A Greener, Fairer Wales Starts Here: NRW’s Call to Our Next Senedd

Overview

A Greener, Fairer Wales Starts Here: NRW’s Call to Our Next Senedd

Wales faces urgent challenges—from climate change to pollution, rising costs, and pressure on our land. The next Senedd will decide our future. At Natural Resources Wales, we see what works and what doesn’t.
 

Right now, our environment is under threat because decisions are too fragmented, polluters slip through the cracks, and short-term fixes fall short.
 

We’re calling on Wales’ next leaders to back clear, bold, practical plans—plans that protect our rivers, lands, communities, and climate for generations to come.

A PLAN FOR OUR LAND: Who decides what goes where? We need a land plan for a thriving Wales.

Summary:

Wales has a unique opportunity to lead the way in how we care for land—balancing food, homes, energy, and nature for everyone’s benefit. A national land use strategy would help us work together, think long-term, and make joined-up decisions that give future generations a better, greener Wales.

Details:

Wales faces many challenges, such as climate change, the loss of wildlife, food security, and a growing need for homes and energy. These priorities are often at odds with each other because there is no overall land plan. A national land use strategy would create a clear framework to balance these issues in a way that benefits everyone—communities, wildlife, and the economy.

This strategy should be based on evidence, involve stakeholders, and align with long-term goals for sustainability and wellbeing. With a unified land management approach, we can make fair, transparent decisions that will work for generations to come.

HIT POLLUTERS WHERE IT HURTS: Fairer, Faster environmental justice

Summary:

Everyone has a right to a clean and healthy environment—and most businesses want to do the right thing. By giving regulators fairer and faster powers, we can stop harm early, ensure polluters put things right, and restore public trust. This means safer rivers, cleaner air, and a level playing field for responsible industries.

Details:

Polluters in Wales too often escape meaningful consequences due to outdated and limited enforcement tools. Natural Resources Wales can currently advise or prosecute—but there’s little in between. This means many offenders go unpunished or face delayed consequences, undermining public trust and allowing damage to persist.
 

Civil sanctions offer us more enforcement tools and include variable monetary penalties, compliance notices, and restoration orders – all of which allow regulators to act quickly and proportionately. They are legally binding, fair, and adaptable to different scales of harm.

Expanding civil sanction powers across all environmental regimes would ensure that polluters face appropriate and timely consequences and are required to repair the damage they cause. It would also reduce the burden on the courts and help NRW to deliver more efficient enforcement with its limited resources.

KICK OUT DANGEROUS "FOREVER CHEMICALS: A clean slate for future generations.

Summary:

Everyone in Wales deserves clean water, safe products, and a healthy environment. By phasing out PFAS in non-essential uses and cleaning up past contamination, we can protect people and nature from toxic “forever chemicals” and build a future where safety comes first.

 

Details:

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of harmful chemicals that have been used in products like non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and even food packaging. They are often called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment, and once they’re in our bodies, they stay there.

There’s growing evidence that PFAS can cause serious health problems, including cancer, fertility issues, and damage to the liver and immune system. In Wales, PFAS have been found in rivers, lakes, and even some drinking water.

To protect people and wildlife, we should ban PFAS in products where they’re not essential, such as cosmetics and non-stick cookware. Any waste containing PFAS must be safely disposed of to stop further environmental harm. We also need to clean up contaminated areas and set stricter limits for PFAS in water and soil.

Where PFAS are still needed for industrial use, we must support safer, affordable ways to treat and dispose of the waste. Controlling PFAS in water is vital to protect health, nature, farming, and food safety.

The UK currently has no national standards for PFAS in water, making it hard to tackle the issue. Following the Health and Safety Executive’s advice to set clear legal limits would be a major step forward.

STOP WASTE BEFORE IT STARTS: When recycling isn't enough

Summary:

Wales has shown the world what’s possible with recycling—now let’s go further. By designing out waste, reusing materials, and creating products that last, we can build a circular economy that’s better for people, the planet, and our pocket.

