News

Wales in 2051: Skills that made Swansea a nature- and people-friendly city  

A day in the life of Adi 

What struck Adi first as she stepped outside her office building to meet the news correspondent was his unfeigned fascination with his surroundings.

He was clearly astounded to find himself walking through what seemed almost like a small forest, in stark contrast to the highly industrialised area of Swansea that he had known twenty-five years earlier. He couldn’t help but share his amazement, talking animatedly for several minutes about the innovative urban designs that supported the climate resilience he had witnessed around the city. It was only then that he realized he hadn’t introduced himself, and hastened to do so.

“I’m Adi,” she replied with a smile, extending her hand for a shake.

Building sustainable infrastructure with people and nature in mind

She welcomed him inside her office and explained the features and construction of the building, which ran on 100% community-owned renewable energy – all citizens and businesses in the local area co-owned a solar and hydro plant that supplied the whole neighbourhood. In fact, most of Wales was now organised to foster greater collaboration, ownership, fair power and resource distribution between local communities and private and public sectors. Adi explained that her area’s surplus energy was primarily sold to companies in neighbouring nations, and the money gained was invested in community projects that enriched social life and improved transport and infrastructure systems following nature alignment principles. Investment decisions were taken collectively, and overseen by a body of elected local representatives and community staff, whose salaries were also paid from the profits of the energy surplus.

She looked over at the journalist and saw that he was frozen in his note-taking, forgetting to write down what she was saying. She chuckled and went on to tell him about her role helping retrofit the streets of Swansea to create people- and nature-friendly urban hubs with bigger, safer and fully-connecting transport lanes. This included large areas of green space, more public seating areas, and more covered outdoor hangout spots with play and sports areas for kids and adults alike. The infrastructure had been developed to ensure that all necessary daily needs were reachable within a twenty-minute walking or wheeling radius – an ambition first set out in the early 2000s. The substantial amount of shared, accessible communal space had made the transition to reduced private space easier.

A shift to car-sharing and efficient and reliable public transport, powered by clean energy, had begun when growing public dissatisfaction with rising financial costs for transport and fuel, staggering levels of air pollution from transport negatively affecting public health, and excessive congestion from an increasing number of lone drivers, reached its peak. Efficient public transport now connected different areas across Swansea, and by making transport in its various forms accessible, reliable, and safe, 93% of the Swansea population now cycled, walked, or used public transport to get around the city. This transition, alleviating a lot of the need to dedicate land to car parking, had freed up more space for transport lanes and the nature-inspired drainage systems that were needed to cope with the changed rainfall patterns.

Both were quiet for a moment while Adi let the news correspondent absorb all this information. He squinted, as though thinking hard, and finally shared an observation that compared to other European cities he had travelled to, he had noticed that in Swansea (the first Welsh city he had been to) many more individuals, families and groups of friends spent more time outdoors in the urban green spaces and hangout spots. They looked happier and healthier.

Collaborative and integrated thinking

“What enabled this transition?” he asked.

Adi took a deep breath, and explained that the current environmentally resilient infrastructure across Swansea had, in large part, been enabled by a shift in attitude towards an experimental and trial and error approach, which was made possible by combining local knowledge, the latest technology, and historical resources, with citizen assemblies working alongside engineers, builders, policymakers and ecologists. This hands-on collective intelligence had led to clean air, a more active lifestyle, and greater environmental resilience thanks to nature- and culture-inspired solutions. This last was important, because the effects of changing climate were still being felt. Still, thanks to collaboration and innovation across the city, the built environment could adapt to flooding, overheating or drought with much less disruption to daily life than had been initially feared.

During a tour of the office the journalist was introduced to Adi’s colleagues, who revealed an enthusiastic and happy attitude to work. They told him about their flexible working week, which gave staff enough time to recuperate and allowed them to be more creative and energetic during their work hours, and about the pleasure of having a supportive work environment that empowered workers to grow their skills, knowledge and networks in a relaxed and plant-filled office. He was pleased to hear that they all received a fair wage, ensuring that they could meet their own and their families’ needs (and recreational activities) in safe and secure working conditions. Adi explained that these favourable conditions had been put in place following guidance from the Welsh Government’s Guide to Fair Work, which had now been in operation for decades.

