Climate change and nature emergency

Climate change

Climate change is happening and is resulting in serious global challenges such as rising global temperatures, changing weather patterns, rising sea levels and increased extreme weather.

Forecasts anticipate hotter, drier summers and milder, wetter winters with more extreme weather events. The world our grandchildren will grow up in may be very different from our own, but the good news is we can work together to make that future positive.

Nature emergency

Climate change is a major threat to nature and many of the unsustainable practices that are causing the climate to change are also having a negative impact on biodiversity.

Pressures such as climate change, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and poor management are all threats to biodiversity and present a risk to the long-term well-being of our communities and is known as the nature emergency.

Our climate emergency

In 2019, Torfaen Council declared a climate emergency and committed to becoming net carbon zero by 2030. Since then, the Council has also declared a nature emergency to recognise the serious threat of declining biodiversity.

We have made a number of changes to reduce our carbon emissions.

Climate targets

Our action plan sets out our approach to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and how we will protect and enhance Torfaen’s precious natural resources and the biodiversity they support.

But to make a real difference the whole of Torfaen needs to reduce its carbon footprint and get involved in supporting nature too.

Climate and nature action - get involved

We're taking action but our citizens, public, private and voluntary organisations all have important parts to play.

Join us in responding to the climate and nature emergency.