Details:

Wales has made great progress in recycling, but the problem of waste continues to grow. While recycling helps, it’s not enough to solve the problem if we continue to produce large amounts of disposable products. To truly tackle waste, we need to stop it from being created in the first place. This means encouraging companies to design products that last longer, are easy to repair, and can be reused or repurposed. For example, we could create rules that make electronics, like phones and computers, easier to recycle and repair, rather than encouraging people to throw them away after just a few years. Additionally, businesses should be encouraged to adopt circular economy practices, where they take responsibility for their products even after they’re used. Instead of throwing things away, products should be returned, refurbished, and reused. By stopping waste at the source, we can reduce pollution, save resources, and create a more sustainable economy.

Upgrade Wales for a Changing Climate: Build Resilience, Cut Costs

Summary:
By preparing today, we can protect tomorrow. From greener homes to flood-resilient streets, every upgrade we make helps communities stay safe, reduces bills, and creates green jobs. Let’s invest in smarter design and energy efficiency to build a stronger, fairer Wales.

Details:
Wales is already feeling the effects of climate change, with more frequent flooding, heatwaves, and extreme weather. To protect people, homes, and infrastructure, we need urgent investment in both climate resilience and energy efficiency.

This means:

Modernising building regulations to require flood-proofing, shading, natural ventilation, and climate-adapted design in new developments;

Retrofitting existing buildings with insulation, low-energy systems, and green roofs to reduce emissions and improve comfort;

Expanding green infrastructure—like tree-lined streets, urban wetlands, and parks—to help towns cope with extreme weather;

Embedding climate resilience in planning, making it a core requirement for local development strategies.

At the same time, we must tackle the huge energy waste in our outdated housing and public buildings. Energy efficiency upgrades will reduce emissions, lower bills, and tackle fuel poverty. Key actions include:

A national retrofit programme, prioritising low-income and vulnerable households;

Financial support and incentives for businesses and homeowners to cut energy waste;

Investment in skills and training to create green jobs in construction and energy;

Public sector leadership, with energy upgrades across schools, hospitals, and government buildings.

By combining climate adaptation with smart energy use, Wales can create healthier, safer communities while reducing carbon emissions and energy costs. This twin-track approach will boost the economy, support vulnerable groups, and make our towns and homes truly fit for the future.

Power Nature and Finance: Invest in a Greener, Resilient Wales

Summary:

Nature is not a cost—it’s an investment in our future. By funding restoration, unlocking green finance, and embedding climate resilience into every decision, we can turn our 30x30 goal into thriving landscapes, thriving communities, and thriving local economies.

Details:
Wales’ commitment to protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030 is ambitious, but progress is lagging due to underinvestment and limited strategic planning. To accelerate delivery, the Welsh Government must scale up investment in carbon-rich habitats—such as peatlands, wetlands, and marine ecosystems—that deliver for both biodiversity and climate adaptation.

This means embedding legally-binding climate risk assessments and adaptation strategies into all public planning and development decisions. It also means aligning conservation and resilience funding with a bold green finance strategy to deliver transformational change.

We propose the creation of a Welsh Green Investment Fund to support local nature recovery, clean energy, and climate-resilient infrastructure—mirroring models like the UK’s National Wealth Fund. New tools like green bonds, sustainability-linked disclosures, and tax incentives for green innovation can attract private investment and de-risk nature and climate projects. Public-private partnerships can play a key role in scaling these efforts, as demonstrated by initiatives like Great British Energy.

A connected and well-funded approach will:

• Deliver on the 30x30 pledge by protecting and restoring key ecosystems;
• Build climate resilience into communities, infrastructure, and land use;
• Create green jobs and economic growth through sustainable enterprise;
• Position Wales as a global leader in nature-positive investment and innovation.