One question that remained unanswered was how Adi came to obtain and develop her skills. To find out, he had first to meet her parents, who were key to developing her learning mindset.

Learning mindset with intercultural roots

After shadowing her day at work, the pair crossed the city by bike, the fresh evening breeze on their faces. Looking over her shoulder, Adi saw that her new journalist friend was grunting and sweating, completely out of breath as he tried to keep up with her. She slowed down, realising that he probably wasn’t used to regular cycling.

When they reached her parents’ apartment eight minutes later, she offered him a glass of cold water while, drenched in sweat and struggling to get a word past his lips, he introduced himself to her parents. Adi’s father gave a loud, heart-warming belly laugh. “That’s why I always insist on leaving ten minutes before Adi, to not end up like you.” Adi’s mother apologised on behalf of her family and offered him a seat and a spread of homecooked food that she had prepared for his arrival. Humbled and surprised, he accepted appreciatively. The food was traditional Zimbabwean cuisine, from recipes passed on for generations, and all the produce was locally and organically Welsh-grown, by famers who had embraced new crops and practices compatible with the changed climate. He couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten such flavourful and nourishing food, so he relished every bite and, for a time, completely forgot that he was there to interview Adi and her family. The lively conversation around the table made him feel welcome, and only when Adi’s mother brought up the topic of agricultural drought in Zimbabwe as a result of climate change, which had contributed to their decision to move to Wales forty years earlier, did he remember to ask questions. He learned that Adi’s parents had owned a large plot of land in Zimbabwe where they had grown all sorts of grains, vegetables and fruits. Their generational farming practices had mitigated a lot of the impact of the drought, and they had become local leaders and expert advisors to other farmers who had neglected traditional forms of farming, and consequently had suffered more from the agricultural drought. A movement for traditional farming practices had risen in the country. Yet many neighbouring countries, still relying heavily on commercial farming practices, had been struck by drought and were significantly affected by poor agricultural output. This reduced the global supply of food, increasing food prices even in Zimbabwe to levels that had previously been unimaginable, and creating a race to procure food, especially from high income-earning countries. This shift in the economic landscape triggered Adi’s parents’ decision to move to Wales while they still had enough money to afford the expensive journey.

With his mouth still half full of roasted, seasoned green beans, the correspondent asked why they had decided to come to Wales specifically, and what the move had been like. They explained that it had been terribly hard to create a new home in a foreign country and to adapt to a different culture, but that their familiarity with a close friend already living in Wales had made the transition easier. Besides having existing ties with loved ones in the country, their choice of Wales was also rooted in the reasoning that they had to move somewhere north to be further away from the impact zone of extreme weather conditions. Now their expertise in climate resilience and farming had positioned them as leading advisers to executing green transition plans in Wales.

Adi continued the conversation, saying that when she was a kid, her parents would always tell her stories about how they had responded to drought and the associated agricultural challenges in collaboration with their local community in Zimbabwe. Hearing these stories growing up was what drew Adi to work with climate resilience in the infrastructural sector, and to become a voice for ethnic youth’s inclusion in the green transition.

Lived experience and intergenerational knowledge

She recognised early on that for a holistic transition in Wales to happen, it needed to welcome all ethnic groups, so she applied for a Leadership academy open to young people with a connection to Wales. The academy focused on integrating technical knowledge with creativity, indigenous worldviews, and empathy, to ensure that participants from all walks of life could develop solutions fit for this generation and those to come. The academy produced exceptional talents who went on to teach, farm, care for the elderly, rebuild cities, use local energy, and work in hospitality, planning and governance. The principles behind this programme, which was started back in the day by the Future Generations Commissioner’s Office and had become mainstream in further education, was one of the best investments Wales had made. The principles fostered by the academy and similar projects recognised the wide range of skills in young people and helped preserve folk knowledge through intergenerational learning experiences.

After a delicious dinner, Adi and the journalist again cycled through the chilly evening breeze on their bikes. At 6:30pm, she reached her home in a nature-inspired apartment complex where she would babysit her neighbour’s eleven-year-old son, Cameron, for a few hours.


