Mission

Climate

Reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across Bannau Brycheiniog National Park by 2035.

We have been putting things off year after year, we have been raising targets and saying ‘Oh well, if we do it in the twenty years . . . ’ The moment of crisis has come, we can no longer avoid action.

Sir David Attenborough

By 2038

Decarbonisation

Action across the National Park will maximise effort towards meeting our fair share of the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees. By 2028 we will have:

Sustainable Transport

39% cut in emissions arising from travel within the National Park as a result of a shift away from petrol and diesel private vehicles to public transport, electric vehicles, and walking and cycling.

Sustainable Food & Drink

22% cut in emissions arising from food consumption as a result of lower carbon food and drink consumption, whilst maintaining a healthy diet.

Sustainable Energy

51% cut in emissions arising from energy usage as a result of energy efficiency, and a shift away from fossil-fuels to heat and power homes, services and businesses.

Sustainable Land Use

31% cut in non-CO2 emissions arising from land use as a result of habitat restoration, land use change and sustainable farming practices.

Sequestration

Action will be happening across the National Park to restore nature's ability to capture carbon from the atmosphere, in line with the Climate Change Committee's sixth carbon budget recommendations on agriculture, land use, and land change. By 2028 we will have:

Habitat Restoration

Accelerated habitat restoration, especially peatland restoration in line with the National Peatland Programme, will maximise carbon storage in existing ecosystems.

Land Use Change

Increased woodland, agro-forestry and hedgerows, with the right trees in the right places, will create new natural carbon sinks.

Sustainable Farming

Changing plants and practices in farming will improve the soil’s ability to hold carbon.

Adaptation

People and nature will be more resilient to the unavoidable impacts of climate destabilisation, in line with Prosperity for All, the climate change adaptation plan for Wales. By 2028 we will have:

Nature Restoration

Restored, expanded and linked ecosystems and wildlife habitats will help nature to withstand pressures of a changing climate. Protected groundwater levels and adequate flow in rivers will also promote healthy ecology and enhance natural resilience to drought. Sites most at risk of fire will be managed to reduce fire loading.

Resilient Infrastructure

Flood risk will be reduced by restored nature limiting peak river flow, and by flood protection for vulnerable buildings. The impact of temperature rises locally will be mitigated by restoring nature, changes to existing buildings, and behaviour changes. Land use planning will ensure that new developments are built to be resilient to climate impacts.

Climate

The foundation of civilisation is a stable climate and a rich diversity of life.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has made clear that we are rapidly moving away from a safe climate for humanity on Earth, and this is the last possible decade for action to keep our planet inhabitable.

Already in the National Park we are experiencing the impacts of a destabilised climate – from extreme heat, drought and water scarcity, to extreme rainfall and flooding. This is affecting people’s well-being and livelihoods – from farming to public services and businesses- as well as impacting nature. Even if we take maximum action to reduce emissions now, we know that worsening impacts of climate change are inevitable. We need to take steps to adapt to unavoidable impacts.

Whilst this is a global crisis, we know that what we do here will make a difference. Activity within the National Park is disproportionately contributing to climate breakdown. The UK is in the top 20 highest carbon emitters per person in the world, and the average Bannau Brycheiniog resident’s carbon footprint is 20% higher than the average UK resident.

There are many changes we can make together that will reduce our impact on the climate whilst maintaining a high quality of life and restoring the natural environment we all rely on now and for future generations.

Some impacts of a changed climate are unavoidable and we need to plan to support people and nature to adapt.

The National Park has a huge potential and responsibility to be a carbon sink and we need to help nature to recover to fulfill this vital role. This must happen in a way that retains the most productive agricultural land for food production and is fair to farmers, and it must happen in a way that enhances our rich culture and local economy and protects the historic environment.

The Welsh Government has asked Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park Authority to become an ‘exemplar’ in responding to the Climate Emergency.

We have been asked to engage with communities within the National Park, and with visitors, to develop emissions reduction solutions that deliver benefits for people and the environment. Our starting point has been to commission expert analysis of the carbon footprint of the National Park – the emissions we all produce through burning fossil fuels and consume through the products we buy here. We also had expert advice on the emissions reduction needed by everyone living and working in, and visiting, the National Park in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.

We will work in partnership with councils and other public bodies, businesses, farmers, voluntary organisations, citizen groups, communities and individuals to shape and realise the action needed.

You would need to plant over 2,200 Premier League football pitches with broad-leaf trees, and let them grow for over 100 years, to mitigate the combined Greenhouse Gas emissions of the Park’s residents and visitors for the single year of 2019.

Greenhouse Gas Assessment Report

Small World Consulting 2022

Sêr Y Bannau - Inspiring Action Through the Work of Others

Stump up for Trees

Learn More

Peatland Recovery Project

Learn More

As an organisation Bannau Brycheiniog National Park commits to the following for Climate

Decarbonisation

We will embed decarbonisation into all activities of our organisation - including our land and building management, transport, energy, procurement, policies and procedures, in line with the Welsh Public Sector Net Zero by 2030 goal. We will support our staff and members to adopt low carbon practices at work and at home.

Resilience

We will work with the experts and data to understand how climate change is expected to impact the National Park, our environment, people, places and historical heritage, in the future so that we can collectively prepare and be resilient.

Experts

We will work with climate experts, partners and local communities to develop Net Zero, Carbon Sequestration and Climate Adaptation plans for the National Park, guided by best practice including the UN Race to Zero initiative.

Partnerships

We will support or build partnerships with businesses, communities, residents and visitors to develop and deliver projects to act on climate change including sustainable local transport, energy, carbon capture and food solutions. We will work together for solutions that also generate local income, provide skills, training and jobs, and that drive forward new ideas and technologies.

Evidence

We will share evidence and analysis with partners, stakeholders and the public to inform those wishing to act on climate change to do so and to encourage and support those who are uncertain about how they can make a difference.

Climate Voices

The voices of Brycheiniog is a series of creative stories, poems, songs, and postcards from the people of Brycheiniog. Immerse yourself in their stories, values and passion for Bannau Brycheiniog.

Letter from Sian Brychan to her daughter Megan

February 20th 2042

Voices From The Future

Letter from Sian Brychan to her daughter Megan

February 20th 2042

Voices From The Future