Guide

A practical guide to a particular topic

Top tips for supporting nature, biodiversity and well-being at work

Supporting nature in the workplace, has multiple benefits for people, plants and pollinators.

A recent report in Harvard Business Review demonstrated that even small interventions to increase access to nature – in offices from Canada to China – increased staff creativity, productivity and helpfulness. Natural England’s “Links between natural environments and mental health” 2022 paper also affirms that spending time in natural environments is associated with positive outcomes for mental health, stress and psycho-social wellbeing.

Both reports indicate that increasing access to nature need not be large-scale, expensive or onerous to generate these benefits. Whilst not every organisation can invest in a green roof or living wall, even micro spaces can become ‘stepping stones’ to connect up habitats and provide feeding stations for wildlife. For staff too time-pressed to fit in a regular nature walk, daily glimpses of nature at work and a chance to see, smell or hear our incredible biodiversity are also effective in boosting mood and performance.

Public bodies already have a duty, under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, to maintain and enhance biodiversity and their partners and suppliers are being asked to showcase their biodiversity commitments too when they tender for public contracts.

With all these reasons to incorporate nature more in both our personal and professional lives, we are delighted to share some top tips to help!

How you can take action for nature

Let it grow!

Take part in No Mow May and Let it Bloom June – Plantlife’s annual campaign urging everyone to pack away the lawnmower, let wildflowers grow freely and help nature. By letting it grow, we can support pollinators and help to restore pockets of species-rich grassland. So, whether you’re in a city, town or the countryside, let it grow!

Adopt a green space

Adopt a verge or a green space near your place of work. Download Plantlife’s ‘Road verge and green space management best practice’ guides and learn how to transform verges and green spaces.

Small is beautiful

No lawn or green space is too small! Even the smallest wild patch can provide vital food needed by bees and butterflies, connecting us with nature and giving nature the best start to summer. 

Tall colourful wild flowers growing through a crack in the paving

‘Nature isn’t neat’

Check out the MonLife’s ‘Nature isn’t Neat’, approach to establishing joined-up green space management to create wildflower-rich pollinator habitats across Gwent local authority areas. This includes a comprehensive toolkit to support organisations and community groups.

Turn a neglected space into a vibrant garden

Keep Wales Tidy are giving away free garden packs to community groups, schools and other community-based organisations to turn neglected spaces into vibrant gardens. Whether you want to grow fruit and veg, create a green community hub, or boost local biodiversity, there are several packs to choose from.

‘Biodiversity Basics’

If you are a community or town councillor, you can take part in One Voice Wales Biodiversity Basics (Module 25 – Biodiversity basics Part 1 and Module 26 Part 2) designed by the Cynnal Cymru training team. This course teaches the basics of biodiversity, nature recovery and ecology to enable good decisions and effective Biodiversity Action Plans.

Citizen science

If access to land in your work place or at home is limited, why not explore biodiversity in your local area by using the LERC App, contributing to nature conservation, planning, research and education by submitting biodiversity records.

You can also help control and reduce the spread of invasive species at home or work with the help of this easy-to-use toolkit from the Wales Resilient Ecological Network.

Increasing nature & biodiversity at your business premises

Using the expertise of its Landscape Architecture team, Groundwork has pulled together a free Nature & Biodiversity toolkit which outlines the different nature-based features your business could consider at different scales of investment and impact.

Empower your team

Our own Nature Wise course is a great foundation for all your team, to understand how your organisation can support nature recovery for Wales. Our course will help you to understand our ecosystems, nature recovery, and our individual and collective responsibility to nature in Wales.

Become Nature Wise!

Practical examples of organisations taking action for nature

From small growing initiatives to site-wide biodiversity action plans, the following businesses and organisations are already taking action to increase biodiversity within their community and place of work.

1. Incredible Edible Network

Transport for Wales are supporting and working with the ‘Incredible Edible Network’ of growing initiatives including ‘Incredible Edible Abergavenny’ and Machynlleth (via Edible Mach) which plant fruit and vegetables in public places for anyone to help themselves.

2. Action on Climate Emergency

Action on Climate Emergency (ACE) Monmouth are a community group supporting a variety of nature-based initiatives to boost biodiversity and carbon capture. This includes coordinating seed swaps, a pesticide free Monmouth, sustainable open gardens and supporting nature enhancement in school gardens.

3. Y Stiwdio – A place to make, learn and grow

Y Stiwdio in Pembrokeshire is a creative space where wellies are welcome. A place to make, learn and grow. Y Stiwdio volunteers have created a community described as ‘A special place for all of us with secluded seating and a variety of wildlife-friendly plants to enhance the centre of the village’.

4. Cardiff University – Ecosystem resilience and biodiversity action plan 2024-2026

Cynnal Cymru has office space in the Sbarc|Spark building in Cathays Cardiff. While it is located in an urban area, we were pleased to discover the surrounding land was being used to create wildlife friendly spaces including mini meadows, hedgerows and a bug hotel. The Ecosystem Resilience and Biodiversity Action Plan, sets out how Cardiff University are going to maintain and enhance biodiversity and promote ecosystem resilience across Cardiff University’s campuses.

5. Capital Coated Steel – Biodiversity garden

Capital Coated Steel are an excellent example of how a steel manufacturer has made space for nature on a previously derelict site. The Biodiversity garden supports staff well-being, helps to educate visitors and repurposes waste. The project initiated by, Simon Nurse, and co-created with his team, has now taken on a life of it’s own! You can follow the latest updates on Simon’s Linkedin page.

6. Greener Grangetown, Cardiff – Sustainable Drainage Systems

Greener Grange is a nature-based intervention to retrofit a sustainable drainage system into existing urban streets, creating over 100 raingardens while leaving space for parking and other needs. Not only does the system reduce flooding, it has increased biodiversity and provides multiple benefits to the local community. You can read more about the Green Grangetown project on the Nature Based Solutions hub.

Top tips for supporting nature, biodiversity and well-being at work Read More »

5 ways to support and celebrate nature

1. Connecting with nature

Spending time in nature has many positive benefits to our health and well-being. ‘Green spaces such as parks, forests and gardens have been shown to have a significant positive impact on physical and mental wellbeing, promoting resilience, social connection and connection to nature.’ Cardiff University: Green social prescribing.

Get a well-being boost from just 20 minutes a day outside. Gareth Clubb, Director of WWF Cymru shares 8 ways to get your daily dose of nature as part of their ‘Prescription for Nature campaign’.

2. Making space for nature

“Imagination and commitment are more important than financial resources” Simon Nurse, from

Capital Coated Steel demonstrates how creating a wildlife-friendly garden at work has multiple benefits for people and pollinators.