 Follow Cameron next week to learn about education under a green transition and the eco apartment complex he and Adi live in.  

Please note that some AI-generated content is included in the featured image for this piece.

How can we develop and use the skills needed to create a 2051 we are proud of? Join Karolina and Camille for three free online Green Skills events on 14th, 21st, and 28th May.  

Wales in 2051: Skills that made Swansea a nature- and people-friendly city   Read More »

Lunchtime challenge: Craft the future! Design a 21st Century business strategy

Lunchtime Challenge: Craft the Future! Design a 21st Century Business Strategy

Join Clockwise Cardiff for an exciting event where you can unleash your creativity and innovation!

Time: 1 Hour (with light lunch provided)

Host: Karolina Rucinska, Sustainability Strategist at Cynnal Cymru

Calling all innovators! Ready to shake things up? Join us for a dynamic lunchtime challenge where you’ll brainstorm and build a business strategy fit for the 21st century.

The Challenge: Craft a future-proof strategy that considers not just profit, but also social responsibility and environmental impact.

Lunchtime challenge: Craft the future! Design a 21st Century business strategy Read More »

A Capital garden: how a steel company is taking action for nature

How have you decided to take action?

The creation of a biodiversity and wellbeing garden, designed to acknowledge the lengthy industrial heritage of the site and also to restore the area to a bio-productive space; introducing nesting boxes, bee hives, planters filled with pollinator friendly flowers, two ponds and a canopy with a green roof.

We see the garden as a multi-faceted tool for sustainability, it:

  • Gives nature a place to thrive
  • Is part of a wildlife corridor on site
  • Offers a real-world example of nature alongside industry
  • Is a mechanism for training
  • A clear embodiment of our sustainability aspirations
  • An inspiration for other businesses

How did you get started?

The inspiration for the garden was provided by the space itself (the Victorian walls presented an opportunity to conceive the area differently); the book ‘Islands of abandonment’ (Cal Flynn)  made me think about how places can revert to their previous states; and finally desire to do something positive and meaningful that would have internal and external benefits.

Advice came from lots of quarters; social projects Project Nestbox and the Sirhowy Bee Company, and also from gardeners within our team, alongside friends and family. We have also never stopped listening to ideas and are currently working on an edible gardening journey to share crops with our staff. 

What is a key challenge that you have faced?

The challenges came from the environment within which the garden is sited and also creating the ‘right’ balance between core business activities and maintenance. Would the bees thrive? Which plants are hardy, low maintenance and good for biodiversity? Can we allocate sufficient resource within weather windows? (we are after all, a steel company and not a botanical garden, so there is only so much time we can devote to the garden itself).  However the latter point is almost moot – where there’s a will there’s a way.

What benefits have you seen?

The benefits have been significant:

On the environment – we have returned life to a formerly barren area. The space is now full of flora and fauna, most obviously flowers, shrubs, birds, bees, insects and amphibians.  

On the workforce – I can’t think of a better project that’s communicated the values of sustainability and the importance of biodiversity, from materials re-use to eco-systems.

On the organisation – it has been a real success in convincing the outside world that we listen, think, plan and act on sustainability. This has manifested itself in improved relations with key stakeholders and customers. Banks in particular, value organisations who take their responsibilities seriously.

Do you have any words of advice for those starting their biodiversity journey?

The big takeaway from our project is no matter what resources you have – or don’t have – at your disposal, do what you can with what you’ve got. Any area can be used, waste can be upcycled. Imagination and commitment are more important than financial resources.

Capital Coated Steel is a processor of pre-finished steels and metals, offering slitting, decoiling, profiling and shearing services. A Welsh owned company established in 1972, Capital serves multiple markets including building envelope, domestic appliance, cold rooms and general manufacturing. At Capital we believe in long-term relationships, looking after our customers, supporting staff, contributing to the local community and taking our sustainability responsibilities seriously.

Not sure where to start on your own biodiversity journey? Check out our Nature Wise course to learn about the links between human activity and ecosystem disruption. Our eco-literacy training will help you develop the knowledge to enable you and your organisation to take action for nature recovery.