Stop Building in the Danger Zone: Safer Homes for a Safer Future

Summary:

Everyone deserves a safe place to live. By planning wisely and avoiding flood-prone areas, we can protect people, reduce costs, and create homes and infrastructure that stand the test of time. Let’s build smarter, not riskier.

Details:

As climate change increases the risk of flooding, development in flood-prone areas puts lives and property at risk. A national policy should prevent new construction in floodplains and other high-risk zones. This includes reviewing existing sites and enforcing stricter planning regulations. Investing in flood prevention infrastructure and smarter land-use planning will help reduce long-term flood damage and improve climate resilience.

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Upskill to Uplift: Wales Needs a Green Skills Revolution

Summary:
Wales stands on the edge of a green opportunity. As we tackle the climate and nature crisis, we can also create thousands of well-paid, meaningful jobs. But to seize that future, we need to equip people with the right skills—whether they’re school leavers, career changers, or workers in industries in transition.

This is our chance to make the green economy work for everyone. By investing in skills and training, we can help communities thrive, boost the economy, and build a fairer, greener Wales.

Let’s give people the tools to shape a better future—one where nature thrives, carbon falls, and no one is left behind.

 

Details:
Wales needs a skilled green workforce to deliver on its climate and nature commitments. That means putting reskilling at the heart of our green transition—creating clear training pathways into conservation, clean energy, land restoration, climate adaptation, and beyond.

We’re calling for:

• A national green skills strategy, developed with communities, industry, and the education sector, to set clear priorities and targets.
• Funding to expand green apprenticeships, reskilling programmes, and adult education, focused on roles like habitat restoration, tree planting, sustainable farming, renewable energy, flood prevention, and more.
• Support for training providers and colleges, especially in rural and underserved areas, so no region is left behind.
• Partnerships with conservation groups, employers, and local authorities to link training directly to real jobs and long-term careers.
• Incentives for businesses to invest in staff training
•  
• and offer routes into green roles for young people, returners, and those changing careers.

This is more than just an economic strategy. It’s a vision for a hopeful future—one where Wales leads the way in tackling climate change, restoring nature, and lifting up communities through meaningful, secure green jobs.

Let’s reskill today to build the Wales we want tomorrow.

 

 

Climate Action from Every Public Body: Lead by Example

Summary:
Public bodies have the power to lead. By embedding climate action into every decision—across health, education, housing, and transport—we can unlock green jobs, cut emissions, and improve wellbeing across Wales.

 

Details:

Some public bodies in Wales have plans to deal with climate change, but many don’t have enough resources or haven’t fully built them into their day-to-day work.

All public bodies should be required to create and carry out plans to manage climate risks and adapt to future impacts. These plans should come with dedicated funding to make them happen.

Climate risk and adaptation must become part of everyday decision-making, with regular checks to track progress and hold organisations accountable.

Training and support will help public bodies deliver strong, effective plans.

By leading the way on climate action, Wales can unlock new green jobs, support communities, and improve wellbeing for future generations.

 

Safe and Sustainable Land Use: Clear Rules for a Healthier Wales

Summary:
Healthy soil, clean water, and safe food begin with how we manage land. By setting clear, science-based standards for spreading materials and managing nutrients, we can protect our natural resources and support farmers to do what’s best for land and livestock alike.

Details:
The current rules for spreading organic manures on land are complex and not always consistent. There is no clear, unified approach to Nutrient Management Planning that links soil and crop needs with proven agricultural benefit.

These regulations should be reviewed to check whether they offer enough protection for the environment.

By exploring regulatory reform and wider policy incentives, we can build a more joined-up and sustainable system for managing nutrients and reducing their impact on soil, water, and air.

Over-application or inappropriate use of materials – both traditional (slurry and manure) and new (basalt rock dust) can lead to soil and water contamination, health risks, and biodiversity loss. Wales should establish standards for safe land application, including permissible contaminant levels and guidelines for application rates. Testing, certification, traceability, environmental monitoring, and public access to information are key to ensuring that materials applied to land are safe and beneficial.