A wildlife garden with lots of flower filled wooden planters and beehives

Capital Coated Steel’s biodiversity and well-being garden

See case study ↗

From creating a community orchard to turning a neglected space into a vibrant garden, the Local Places for Nature project from Keep Wales Tidy can helps groups and organisations of all shapes and sizes to create a space for nature.

3. Volunteering in your community

From tree planting with Stump up for Trees in Bannau Brycheiniog to litter picking with Keep Wales Tidy there are many fantastic volunteering opportunities across Wales. A good place to start is by searching for ‘environmental volunteering opportunities in Wales’ via your favourite search engine or visiting the Volunteering Wales website.

For specialist nature advice in your local area, you can contact your Local Nature Partnership Coordinator to find out about projects and volunteering opportunities on your doorstop.

4. Building positive partnerships

Collaboration is at the heart of the sustainability movement in Wales and is embedded into the Well-being of Future Generations Act through the Five Ways of Working. By building in opportunities for collaboration at the start of a project can lead to unexpected innovation.

Size of Wales, have an impressive history of creating positive partnerships that support people and protect tropical forests. The Deforestation Free menu, is an excellent example of how working with the Cookalong Clwb, they were able to inspire children to advocate for sustainable, deforestation-free school meals, with the Monmouthshire County Council committing to becoming the Wales’ first Deforestation Free Champion.

Sign up to the Cynnal Cymru newsletter for a monthly round up of sustainability news and opportunities.

A growing area for collaboration between small businesses is that of public sector and corporate tendering through sites like Sell2Wales.

Networks like People, Planet, Pint often have regional hosts and are a great opportunity to meet like-minds.

5. Feeling empowered to speak out

“Between 80 and 89% of the world’s people want their governments to be doing more to address climate change.” The Guardian: The 89 Percent Project. We often hear in our training, how people are worried about climate damage and the future. They think they’re alone, so they don’t want to speak up.

Through our Nature Wise and Carbon Literacy courses, we bring people together on journey to learn about why it matters, what you can do to make a difference and how you can develop the confidence to speak out.

You’re not alone!

5 ways to support and celebrate nature Read More »

Adaptation: Are we climate ready?

Here in Wales, we are already seeing the impacts of climate change with wetter winters, warmer summers, and more unpredictable weather patterns.

The results of these events can be devastating, impacting our homes, businesses operations, local infrastructure, transport, energy systems, our health and our communities.

This guide provides an overview of how your organisation could be affected by weather – including extreme events – and what steps you can take to prepare for the impact of climate change – both in the present and future – by developing or contributing to an adaptation plan.

What is climate change adaptation?                       

Climate mitigation

Climate change mitigation means avoiding and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

Climate adaptation

Climate change adaptation means altering our behaviour, systems, and – in some cases – way of life to protect assets, buildings, businesses, people, the environment and society from the worst projected impacts of climate change.

Climate resilience

Climate resilience can also be used to refer to adaptation.

A certain amount of climate change has already occurred, and whatever amount of mitigation we do, a degree of future climate change is inevitable.

Adaptation is about responding to the local impacts of climate change and reducing our vulnerabilities to these impacts. For Wales, impacts may include flooding and extreme heat.

Increasing flood protection (through hard engineering or nature-based solutions such as restoring peat bogs) or planting street trees in cities (which have a cooling effect) are both examples of adaptation.

Some adaptation examples ALSO mitigate climate change.

Why do we need to take action?

“Wales is our home, and we need to protect it for the benefit of future generations. We know that the increased frequency and intensity of flooding, coastal erosion, storms, heatwaves and droughts have widespread impacts across the whole of Wales, from our coastal cities to the South Wales Valleys, to the rural landscapes of Mid and North Wales. Everyone will be affected, and we all need to understand the risks and prepare for the future.” Climate Adaptation Strategy for Wales 2024

Climate change is already happening. In 2023-24 Wales experienced the wettest winter since records began. In July 2022, a new maximum daily temperature was recorded in Wales of 37.1°C in Hawarden Airport, Flintshire.

Flooding and extreme heat are already affecting daily life for many people in our own communities as well as further afield; it’s not just a future risk.

The Climate Change Committee’s Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3-IA) has identified 61 risks and opportunities from climate change in Wales, including to business, infrastructure, housing, the natural environment, our health, and risks from the impacts of climate change internationally.

We are in a climate emergency

Our global efforts are not enough to avoid inevitable impacts from climate change. We need to adapt to the impacts that are already happening, and those that are likely to happen. It is therefore crucial that any adaptation strategy is developed alongside an initial plan of action with practical actions that can be implemented quickly on the ground.

Take action – what can you do?

For businesses and organisations, there are several actions you can take.

  • Assessing your risk

    Assess your risk to extreme weather events. This can be done by reviewing the impact from previous extreme weather events and looking at future trends.

  • Addressing your risk

    Create, update and manage your risk register or climate adaptation plan.   You can create or update a risk register for your organisation to ensure that your operations, staff, customers and suppliers can respond to extreme weather events (flooding, heat, wildfires, ice and snow) and identify which individuals on your team are in charge of the response.

  • Working together to produce local adaptation plans

    Work with others in your area to develop a local adaptation plan for your local business estate, community or local authority area.   The impacts of extreme weather are often complex and best planned for along with others in a defined space or area. This activity is often coordinated by public bodies such as local authorities or Public Service Boards.

Resources: Assessing your risk

Climate Change Committee | Adapting to climate change progress in Wales

An independent assessment of progress in adapting to climate change in Wales.

UK Climate Risk | Summary for Wales – Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3-IA)

The independent assessment used to help inform the third UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3) assesses 61 risks and opportunities from climate change in Wales, including to business, infrastructure, housing, the natural environment, our health, and risks from the impacts of climate change internationally.

Natural Resources Wales | Climate Change risk assessment framework for PSBs

Section 38 of the Well-being of Future Generations Act requires Public Service Boards (PSBs) to take account of the latest UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) when preparing their Well-being Assessments. This framework has been created by NRW in collaboration with the Welsh Government and Public Health Wales, for use by PSB practitioners.

NICW | A Perfect Storm: Is Wales doing enough to co-ordinate action and engage communities in adapting our infrastructure to a changing climate? Highlights the issues faced by infrastructure providers and communities in engaging with, and responding to, the impacts of climate change.

DataMapWales | Data and maps from the Welsh public sector. Includes maps showing local climate patterns and National flood hazard maps.