A Capital garden: how a steel company is taking action for nature Read More »

May events: Green skills and your workplace

All upcoming Cynnal Cymru events can be booked via Ticketsource

Session 1: What do we mean by green skills and why are they needed?

Tuesday 14th May | 1pm | Online

Hosts: Karolina Rucinska and Camille Lovgreen

Green economy, green jobs, and green skills! What’s the difference and what do they mean in practice? Are these just for engineers and energy specialists or can anyone acquire these skills? Why they matter to every business and how they can help address changing legislation around energy, waste and social impact?

‘Green skills’ are the competencies required to create greater resilience and adapt to an environmentally flourishing and socially just present and future. Noticeably, these skills are broad and vary from technical to soft skills. Yet, many soft skills, ranging from the ability to think creatively, empathetically and analytically, are crucial for transition as they enable a reimagination of current ways of doing to allow new system designs that address the challenges we face as a society.

This session will:

  • Unpick key terms related to green skills so we can all better understand the skills we need for a future-fit society – how to nurture them and why they are important. It also outlines the main Welsh organisations that provide training and support in relation to climate, nature, and social justice.
  • Touch upon opportunities associated with green skills.
  • Provide useful names of organisations and resources to employees and employers alike.
  • Explore how green skills can help stay ahead of different legislation for environmental protection and just workforce conditions.

And of course, the session gives a chance to exchange contact details to make the most of this networking opportunity!


Postponed and merged with session 3

Session 2: Green recruitment and inclusive job descriptions

Tuesday 21st May | 1pm | Online

Hosts: Karolina Rucinska and Camille Lovgreen

This session focuses on how to rewrite job descriptions to be more inclusive and attract a wider pool of green talent, emphasizing skills beyond just technical expertise. It will cover:

  • Identifying Unconscious Bias: Recognise language that might exclude potential candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and communication styles. Offer alternatives for commonly biased terms and highlight the value of empathy and cultural understanding in sustainability work.
  • Highlighting Green Skills: Showcase the specific green skills required for the role, including creativity in problem-solving, system thinking for holistic approaches, and strong communication skills for building partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
  • Action-Oriented Language: Reframe job descriptions to focus on the impact of the role, promoting inclusivity and building a more sustainable future.
  • Inclusive Hiring Practices: Briefly discuss strategies for ensuring diverse interview panels and accessible application processes, emphasizing the importance of recognising the value of different perspectives for achieving sustainable solutions.

Please bring your own challenges and experiences to share.


Session 3: Greening every job

Tuesday 28th May | 1pm | Online

Hosts: Karolina Rucinska and Camille Lovgreen

This session explores how every job in a company can contribute to sustainability goals, emphasising broader green skills beyond technical expertise. It will cover:

  • Sustainability Integration: Discuss how seemingly unrelated roles can contribute to making the company more environmentally aligned and socially just. For example
    • Marketing & Sales: Highlight the importance of storytelling to engage customers with sustainability and collaboration with design teams to ensure products and services are truthful and do not perpetuate overconsumption and inequalities.
    • Finance & Accounting: Show how life cycle and circular economy principles (system thinking) can be integrated into financial decisions; and how to ensure investments are ethical and long-term.
    • Workforce Development: Explore strategies for building a fulfilled, diverse and inclusive green workforce.
    • Front of house, shopfloor and admin roles: Highlight the importance of the client facing roles in demonstrating the sustainable values of any organisation; ; and highlight the value of the on-the-ground knowledge that can aide in creating realistic solutions.
  • Everyday Green Practices: Offer practical tips for integrating sustainability principles into daily work routines while promoting collaboration and inclusivity (people skills).

