Decarbonisation report launched

The Decarbonisation of Homes in Wales Advisory Group has today (18th July) launched ‘Better Homes, Better Wales, Better World’. This report makes recommendations to the Welsh Government on how best to deliver a long-term programme of housing improvements to meet Wales’ decarbonisation targets.

Climate change has become an increasingly urgent priority for both politicians and the public across the world, and the Welsh Government were one of the first to declare a climate emergency in April 2019. The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 set a target of reducing carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2050; in June 2019, the Welsh Government adopted the upgraded reduction target of 95% recommended by the UK Committee on Climate Change (UKCCC) and set out an ambition to achieve net zero carbon by 2050.

Housing associations in Wales have a vision of a Wales where good housing is a basic right for all, and share Welsh Government’s ambition to decarbonise homes.

Stuart Ropke, Chief Executive at Community Housing Cymru said:

"A 30 year commitment to reduce the carbon emissions from all housing in Wales is a bold and welcome recommendation from this review. As the report recognises, this will not be easy. Meeting this challenge will require huge levels of government investment and a transformation in the way we build and refurbish homes.

“As part of our vision of a Wales where good housing is a basic right for all, housing associations have committed to building greener communities and look forward to working with Welsh Government and key partners to achieve this."

Read our in-depth briefing which summarises the report, and sets out the next steps for the decarbonisation agenda.

We will continue to work closely with members, Welsh Government and other partners as we explore how we as a sector can deliver affordable, comfortable and zero carbon homes for our tenants.