The Met Office | Local Authority Climate Explorer

The Met Office’s Local Authority Climate Explorer helps UK Local Authorities and others understand climate risks and build resilience. Access local Climate Reports, explore the Climate Explorer, and find guidance on assessing risks and taking action to adapt to climate change.

Resources: Addressing your risk

Welsh Government | Climate Adaptation Strategy for Wales (2024) — Wales’s strategic approach to adapting to climate change. Here you will find 15 strategic cross-sector adaptation action plans. Each action plan sets out what a climate resilient future would look like, Welsh Government actions and the roles and actions needed from wider stakeholders. This includes their ‘asks’ for the general public, public sector, Welsh business and industry.

These action plans are broadly aligned with the 12 systems set out within the Climate Change Committee’s Climate adaptation monitoring framework.

Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) Hub |Aims to address climate risks by examining the levers of change for adaptation in the UK and advancing transformative climate adaptation strategies. Features project examples and stories from Wales including the Fairbourne coastal risk management learning project.

West Midlands Combined Authority | Climate Adaptation Literacy Training. Training to help your staff understand and respond to climate risk.

Addressing your risk – Communities

Flooding

Storms

Cold Weather

Hot Weather

Wildfires

Addressing your risk – Business and organisations

Business Wales | Natural Resources Wales have updated guidance on how to prepare your business for a flood

Business Wales | Future Proofing Toolkit

Sustainability West Midlands | Weathering the storm

A practical guide for SMEs, to help you understand how you could be affected by weather, including extreme events, and how you can improve your chances of a quick recovery. The guide also sets out business opportunities from responding to a changing climate and provides useful tools and contact information to help you become more resilient.

Cadw | Adapting to Climate Change – a climate adaptation plan for Wales’s historic environment.

Resources: Working together

Working together to produce local adaptation plans

Cwm Taf Morgannwg | Climate Change Risk Assessment

This is a climate change risk assessment report and resource for the Public Service Board area, providing information for businesses, communities and residents in the area on the risks, and the actions they can take to minimise impact.

Sustainability West Midlands | Climate Change Adaptation good practice examples

This document provides a compendium of good practice examples that demonstrate climate change adaptation planning and action that UK local authorities are taking.

 Top tips for preparing an adaptation plan

With thanks to Alan Carr from Sustainability West Midlands for originally sharing his ‘Top tips for adaptation planning’ at a recent Cynnal Cymru membership event and for advice on developing local adaptation plans.

Develop your understanding of climate change and the risks – and ensure it is evidence-based

By learning more about climate change, you will be better equipped to understand the climate risks you face. The Met Office provides guidance on what climate change is, what it means for the UK, and how it is linked to extreme weather and its impacts.

From real-life stories from your stakeholders to help identify flood risk areas, to climate projection data; use existing tools and datasets to help you identify the risks now and in the future.

The Met Office’s Local Authority Climate Service provides tools and resources that have been specifically designed for Local Authorities, to help you better understand climate change in your local area and support your adaptation journey.

Identify and involve key stakeholders from the beginning on a place-based approach

Successful adaptation plans need to involve the whole community, not just one organisation. If you are an organisation, make sure your own plan aligns with anything going on at a place level; this typically sits with your local council.

Identify and involve key stakeholders from start to finish. Local knowledge is vital for a successful plan. You need to know what else is happening in the area, how adaptation could be integrated into existing good practice or on-going activity, and where specific problems and concerns lie, so that you can tailor your actions accordingly. This could involve workshops, surveys, and discussions with a variety of stakeholders.

Keep it action-oriented, focused and prioritised on ‘no regret’ or ‘quick win’ actions.

We’re in a climate emergency, so keep your plan action oriented.

What is your area of focus? You cannot do everything, but you can prioritise where you can make a difference. This could include a local community-driven approach where you are able to identify small steps at community or household level.

To help you prioritise actions for an adaptation plan, rank them by urgency, feasibility, and potential co-benefits.

‘No regret’ or ‘low regret’ actions are cost-effective or inexpensive to implement and are often a good place to start. Examples include visible quick wins like tree planting or water saving.

Align actions with existing policy, co-benefits or existing investment

Show how your adaptation aligns with existing corporate plans, net zero targets or with the Well-being of Future Generations Act and Public Service Boards. This helps to make a business case by demonstrating how it might strengthen the economy or improve health benefits.

Consider actions that also support mitigation such as helping to increase biodiversity or to improve health.

Dedicated funding may be scarce, so look at how you could integrate adaptation plans into net zero and retrofit programs to maximise resources.

Continue monitoring and reporting on progress and collaborating with partners

Set up accountability and monitoring early on. This must be built in from the start of the process. Then use the monitoring and reporting, together with site visits in the plan area, to help to continue partnership building.

Project examples for local adaptation plans

Photo of an urban rain garden designed to slow down rain water to reduce flooding.

ARUP | Greener Grangetown

Greener Grangetown is a sustainable drainage system (SuDS) project that has also been designed to transform the quality of the public realm and improve cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. Their pioneering approach was brought together by civil engineers and the placemaking team to create ‘raingardens’ that slow rainwater run-off flows and remove contaminants, cleaning and diverting rainwater directly into the nearby River Taff.

10,000 Raingardens for Scotland

The 10,000 Raingardens for Scotland campaign is designed to promote and encourage the use of raingardens as a sustainable and natural way to manage water, particularly in urban areas. It will also support the creation of wildlife-friendly, accessible green spaces, reduce pollution, and provide attractive places for people to visit.

The Green Valleys

The Green Valleys (Wales) is a multi-award-winning Community Interest Company based in Bannau Brycheiniog (formerly the Brecon Beacons), Wales. They support communities to generate sustainable social, economic and environmental benefits through transition to a low carbon emission future. This includes climate adaptation measures such as biodiversity and woodland creation. 

Download the ‘Are we climate ready?’ guide

How can Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales help?

Nature-Based Solutions have an important part to play in adapting to the impacts of climate change. Our Nature Wise Eco Literacy course can help you understand the risk and identify actions that you, your business or your community can take as a ‘quick win’.

Our accredited Carbon Literacy training includes a section on climate adaptation within the context of mitigation and encourages individuals to identify and pledge actions for change at home, in their communities or workplaces.

Our members and funders support and contribute to good practice networks and events, which have included climate adaptation and planning for the future.

Adaptation: Are we climate ready? Read More »

Environmental Management Systems

An EMS is a structured framework of policies, procedures and practices which help organisations assess, manage and improve their environmental impact.

Consuming electricity and water, producing waste, operating machinery and processing natural resources – these are just some of the ways that businesses interact with the environment at operational level and through their supply chains.  