May events: Green skills and your workplace Read More »

Two women sit back to back on a step

Cynnal Cymru’s advice team grows

Camille will b responsible for helping guideing Cynnal Cymru’s clients towards more effectiveand through their transition to sustainable practices by providing them with personalised andmanageable action points. Camille joins our team of specialists providing advice to organisationswho want to become sustainable, led by our Sustainability Strategist Dr Karolina Rucinska., whohas recently been promoted as a manager to lead this growing team.Karolina said:‘Camille brings a wealth of knowledge to the team and has a talent for systems thinking,explaining complex topics in a engaging and impactful way, and insights that help shift mindsetswhile offering practical solutions.’Camille previously collaborated with Cynnal Cymru on sustainability guides for SMEs alongwith co-creator Gillian Rumsey. Theis free guides delves into a range of topics, such as wastemanagement, energy efficiency, responsible material sourcing, and sustainable supply chainmanagement, among others. Each guide delivers clear, actionable recommendations, illustratedwith real-life examples to motivate and steer SMEs towards a sustainable future.Camille said:‘As a recent Sustainable Development graduate, I am thrilled about the possibility to not onlycarry out my knowledge and skills in practice, but to work with a talented and inspiringSustainability Strategist who is able to think holistically in her approach to addressingunsustainable practices. Already in my first two weeks of being in my new role, I have beenencouraged to set goals for yearly progress that merges my personal passions with project ideasthat can be developed within the organisation. As you can image, I am excited to get started onsome of these projects and work towards minimising unsustainable business practices aroundWales.Whilst new to the role, this is not my first time working with Cynnal Cymru. Earlier last year, Idid a four-month internship working with Karolina Rucinska to develop sustainability guides forSMEs. It was based on this positive experience that I decided to apply for a job in theorganisation. However, I was unsuccessful in the first attempt. Nevertheless, the feedback I wasgiven following the interview process gave me great insight into what I did well and what I couldhave done better. So, when another relevant job posting surfaced from Cynnal Cymru monthslater, I applied for the job and I applied the feedback, which, I believe, is what gave me theadvantage. Being a little persistent does have its charm I suppose.’Camille moved to the UK from Denmark, pursuing her passion for and education in systems-focused approaches, and specifically how their application can build and enhance localcommunity agency and ownership. She brings with her extensive knowledge and understandingof how global challenges interlink, and their impact on local communities, and is always keen toexplore these challenges and find effective strategies for addressing them.CTA (signpost to new Sustainability Advice page or email?):So, whether your organisation is taking its first steps towards emissions-reduction or in need of acomprehensive footprint and action plan, we have the expertise to help you achieve your goals.If developing a sustainability strategy, action plan or staff workshop for idea-generation has been on your to-do list, then Camille and Karolina are keen tohelp! Please get in touch at…. Or learn more here (if Advice page ready

Camille will be responsible for helping Cynnal Cymru’s clients towards more effective and sustainable practices by providing them with personalised and manageable action points. Camille joins our team of specialists, led by our Sustainability Strategist Dr Karolina Rucinska.

Karolina said:
‘Camille brings a wealth of knowledge to the team and has a talent for systems thinking, explaining complex topics in a engaging and impactful way, and insights that help shift mindsets while offering practical solutions.’

Camille previously collaborated with Cynnal Cymru on sustainability guides for SMEs along with co-creator Gillian Rumsey. The free guides delves into a range of topics, such as waste management, energy efficiency, responsible material sourcing, and sustainable supply chain management. Each guide delivers clear, actionable recommendations, illustrated with real-life examples to motivate and steer SMEs towards a sustainable future.

Camille said:
‘As a recent Sustainable Development graduate, I am thrilled about the possibility to not only carry out my knowledge and skills in practice, but to work with a talented and inspiring Sustainability Strategist who is able to think holistically in her approach to addressing unsustainable practices. Already in my first two weeks of being in my new role, I have been encouraged to set goals for yearly progress that merges my personal passions with project ideas that can be developed within the organisation. As you can image, I am excited to get started on some of these projects and work towards minimising unsustainable business practices around Wales.

Whilst new to the role, this is not my first time working with Cynnal Cymru. Earlier last year, I did a four-month internship working with Karolina Rucinska to develop sustainability guides for SMEs. It was based on this positive experience that I decided to apply for a job in the organisation. However, I was unsuccessful in the first attempt. Nevertheless, the feedback I was given following the interview process gave me great insight into what I did well and what I could have done better. So, when another relevant job posting surfaced from Cynnal Cymru months later, I applied for the job and I applied the feedback, which, I believe, is what gave me the advantage. Being a little persistent does have its charm I suppose.’

