to stimulate a decarbonised hydrogen and renewable energy based system for the Milford Haven Waterway via the Milford Haven : Energy Kingdom project - but also outlines the work that has been going on for many years to improve our energy efficiency and therefore reduce emissions.”

This work includes the delivery of Phase One of the Re:fit Cymru energy efficiency project since 2018 which has seen the installation of over 50 energy efficiency measures across 25 sites, including the solar car parking canopies at County Hall.

The canopies, in addition to providing the potential for future charging of electric vehicles, contribute towards the Re:fit project’s saving of £200,000 and 416 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

In tandem with the newly installed LED lighting the canopies reduce energy consumption in County Hall by up to 72 per cent.

The Council’s actions are constantly evolving and subsequent to the approval of the Action Plan PCC has also launched an ambitious bid to attract limitless zero carbon power through the Spherical Tokomak for Energy Production, STEP project.

Further examples of Council environmental /carbon reduction efforts and projects include:

• Since 2003, the Council has implemented over 300 energy-efficiency and energy-generation schemes at non-domestic council properties. CO2 emissions from our buildings have reduced by in excess of 50 per cent over this period.

• 60 per cent reduction in carbon emissions from PCC street lighting since 2008 with further reductions planned.

• Approval has recently been granted to apply for grants to fund the decarbonisation of the Council’s fleet of vehicles.

• Creation of publically-available electric car charge points at 18 locations across the County, thanks to a partnership with PCC and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. By the end of 2021, electric vehicle charging points will be rolled out to a further 11 locations in Pembrokeshire.

• PCC is now the top performing Local Authority in Wales in terms of recycling and therefore reducing waste going to landfill.

• Working closely with partners to unlock the potential for renewable energy in Pembrokeshire.

The Council’s Action Plan towards becoming a net zero carbon local authority by 2030 is available here.