Businesses of all sizes are realising the need to understand, manage and improve their environmental impacts to ensure they can operate and grow sustainably. An Environmental Management System (EMS) proportionate to the size and activities of the organisation is a key framework for helping businesses to do this. 

However, it can be more challenging for SMEs to measure, manage and report on climate and environmental goals, due to constraints of time, cost and human resources. So, what are the options? Do you need to comply with the internationally recognised ISO 14001 or are there alternatives? 

We hope that this guide will help with understanding (i) the key elements of an EMS, (ii) the benefits and opportunities they bring for SMEs and (iii) provide an overview of the different certification standards for EMS implementation and support for SMEs in Wales. 

Remember, there are many benefits to gaining an EMS certification but it is the journey towards it that counts in terms of practical actions and outputs. All certifications will require resource. If this is not possible for your organisation right now we hope that this guide will still be valuable to steering you towards meaningful actions.    

What is an EMS?

An EMS is a structured framework of policies, procedures and practices which help organisations assess, manage and improve their environmental impact.  

The primary goals of an EMS are to ensure: 

  • Compliance with environmental requirements (for example, under an environmental permit issued by Natural Resources Wales) 
  • The efficient use of resources 
  • Waste reduction and minimal pollution 
  • The continual improvement of environmental performance 

Read the ISO article on ‘The benefits of implementing an environmental management system for your business.’  

A core strength of any EMS should be enabling continual improvement of environmental performance. Continual improvement as defined in ISO 14001, refers to recurring activities to enhance environmental performance. For example, organisations can identify improvement opportunities through audits and monitoring progress against objectives and targets.  

For an SME, this could be implementing behaviour change initiatives to support carbon reduction and nature related goals, such as eliminating deforestation. However, from a wider perspective, continuous improvement might look like an increasing number of business areas or processes being covered by the EMS, or an accumulation of knowledge and skills in dealing with environmental issues. Overall, it’s about a move from operational management of the environment to a more strategic approach.  

The benefits of implementing an EMS for SMEs in Wales

  • Manage and improve environmental impacts: by integrating environmental considerations into their operations, SMEs can minimise their ecological footprint and reduce negative impacts on the environment. 
  • Risk Management: The tools within an EMS provide a systematic approach to identifying and managing environmental risks and help SMEs to future proof their business and avoid potential liabilities and disruptions. 
  • Cost savings: Implementing efficient resource management practices can lead to cost savings for SMEs. By optimising energy and water usage, reducing waste generation, and implementing recycling initiatives, SMEs may see reductions in utilities bills and other financial benefits from more efficient and innovative processes. 
  • Compliance with regulations: An EMS helps SMEs comply with environmental regulations and legal requirements. By staying up to date with environmental legislation, SMEs can avoid penalties and legal issues. 
  • Enhanced reputation and competitive advantage: Demonstrating a commitment to environmental sustainability is important for many potential employees and customers. Increasingly, it is also a requirement for public sector buyers to take into account the sustainability of their contractors. For example, in Wales, the Social Partnerships and Public Procurement (Wales) Act introduced a Socially Responsible Procurement Duty and at UK level,  PPN 06/21 mandates that carbon reduction plans be taken into account in major government procurement contracts. 
  • Improved access to finance: An EMS can help SMEs to identify and manage steps they can take to fulfil requirements under Business Wales’ Green Growth Pledge. It can also act as the catalyst for innovation financing, for example, the Green Business Loan Scheme from Development Bank of Wales. 

EMS Standards and Certifications

When starting out to create an EMS, there are a number of standards available for SMEs in Wales. The main ones covered in this guide are: 

ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management Systems – Requirements and Guidance for Use)  

The most widely used voluntary EMS standard globally, providing a holistic framework ‘encompassing all aspects of an organisation’s environmental management and offering tools for continuous improvement’. Certification is available for organisations that have implemented the requirements of ISO 14001.  

ISO 14005:2019 (Environmental Management Systems – Guidance for a flexible approach to phased implementation) 

This standard provides guidance for a phased approach to establish, implement, maintain and improve an EMS. It may be particularly useful for SMEs as it provides flexibility and allows organisations to develop their EMS at their own pace. Full implementation of the guidance will result in an EMS that aligns with ISO14001.  

Note that BSI’s earlier guidance standard for SMEs, BS8555, which also provided a phased approach to EMS implementation has now been withdrawn and replaced by ISO 14005.  

Groundwork’s Green Dragon Standard 

Green Dragon is a UK based environmental accreditation awarded to ‘businesses that take action to understand, monitor and control their impacts on the environment’. It operates on a staged based system over five levels, allowing a business to progress in its own time.  At Level 5 the Green Dragon standard is equivalent to ISO 14001.  One of the advantages of Green Dragon is its recognition and support from Business Wales and its acknowledgement in Welsh Government procurement processes. 

Green Key / Gorian Gwyrdd  

Green Key is an eco-accreditation awarded to businesses operating in the tourism sector. Green Key certified businesses meet a set of high standard environmental requirements across 13 areas including environmental management, staff involvement, energy and water conservation, waste management, and food and beverage. In Wales, Green Key is operated by Keep Wales Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).  

EU’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)

EMAS is the EU’s voluntary scheme applicable to all organisations in the public and private sectors who want to evaluate, manage and improve their environmental performance. EMAS is broader and more rigorous than ISO14001 (as explained below) but ISO 14001 satisfies the requirements for the EMS component. Following Brexit, the UK no longer has a ‘competent body’ responsible for EMAS, however, organisations doing business in the EU might find EMAS Global registration useful and we have included information about the main requirements and links to further information in this document for completeness. 

It is worth noting that businesses do not need to adhere to a certain standard for their EMS and might decide to design a bespoke system. However, using one of the available standards might well be less resource intensive and can help to ensure a robust EMS that provides reassurance to stakeholders.  

The following sections of this guide provide a bit more detail about the above standards to help you identify which might be the right approach for your business.   

Please note this is a guide based on a summary of available online information. Please check the web links given for the most accurate and up to date details. 

4. International EMS standards ​

ISO14001:2015 (Environmental Management Systems – Requirements and Guidance for Use) 

ISO 14001:2015 is an internationally recognised, holistic framework for an EMS, encompassing all aspects of an organisation’s environmental impact and offering tools for continuous improvement.  

What is involved? 

The basis of ISO 14001 (as with other EMS standards) is the management system process Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA). The PDCA cycle is applied to the overall EMS, as well as individual processes, and enables organisations to achieve continual improvements to their environmental performance through improvements to the EMS. 