Camille moved to the UK from Denmark, pursuing her passion for and education in systems-focused approaches, and specifically how their application can build and enhance local community agency and ownership. She brings with her extensive knowledge and understanding of how global challenges interlink, and their impact on local communities, and is always keen to explore these challenges and find effective strategies for addressing them.

So, whether your organisation is taking its first steps towards emissions-reduction or in need of a comprehensive footprint and action plan, we have the expertise to help you achieve your goals.

If developing a sustainability strategy, action plan or staff workshop for idea-generation has been on your to-do list, then Camille and Karolina are keen to help! Please get in touch at advice@cynnalcymru.com or learn more here.

Cynnal Cymru’s advice team grows Read More »

An image of two people walking in the park, one holding a bike

Reconnecting face-to-face in a climate-conscious world

While convenient, virtual meetings can’t fully replicate the power of in-person interactions. Non-verbal cues, spontaneity, and the energy of shared space contribute to trust, understanding, and ultimately, sharper collaboration. Pre-pandemic travel patterns could have been better, but dismissing in-person meetings entirely ignores these significant benefits.

The answer lies in strategic, mindful choices with multiple co-benefits:

Reducing emissions: Connecting locally

  • Prioritise local clients: Connect with nearby clients face-to-face, favouring trains or carpooling for reduced emissions and increased productivity during commutes.
  • Embrace hybrid approaches: Combine virtual elements with smaller, local teams for distant clients, fostering strong relationships while saving travel time and costs.
  • Optimise travel when necessary: Choose the most fuel-efficient mode – trains, buses, or carpooling – for reduced emissions, individual cost savings, and potential networking opportunities.
  • Advocate for change: Encourage clients and organisations to prioritise sustainable travel options and infrastructure development, contributing to a wider positive impact on the environment and society.

Beyond the footprint: Optimizing for more than the environment

  • Maximising time: Careful planning and efficient travel modes can minimise travel time while maximising productivity, boosting your personal efficiency and client satisfaction.
  • Boosting well-being: Balancing virtual and in-person interactions offers both focused solitude and stimulating social interaction, contributing to increased personal well-being and potentially enhancing creativity during client meetings.

Leading the way: Beyond words, actions that speak volumes

As consultants, we have the opportunity to champion sustainable practices in a post-pandemic world. By demonstrating that face-to-face connections can thrive alongside environmental responsibility, we can:

  • Inspire clients and organisations to embrace sustainable travel solutions, driving positive change within the business community.
  • Drive wider change by advocating for infrastructure development that prioritises sustainability, contributing to a more liveable and environmentally friendly future for all.
  • Become exemplars of walking the walk, showcasing how success can be achieved while minimising our environmental impact, building trust and respect with clients who share similar values.

Leading by example: Cynnal Cymru’s commitment to sustainable client meetings

While the pandemic sparked the widespread adoption of virtual meetings, the desire for face-to-face client interaction is undeniably returning. At Cynnal Cymru, however, we recognise that prioritizing the planet shouldn’t come at the expense of strong client relationships. That’s why we’ve implemented specific measures to ensure our consultations are both fruitful and environmentally responsible.

Our travel policy: Walking the talk

  • Active Travel First: We prioritise walking, cycling, and public transport for all local meetings. By making this the default option, we minimise emissions and promote healthy lifestyles.
  • Open Communication: We openly discuss our travel policy with clients, explaining our commitment to sustainability and encouraging them to explore eco-friendly travel options when visiting our office.
  • Transparency and Tracking: We’ve added a dedicated line in our expense claims for employees to specify their mode of travel and destination. This allows us to monitor our impact and identify areas for further improvement.
  • No to Flights: As an organisation, we’ve made a conscious decision to avoid air travel entirely. While this may restrict our geographic reach, it underscores our unwavering dedication to minimising our carbon footprint.
  • Sustainable Directions: We provide clients with detailed instructions on reaching our office using public transport, cycling routes, and walking and wheeling paths. This empowers them to make informed choices that align with their own sustainability values.

