THE National Assembly for Wales is set to meet tough targets to reduce its energy emissions by 40 per cent by 2015.

The latest figures, published in the Assembly’s Annual Report, reveal that the Assembly has achieved a 34 per cent reduction in energy emissions since the base year 2008/09.

During the same period the Assembly has also achieved a 29 per cent reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions.

The Carbon Trust has identified that this is an excellent standard of performance within the Welsh public sector.

“I am pleased to see that we are making such good progress in terms of reducing our impact on the environment because we should rightly be spearheading the campaign in Wales to reduce emissions,” said Dame Rosemary Butler AM, the Assembly’s Presiding Officer.

“The Assembly’s success has come from working in partnership with the Carbon Trust and other specialists.

“But we are not going to rest on our laurels. To maintain our momentum in reducing energy emissions, further technical and specialist support has been commissioned and has resulted in the production of a Carbon Reduction Route Map with new challenging targets, requiring a further 30 per cent emissions reduction up until 2021.”

Optimisation of the building management system and controls, modifications to enhance equipment efficiency and improved energy awareness among occupants have all contributed to the reduction in energy emissions.

In addition to the energy emission and carbon reduction targets outlined above, the Assembly has also achieved a:

• 13.4 per cent reduction in overall business travel emissions since 2008/09;

• 62 per cent reduction in the last year of waste being sent to landfill, nearing the zero landfill waste target; and a

• 57 per cent reduction in waste emissions compared to last year

Peter Black AM, the Assembly Commissioner with responsibility for the estate and sustainability, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff working in the Assembly’s Sustainability and Facilities Management teams and the efforts of all occupants in achieving these impressive results.

“As a nation, Wales needs to show leadership in reducing its carbon footprint, and the National Assembly needs to play a central role in that by setting an example.

“We still have a lot of work to do in making further reductions but the results demonstrate that we are on the right track.”