The Guidance describes the requirements for setting up and implementing an EMS including: 

An environmental policy: A statement that outlines an organisation’s commitment to environmental sustainability. 

Planning: This involves identifying environmental aspects and objectives of an organisation, setting targets and establishing programmes to achieve them. 

Implementation: This stage involves putting plans into action, allocating resources and assigning responsibilities. 

Checking: Regular monitoring of performance against objectives and targets is critical to ensure the timely implementation of corrective actions. 

Management review: A formal review of the EMS supports its continued effectiveness and suitability. 

EMS Plan-Do-Check-Act Model (Source: Westcon,2017, online) 

Costs, Certification and Training  

The standard can be purchased from the ISO website for approximately £130 and businesses can choose to implement the standard without the costs of certification. There are also various free and IEMA accredited training modules to assist with implementation. 

As mentioned above, certification is optional but can provide both organisations and their customers assurance that ISO 14001 has been implemented in a robust manner.  

Costs of certification from organisations accredited by The UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) vary but online quotes without commitment can be readily obtained. 

Certification is typically awarded for three years, subject to annual surveillance visits. The standard itself undergoes revisions periodically (typically every 5-10 years).  

ISO 14005:2019 (Environmental Management Systems – Guidance for a flexible approach to phased implementation) 

Whilst ISO 14001 is applicable to all types and sizes of organisation, the full implementation of an EMS at the same time might be prove challenging for some organisations and particularly SMEs where time, cost and human resources can be limited.  

At international level, a phased approach to implementing an EMS was therefore developed (previously the BSI standard BS8555:2016 which has been subsumed by ISO 14005) to encourage and guide SMEs to meet the requirements of ISO 14001. 

What is involved? 

The phased approach in ISO 14005 is designed to provide flexibility for an organisation to develop their EMS over a number of phases to ultimately meet the requirements of ISO 14001. 

The number of phases an organisation chooses to implement at any one time is flexible and can be determined depending on resources and priorities. Each phase is broken down into six consecutive stages to be completed over time. SMEs can monitor progress using the maturity matrix in Annex A of ISO 14005 and the free supporting documents provided by ISO 14005. 

The Assessment Sheet (on the supporting documents page) provided by ISO is a helpful tool that enables organizations to monitor and record progress through five levels of maturity corresponding to each EMS subclause. An EMS that satisfies the maturity Level 1 (Column 1) through to full maturity at Level 5 (Column 5) meets all the requirements for a particular clause of ISO 14001:2015. 

Costs, Certification and Training  

The Guidance can be downloaded from the ISO website for approximately £130. As the aim of ISO 14005 is to assist SMEs with reaching 14001, there is no separate certification for this standard. However, it is a good reference to turn to for ideas and practical examples on how to make your implementation of ISO 14001 more effective. 

Alternative EMS standards recognised in Wales

For SMEs based in Wales, there are alternatives to the above standards that are administered by national organisations and recognised by the public sector in the procurement process.

Groundwork Green Dragon Environmental Accreditation

The Green Dragon Environmental Accreditation is a comprehensive standard administered by Groundwork, a UKAS accredited inspection organisation. It is awarded to businesses that take action to understand, monitor and control their impacts on the environment. 

What is involved? 

Similar to ISO 14005, the standard operates on a staged based system (Levels 1-5), allowing organisations to join at any stage and progress their EMS in their own time. 

The five levels are: 

Level 1: Commitment to Environmental Management 

Level 2: Understanding environmental responsibilities 

Level 3: Managing environmental impacts 

Level 4: Environmental Management Programme 

Level 5: Continual environmental improvement 

Organisations can choose which level is appropriate to the nature and scale of their activities and upon completion of each level they will receive a certificate. At level 5, the Green Dragon standard is equivalent to ISO 14001. 

Groundwork provides several useful documents on its website to accompany the standard, including an Environmental Review Workbook. There is also a list of organisations across Wales who have achieved Green Dragon accreditation.   

Certification and costs 

To achieve and maintain the Green Dragon Environmental Standard, an annual audit with Groundwork is required. The cost of the audit varies depending on the level, with Level 3 being the most common entry point for organisations and costing.

Green Key – A sustainability standard for the tourism sector ​

Green Key is an international environmental certification programme for the tourism and hospitality industry. It has been awarded to more than 3,200 businesses from across the sector in 65 countries and is open to businesses from across the sector.  

Globally, Green Key is operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) who work with national partners on certification. In Wales, the Green Key certificate is managed by Keep Wales Tidy. 

Green Key promotes sustainable practices and recognises businesses that meet specific criteria related to environmental management and sustainability. Criteria are set out over 13 thematic areas including energy and water conservation, waste management, sustainable procurement, and environmental education. 

The FEE has developed criteria and explanatory notes for businesses in six different categories (hotels and resorts, small accommodation, campsites, restaurants, attractions and conference centres).  

In each category, there are ‘imperative’ and ‘guideline’ criteria. For example, creation of a sustainability policy and interaction with stakeholders are imperative criteria, whilst a target to reduce carbon footprint is a guideline criteria.  Each organisation applying for a Green Key certificate must achieve all imperative criteria and then for each subsequent year that they apply they must meet an additional 5% of the guideline criteria.  

In addition to the general benefits of EMS implementation, Keep Wales Tidy highlights that travellers and tourists are increasingly keen to support sustainable businesses and that investment in a Green Key certification is a key market differentiator. Keep Wales Tidy has collated case studies of organisations across Wales who have invested in Green Key. 

Certification and costs  

The application process for certification consists of three parts: 

Sending the application documents 

Receiving on-site audits 

Decision by an independent entity (third-party verification) 

More information about the application process in Wales can be found on the Keep Wales Tidy website. 

Keep Wales Tidy aims to keep certification costs affordable and to ensure Green Key is accessible to all tourism providers. Investment levels therefore vary depending on the size of the business: 

Costs are paid as part of the application prcess and then annually following updated verification (for more information see https://keepwalestidy.cymru/our-work/awards/green-key/).

Seren Scheme

The Seren Scheme is based on BS8555 and follows the same phased approach. Organizations can choose to use the Seren Scheme to achieve other EMS standards such as ISO 14001 or EMAS, or register at a phase that aligns with the nature and scale of their business and remain at that phase. 

The Seren Scheme is applicable to both large and small organizations and places a strong focus on continuous improvement. 

BS8555 is divided into 5 phases: 

  • Stage 1: Leadership, context, and commitment 
  • Stage 2: Ensure compliance 
  • Stage 3: Plan and develop the EMS 
  • Stage 4: Implement the EMS 
  • Stage 5: Check and update the EMS 

As long as organizations pass an annual inspection, they can stay at that particular phase indefinitely and use their EMS to demonstrate their commitment to environmental management to stakeholders and customers. 