Beyond the policy: Continuous improvement

While we’ve made significant strides, we acknowledge that there’s always room for growth. One area we’re focusing on is onboarding new staff. We recognise that not everyone instinctively integrates active travel into their business travel routines. We have incorporated sustainability awareness training into our onboarding process to ensure everyone understands and embraces our travel policy.

Join the conversation

We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences on navigating the balance between client relationships and environmental responsibility. Together, we can pave the way for a sustainable future for all.

Reconnecting face-to-face in a climate-conscious world Read More »

View of forest from the air

9 April | Deforestation Free Business (DFB) Champions

Do you want to be part of a growing movement of socially responsible Welsh businesses who are leading the way in protecting tropical forests?

 

Cynnal Cymru and climate change charity Size of Wales will be holding an in-person, peer-to-peer learning event to help businesses take practical steps to address tropical deforestation and social impacts within their supply chains.

During the event, participants will hear from organisations who have already started their Deforestation Free journey and learn the practical steps to help them reduce their tropical forest footprint. It will include a forest-risk surgery to help identify areas for action, with support and advice from the Size of Wales team. The event will provide a fantastic opportunity to meet a supportive business network committed to acting for forests, people and nature.

The event will be hosted by Orchard Media at their premises on Trade Street, Cardiff, and ethically sourced coffee and pastries will be provided. 

9 April | Deforestation Free Business (DFB) Champions Read More »

A large wave crashes onto the edge of the pier with a visible lighthouse in Porthcawl.

National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICW) launches research project into climate change and engagement with the public

This week NICW has launched a new climate research project run by Cynnal Cymru to explore how climate change is communicated to communities. Over five months, the research team will analyse current trends and meet with communities to ultimately help public bodies engage better with the public to manage long-term climate risks.

Climate change is a serious issue that will transform landscapes worldwide, including Wales. The impact will be particularly significant here in Wales, where 60% of the population and the infrastructure we depend on are located in coastal areas. Many communities in these areas are situated below the high tide line, and rising sea levels and increased storms will gradually erode coastlines at a rate of 20-67m every 100 years. This rate is expected to increase to 82-175m depending on the level of carbon emissions.

However, rising sea levels are not the only change that the people of Wales will experience. Prolonged heat waves, heavy storms, and droughts might become the new norm, posing significant challenges to everyone. Therefore, it is essential to consider these impacts when maintaining and upgrading the infrastructure, which is often over 200 years old.

It is also crucial to recognise that the likelihood and severity of these risks will increase in the coming decades. Public bodies, the Welsh Government, and other important stakeholders must make critical decisions on responding to this risk, which may require responding to this risk and ensuring that communities are also engaged in the difficult decisions around planning and investment.

About the Project

The new project launched on November 6, 2023 and is set to end in March 2024. Its main objective is to help public bodies make better decisions and engage with the public to manage long-term climate risks. This learning will be applied to other climate threats as well. The project will focus on engaging those who are directly or indirectly affected by the risks, as well as the wider public, who may be affected in the future by the use of our nation’s infrastructure assets or in their homes. 

To accomplish these goals, the project will analyse current and emerging data about climate threats and ways to communicate these threats through interviews with stakeholders, including the NICW. Additionally, the analysis of the call for evidence, which is currently open, will be considered. Ultimately, this is a scoping project that aims to assist NICW in establishing a wider research program for 2024/2025 and provide recommendations on governance.

Cynnal Cymru, a sustainable development charity, was chosen to run the project due to their innovative approach to how the public, including policymakers, can act in the face of uncertainty.

Cynnal Cymru

“We are excited to contribute to this important initiative by providing direct insight on climate, engagement, and decision-making to those whose decisions will directly impact the well-being of communities in Wales”.

Helen Armstrong 

“We commissioned this project because we wanted to be pushed and challenged about how we think and communicate climate change with the public and decision-makers in Wales.” 

Steve Brooks 

“Climate change affects us all, but its effects vary across Wales and we want to ensure diverse voices are part of our strategy.” 

