Everyone's talking about climate change actions, but can we learn from Wales’ approach?

Abstract

Addressing climate change, the defining crisis of the twenty-first century, necessitates both robust political leadership and effective public engagement, the latter often proving to be a substantial challenge. Through the introduction of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, the National Assembly for Wales (now Welsh Government) took a proactive stance on climate change. Over the last ten years, they have made considerable progress in making climate action a part of everyday life for people in Wales. This paper explores the successes and ongoing challenges of implementing climate initiatives throughout Wales and considers whether its approach offers a valuable blueprint for broader adoption. The framework developed by Welsh Government places a central emphasis on the alignment of climate action. Therefore, building a better future in Wales, and potentially beyond, necessitates meaningful community engagement and a commitment to learning from the experiences of implementing climate initiatives.