The Seren Scheme is administered by a private company called Tarian Inspection Services, which conducts inspections in a friendly, down-to-earth, and highly practical manner. They ensure that companies have a robust Environmental Management System that enhances their credibility, good management, and cost savings. 

Further information can be found at http://www.serenscheme.com/. 

EU’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)

EMAS is a voluntary environmental management scheme designed by the European Commission. Its overall aim is to enable continuous improvement in the environmental performance of companies, language similar to that in ISO 14001. However, ISO 14001 aims for continual improvement of the system itself hopefully leading to improved environmental performance of the organisation. EMAS requires improved environmental performance of the organisation to be assessed through indicators relating to six core areas – energy efficiency, material efficiency, emissions, water, waste and land use with regards to biodiversity.  

EMAS is more rigorous than ISO 14001, however, ISO 14001 satisfies the EMS component of EMAS requirements.  

Registration with the scheme requires the following steps: 

Conduct a preliminary environmental review – this will be the baseline for improvement 

Adopt an environmental policy and programme in which you involve employees and external stakeholders  

Establish and implement an EMS 

Prepare an environmental statement  

The EMS and environmental statement to be verified and validated by an environmental verifier. 

Recognising the challenges faced by SMEs, EMAS has amended rules for SMEs to encourage participation in the scheme. These include verification every four years (rather than three) and publication of the environmental statement every two years, rather than annually. There is also financial support available in some Member States and a number of tools and guidance to assist SMEs. 

For more information, please see: 

EMAS presentation for organisations  

EMAS Easy Guidance – for SMEs 

EMAS Tools 

Indicative costs for EMAS registration 

In summary…

SMEs increasingly need to demonstrate an understanding of environmental impacts and a strategic approach to minimising climate and environmental impacts to satisfy potential customers and to future proof their business. 

In light of the prevalent tick-box culture in environmental matters, many organisations are seeking broader and more engaging systems, examining the impacts on their staff, communities, and supply chains.  

Regardless of the framework used for environmental, biodiversity, sustainability, or ESG reporting, businesses still need to adhere to similar concepts: focus on leadership and staff ownership, understand impacts, prioritise, plan, communicate, implement, and review. 

If you need further support or advice with any of these activities please reach out to our sustainability advisors.  

Environmental Management Systems Read More »

3 people in a conversation

How do we talk to people about climate and nature?

Communication and storytelling are crucial in persuading people to care and take action for climate and nature.   

It might be hard to grasp why some people don’t seem to care about nature or climate change, but for many, life is busy and already full of challenges and priorities. We have also become so disconnected from the natural world that it can be easy to forget that it’s essential to our existence. Unfortunately, just telling people why climate and nature matter, is unlikely to get them to change their mind or their habits. In fact, scare tactics have been shown to switch people off more than get them on board.  

To help you improve your approach to talking to your friends, family or colleagues, our training team have drawn on their shared experience to create their five top tips for communicating about nature and climate change. 

1. Focus on what’s possible, rather than what isn’t

Create a positive vision of a thriving future, and encourage people to share their own vision – storytelling can be a great tool for this. 

2. Appeal to people’s better self and encourage empathy

Most people want to be healthy and happy and would like the same for their family and friends – so highlight the tangible benefits of taking action on climate change. 

3. Remember the importance of listening

When communicating about climate change, what you hear is as important as what you say. Understanding why someone thinks the way they do will help you engage with them more effectively. 

4. Find some common ground

Avoid polarising arguments or rhetoric that can lead to ‘us and them’ or ‘everybody else’ thinking. Instead, highlight the things we have in common. 

5. Normalise positive behaviours

We tend to respond to things we see our peers doing, so provide some real, positive examples of how others are taking action.

If you want to know more? Check out these useful resources. 

To read: 

To watch: 

  • Colli Cymru i’r Môr – three-part series on iPlayer and S4C Clic looking at climate change in Wales and further afield. It’s presented in Welsh with English subtitles.  

To listen: 

To learn: 

You can also learn how to talk to people about climate change or the nature emergency as part of our Carbon Literacy or Nature Wise training courses.

How do we talk to people about climate and nature? Read More »

4 Ways to take action for nature in Wales

1. Volunteer with a local environmental group

    From tree planting with Stump up for Trees in Bannau Brycheiniog to campaigning with Climate Cymru, there are many fantastic volunteering opportunities across Wales. A good place to start is by searching for ‘environmental volunteering opportunities in Wales’ via your favourite search engine or visiting the Volunteering Wales website.

    2. Discover your Local Nature Partnership

    For specialist nature advice in your local area, you can contact your Local Nature Partnership Coordinator to find out about projects and volunteering opportunities on your doorstop.

    3. Make space for nature

    Are you ready to turn a neglected space into a vibrant garden where nature can thrive? Keep Wales Tidy’s Local Places for Nature scheme, provides free guidance and ‘garden packs’ with plants, seeds and tools, to groups wanting to create and care for wildlife-friendly areas.

    4. Be empowered through learning

    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.

      4 Ways to take action for nature in Wales Read More »

      Sustainability Guides for SMEs

      Sustainability Guides for SMEs

      How can a small or medium enterprise (SME) be sustainable in your actions? 

      Our Advice team are here to help you. 

      Check out these sustainability guides specifically designed for SMEs.

      Take action towards removing inequalities in your workplace.

      We provide actionable changes towards staff training, benefits, flexible working arrangements, and more. Creating a more inclusive environment for your staff is possible for organisations of any size and budget.

      Cynnal Cymru are the real Living Wage accreditor for Wales. Check out how you can become a Living Wage Employer.

      Reassess your suppliers and find new sources for materials in your work.

      Whether you’re a business that provides goods such as a shop or cafe, or if you’re an office-based business needing to purchase electronics and office supplies, you can consider where you get your materials and find more ethical sources.

      Do you know how workers are treated along your supply chain?

      It can be difficult to find out whether your suppliers are treating their workers fairly, which is where this guide can help. With key questions to ask yourself and your suppliers as well as actionable goals, you can find suppliers that you trust to treat their workers as fairly as you treat yours.

      Minimise your waste and find waste management strategies.

      We’re all aware of the amount of landfill and pollution on land, sea, and air, getting worse day by day. As a responsible business, if you want to go beyond basic reuse and recycle requirements, these tips and tricks can reassure you that you’re creating the least waste possible. We can never reduce our waste entirely, but we can always do more. 