About the National Infrastructure 

The National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICW) was established in 2018 as an independent, non-statutory advisory body to Welsh Ministers. Its key purpose is to analyse, advise and make recommendations on Wales’ longer-term strategic economic and environmental infrastructure needs over a 5-80-year period. Welsh Ministers have recently set the NICW a new remit for this Senedd term which includes investigating and making recommendations to the Welsh Government on climate change resilience.  

About Cynnal Cymru 

Since 2002, Cynnal Cymru has paved the way for sustainable development in Wales. We aim to help organisations create a fairer and more secure future for all through training, consultancy, research, and facilitation. A fair and secure future is sustainable and climate literate, which is why we provide training and consultancy as a partner of the Carbon Literacy Project and across other sustainability areas. Our Fair Work team help businesses create fairer working practices as the Welsh accreditor of the real Living Wage. 

National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICW) launches research project into climate change and engagement with the public Read More »

Take action for nature - Event resources & links

How to take action for nature

For making links with voluntary or community organisations in your local area, the County Voluntary Council CVC is a good place to start. You can find your nearest CVC by visiting their website and scrolling down to the bottom of the page.

For specialist nature advice, you can contact the Local Nature Partnership Coordinator for your local authority area and find ideas for projects to support or link in with on the LNP Cymru website.

For a monthly calendar of seasonal actions you take for nature at home or at work, we have the Nature Wise Actions for All Seasons calendar.

There are also great resources for ideas on environmental volunteering, monitoring and recording, community gardens and more on the Wales Biodiversity Partnership website.

If you have any community project links, be sure to check out the Local Places for Nature scheme that provides free guidance and free ‘garden packs’  with plants, seeds and tools, to groups wanting to create and care for wildlife-friendly areas.

And finally, if you would like to learn more about ecosystems – how to understand them, talk about them and take action to protect and restore them – join one of our next Nature Wise training sessions.

Cynnal Cymru members benefit from one free training place per year on one of our our Nature Wise or Carbon Literacy open training courses.

A full event summary and round-up will be available soon.

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Cynnal Cymru welcomes two new staff members

In the last month, Cynnal Cymru has welcomed two new employees to support our growing work programme. Our team of 17 sustainability specialists work to support organisations across three core programme areas: (i) low carbon economy, (ii) natural environment and (iii) fair and just society.

To support our connections agenda, we welcome our new Policy Engagement officer Phoebe Nicklin. They will primarily be working on the Foundational Economy network that Cynnal Cymru facilitates on behalf of Welsh Government.

To support our internal operations, we welcome Beli Evans as our Communications and Marketing Officer. They will be part of a team of creatives, advisors, trainers and facilitators, who are passionate about supporting our clients, members and communities to take bold decisions for a fairer and more secure future.

Phoebe Nicklin

Phoebe is the Policy and Engagement officer supporting the Foundational Economy network that Cynnal Cymru currently facilitates on behalf of Welsh Government. She also works to build collaboration around sustainability issues including fair work, a just transition, climate and biodiversity.

Phoebe has a diverse set of skills and knowledge from previously working for Cardiff University on research and community engagement projects to connect Welsh communities to nature for health and wellbeing. Phoebe has a strong background in innovation, working with the NHS on healthcare initiatives to encourage engagement with green spaces, increasing biodiversity through rewilding, pollinator and citizen science projects.

Phoebe is excited to be supporting the Foundational economy network as she is passionate about equality and access to essential goods and services. 

Outside of work Phoebe enjoys spending time in nature, ice skating, gaming and gardening. 

Beli Evans

Beli joins Cynnal Cymru as the Marketing and Communications Officer. They have spent the past decade in similar communications roles across the nonprofit sector, including most recently as the Marketing and Communications Director for SpokesPerson CIC, improving cycling accessibility across Cardiff and South Wales.

Beli is excited about the opportunity to delve more into climate and sustainability communications and engage more closely with Cynnal Cymru’s wide array of communities and stakeholders. They are an expert in trans and disability accessibility and look forward to bringing that to the role.

Beli’s life and career so far has been varied in kind and location – ask them about living and working in LA or their early career as a dog trainer! Outside of work, you’ll find them singing in Songbirds Choir, organising with Disability Collective Cymru and South Wales Drag King Collective, or hunkered down finishing their novel.

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