      Understand and reduce your energy and water usage.

      As an island nation, we rely on shipping for many of our products. On top of tips to reduce water and energy usage in your supply chain by using local products and responsible importers, this guide will also help you understand how to track and limit your business’ daily energy usage. 

      Unsure how to use the guides? Learn more here

      Sustainability Guides for SMEs Read More »

      Wales in 2051: Agricultural healing and indigenous knowledge

      Wales in 2051

      In this fifth instalment of the Welcome to Wales in 2051 stories, we introduce our next character, Aman, a community farmer who tells us about the use of ancient agriculture practices to mitigate the impact extreme weather conditions have on food growing.

      Our previous story was about Luke, who told us how he remodelled the way in which the private sector works collaboratively to address pressing challenges. This week, our journalist turns his lens on a community farmer, Aman, a former refugee who shares his experience of developing a food cooperative with little prior knowledge in farming.

      A day in the life of Aman

      Just as the journalist was about to leave the hub, Aman, one of its members, arrived for a planning and brainstorming session with other growers and innovators. Luke insisted that Aman take the journalist to see his cooperative farm, and they agreed to meet the following day for a full tour of the farm.

      When Aman arrived the next morning he was carrying a flask of a freshly-brewed local alternative to coffee, a malted and roasted wheat drink that Polish people had popularised in Wales. “You see,” Aman said, “when coffee plantations were no longer suitable for producing coffee at scale, we turned to alternatives. It was really difficult at the beginning because coffee means so much to me, but if it weren’t for the intercultural exchange we have here in Wales, I would never have discovered the weird and wonderful alternatives that were at our doorstep.” While the journalist sipped the surprisingly delicious hot drink, Aman showed him pictures of the founding members of the cooperative. The photographs all showed smiling people standing in a field, and Aman was smiling too, even as he explained, “They, like me, lost everything they had due to a lack of adaptation in the places where they grew up. We all ended up here. Over time, as we began sharing our stories, we realised that we had all been through similar forms of pain and loss. That’s why we formed this cooperative, to ensure that none of us had to suffer alone. While we slowly worked to heal the soil that had been damaged and eroded by decades-long use of toxic pesticides and herbicides, we managed to heal some of our own traumas through sharing our stories and rebuilding together. What makes our cooperative unique is not just our innovative agricultural practices, but also our shared experiences and the sense of community we’ve built.”

      Multi-Cultural Learning and Collective Effort

      Aman gestured for the journalist to follow him. He wasn’t prepared for what he saw as he followed in Aman’s footsteps. A beautiful landscape rich with wildlife; trees bright with colour and the sparkle of water from ponds and pools; the air filled with the calls of birds, and nearby a folk song being sung by a group of women. It was all quite remarkable, and appeared to be a safe haven for people, wildlife and nature alike. But how was that even possible? he though dazedly. Haven’t all agricultural skills been lost by now because of mechanisation and automation, not to mention soil degradation and extreme weather conditions that make traditional farming in soil unsuitable? Clearly not here. The unexpected beauty and vibrancy of the farm left the journalist in awe, challenging his preconceived notions about modern agriculture.

      When he asked about it, Aman said, “I was lucky. When I arrived in Wales I was an asylum seeker, but the Welsh Government was keen to keep skills like farming going. So, like many other asylum seekers, I went to college, and alongside learning English, I learned about farming here. But I was also able to reflect on how we used to grow things back in my home country. This was encouraged as part of the multicultural exchange, and although it was difficult at first, over time I was able to heal some of the wounds, and soften those difficult memories of the journey of leaving my home.

      “Many other farmers worldwide participated in this programme, and we formed a little after-college club. Initially, we used the knowledge we gained from the programme to grew food at the local charity, simply as a collective and sociable hobby. We tried multiple different farming methods, and we saw that while some were largely unsuccessful, others were incredibly fruitful. A common denominator of the successful farming methods involved nurturing the soil and restoring healthy bacteria and fungi, to create fertile growing grounds for produce. So by trying, failing, experimenting and succeeding, we learned which methods worked well for the local land, and once this happened we started producing a lot of good-looking fruits and vegetables. This gave us the confidence to seek a bigger plot of land, to grow even more food. With the help of volunteers, we joined a community growing place in Cardiff, and again, we saw that urban centres with the right farming methods can produce food. Interestingly, an environmental researcher found that our farming practices enabled great drought and flooding resistance, which has since encouraged other local and distance farmers around Wales to try our mixed methods. Together we learned how to grow food in harsh weather conditions, and doing so gave us hope and became a metaphor for our own lives. We promised each other that whoever was granted their leave to remain status would open a cooperative.

      “And that’s what we did. I was the first to get granted permanent settlement, but there were others who quickly followed me, and we could provide further training for entrepreneurial refugees. It was a lot of work, and a lot of learning, and I came close to giving up more than once; but I had made a promise to my fellow farming buddies, and I couldn’t back down. So I continued, and I’m glad I did. Where you’re standing is the first plot of land that we all worked on as a farming cooperative, run by refugees for the whole community here. We distribute most of the food we grow to local schools and nearby hospitals. We also get lots of volunteers and we organise excursion days where school students can come and learn how we manage food.”

      Exploring Different Farming Practices to Accommodate Biodiversity

      While the journalist was jotting down notes, Aman moved to another plot, which, as he explained, “Has been written about by scholars.” He described how a few decades earlier, a type of open-field farming system was being practised on the Vile on the Gower peninsular. This medieval method of communal agriculture would once have been common, with farming families each attending to their own strip of land but working in cooperation to plan for the harvest. Fields would be left fallow every few years to allow the soil to recover, providing ground-nesting birds with camouflage and protection from predators. The ‘baulks’, soil-covered mounds that separated the strips, allowed small mammals to safely move across the cultivated land. Animals could find shelter and food within the nooks and crannies of medieval farms, along with a wide variety of plants.

      “So we replicated it,” Aman said, “and we also used other techniques, like communal watering methods from Spain, or the Kenyan dry weather method of growing from seeds, called “bunds”. These ideas were all locked inside peoples’ memories, or sometimes in books, stories that had been passed down through the generations, telling us how people used to tend to the soil to nourish it. So, through attending to each other’s cultural background and spending time together, we not only healed our wounds but also created this place.”

      Aman led the journalist to a new area, one very different to those he had seen so far. Tall vertical tubes had been placed in a circular formation, and a variety of different plants and vegetables grew out of openings in the tubes. They towered high over the journalist, who considered himself to be of above-average height, and he wondered who would have to ascend the structure to harvest the high-growing broccoli and kale. Aman explained that this was their aquaponic system, with fish swimming in water-filled tanks connected to the tubes. The fish waste provided nourishment for the plants in an almost closed-loop system. Aman added, “It’s an ancient system that originated in Japan, but over the last few decades it has been adopted by other countries. The knowledge was developed many years ago, so all we needed to do was bring ourselves up to speed. Well, I say ‘all’ –  not many of us knew how to look after fish, plants, water, nutrients and bacteria all at once! But we learned, and this is the result.

      “We don’t just use multicultural and ancient farming practices, we also use technology to help us prepare for the changing climate. We work with the hub’s researchers and innovators who help us identify suitable land for both nature and agriculture. We learned our lesson, to use local and indigenous knowledge and science together, not apart.”

      —

      Follow next week’s story about Cleo, a doctor in rural Wales who practices preventative care and explores the root causes of people’s ailments rather than treating the symptoms with medicine. 

      —

      How can we develop and use our skills needed to create a 2051 we are proud of?

      Have a look at our range of advice and training services.

      —

      Wales in 2051

      In this mini-series, we follow six characters as they explore sustainability, working life and community in Wales in 2051

      Wales in 2051: Agricultural healing and indigenous knowledge Read More »

      Sustainability glossary for businesses unpacked: Net Zero

      As a business owner, the word “net” is part of your vocabulary. You make net profit, and you have net profit margins. Net is, as you know it so well, what is left after you take away the expenses and tax. Net in the “Net Zero” is therefore what is left after you reduce your carbon emissions to zero.  

      Think of “Net Zero” as a shorthand for lowering carbon emissions from your entire operations to almost zero. However, the emissions that cannot be reduced any further, can be offset.  

      According to Climate Change News, this concept has emerged out of discussions in 2013 as to how to convince the world to fully decarbonise, in other words, to achieve zero emissions so that global temperature does not rise above 1.5C and therefore limit the impacts of the changing climate on this planet.  

      Knowing this may be difficult to embrace, as no economy or an individual can be emitting zero carbon, Net Zero was introduced instead. Since then, the concept has entered into everyday vocabulary; it has been translated into law in the UK and countless countries and companies have even pledged to be Net Zero by 2050.   

      Unlike carbon neutrality, the concept of Net Zero focuses on reduction of emissions as far as it is possible. It is not about offsetting what is emitted into the atmosphere, but rather, it is about offsetting what cannot be reduced after emissions are almost at zero. So when others speak of Net Zero, they hopefully mean the same thing. However, despite its wide use, there was no common definition and so multiple interpretations followed. So, if you feel you got it wrong, do not worry as Net Zero has only recently been defined. In 2022, Science-based Targets Initiative published a Net Zero standard for businesses and in it said that it covers “a company’s entire value chain emissions, including those produced by their own processes (scope 1), purchased electricity and heat (scope 2), and generated by suppliers and end-users (scope 3). Most companies will require deep decarbonization of 90-95% to reach net-zero under the Standard”1. 

      The key message here is that Net Zero means deep decarbonisation in phases in order to archive its target by 2050  while keeping your business profitable in the long term. 

      Here is what you can do:

      1. Calculate your carbon footprint – because knowing how much you emit and what parts of the operations have high emissions, you can be practical about decarbonisation. 
      1. Integrate decarbonisation strategy into your business strategy –  because to keep your business going for years to come, you must redesign your operations so they are not impacted by the changing climate, legislation, distruption to supply chains and consumer backlash, 
      1. Set targets and a decarbonisation plan – because this cannot be done in one day and as a business owner you know that having a plan and targets keeps you on the right track. 
      1. Be honest about your efforts before you make the pledge – because staff and consumers stand behind businesses that back up words with actions and as you know it all too well, without them you cannot trade for years to come.  

      Net Zero is an opportunity for businesses to thrive for years to come and to be rewarded by consumer and staff loyalty. A sustainable mindset, communication, education and actions are paramount to effective decarbonisation and therefore your future. 

      Useful resources for businesses for Net Zero:

      Ambitious corporate climate action – Science Based Targets

      UK – SME Climate hub

      How to Measure, Reduce, and Offset your Company’s Carbon Footprint – FutureLearn

      Climate Clauses | The Chancery Lane Project

      Sustainability glossary for businesses unpacked: Net Zero Read More »

      Sustainable transport and active travel

      We rely on transport as part of daily life; whether to get to work, school, hospital, or leisure activities. Relying on fossil fuel powered cars as our main mode of transport can have negative implications on our health and well-being due to high levels of air pollution, low levels of physical activity, and stress.

      Transport emissions from fossil fuels contribute towards climate change and can increase air pollutants. In 2014, 12.77% of greenhouse gas emissions in Wales were from transport; amounting to 5.92Mt CO2e.

      Climate change related extreme weather patterns may increase the frequency of which transport infrastructure will need to be repaired or replaced.

      Redesigning our transport infrastructure to support active forms of travel can increase community cohesion and improve health and well-being.

      There is potential to increase green jobs through renewable fuel technology development and implementation.

      What the public sector is doing:

      World / Europe:
      The EU has a strategy for ‘low-emission mobility’ which sets out priorities of increasing transport efficiency, low-emission energy technology, and zero-emission vehicles take-up.

      UK:
      The UK government has a report outlying future transport plans; ‘ Low Carbon Transport: A Greener Future – A Carbon Reduction Strategy for Transport (2009)‘.

      Wales:
      The Welsh Government has put in place an ‘Active Travel Act (2013)’ and an‘Active Travel Action Plan’ to help get Wales cycling and walking.

      The Welsh Government has recently consulted on ‘ A Clean Air Zone Framework for Wales’ designed to advise local authorities on how to reduce air pollution from transport and other sectors.

      What the third sector is doing:

      Community transport providers enable isolated or disabled people to remain connected to their community.

      Living Streets Wales also campaigns for better opportunities for walking and challenges the dominance of cars on our streets.

      Sustrans Cymru has a number of resources and campaigns to encourage active travel and safer streets
      – their ‘Bike Life Cardiff’ report sets out the challenges and opportunities for active travel in Cardiff.

      How you can make a difference:

      Reduce your car use where possible by working from home, taking public transport, or by cycling or walking to your destination.

      Avoid flying and if you must fly consider off-setting emissions by contributing to tree planting projects.

      Develop a travel plan for your work or project and consider joining an electric vehicle car club.

      Join a local walking group to enjoy the benefits of this free, low-impact exercise or consider setting yourself an ‘Active Travel’ goal for health reasons.

      Sustainable transport and active travel Read More »

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