Penarth resident Anthony Slaughter has been elected as Leader / Spokesperson of Wales Green Party in the recent ballot of members that also saw Duncan Rees, of the North East Wales Green Party elected as Deputy.
The leadership election included two other candidates, Mirka Virtanen, WGP Deputy Leader for 2018, and Alex Harris, a Green councillor in Porthcawl.

Anthony Slaughter has previously served two terms as Deputy Leader of the party, in 2014 and 2015, and has been an active member of the Cardiff and Vale Green Party for several years. He has represented the party as an election candidate at every level over the last decade, including last year’s Local Authority elections where he stood in the St Augustine’s ward in Penarth, one of the party’s target wards in Wales.   

Anthony has a long history of involvement with a wide range of grassroots community projects, and has played a leading role in many local initiatives organised by environmental organisation Gwyrddio Penarth Greening including both the ‘20’s Plenty’ and ‘Plastic Free Penarth’ campaigns. Early in 2017 he co-founded the Vale for Europe group as part of the campaign for a ‘People’s Vote’ on the final Brexit deal.

Following the announcement Mr Slaughter said ‘I am proud and excited to have been elected as Leader of Wales Green Party. These are challenging and unpredictable times. With the devastating effects of the ongoing Climate Crisis and the damage being done to our communities by the politically driven austerity agenda there is a real need for a strong Green voice in Wales. I am looking forward to working with our members and supporters to ensure we get the elected Green representation the country so desperately needs.’

Wales Green Party welcomes the news that Hitachi have announced the suspension of work on the Wylfa Newydd nuclear facility on Anglesey and believe that this should signal the end of this disastrous and dangerous project that has no place in the 21st Century.

Anthony Slaughter, Leader of Wales Green Party said

‘Given the scale and urgency of the Climate Crisis facing us, as made very clear by last years IPCC report, Wales needs to be investing in clean, green renewable energy generation from solar, wind and tidal. Instead years and billions of pounds have been wasted on this obsolete and unaffordable technology. Politicians calling for work on Wylfa to continue are also ignoring the toxic and highly dangerous waste problem that we would be leaving for future generations should the station ever be completed.

Wales is rich in natural resources, Anglesey has some of Britain’s best tidal flow potential, and should be leading the way in creating sustainable jobs in the renewable energy sector creating a greener, safer future for all.’

As the people of Wales celebrate Welsh culture and heritage on St David’s Day, both at home and around the world, Wales Green Party are also looking to the future and celebrating a Wales fit for the 21st Century with their ‘Green Vision for Wales’. 

The Green Party are taking this opportunity to highlight Wales’ potential to lead the world in tackling the Climate Emergency. 

Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter said, ‘In these current turbulent times, with an ever-changing political landscape, massive economic uncertainty and an increasing public awareness of the harsh realities of the climate crisis, we believe that this is the moment to think differently, to seize the opportunity and to create a safe, sustainable future society that works for all. 

We want to see a Wales that leads the way with a new, green industrial revolution, a Wales powered by locally produced clean, green, renewable energy, a Wales with green, sustainable public transport accessible to all, a Wales with air safe to breathe in all our towns and cities, a Wales fit for future generations. A Wales that is leading the way in tackling the climate emergency.’

The Green Party Deputy Leader and anti-Brexit campaigner wants to see a Green New Deal in the UK similar proposals  currently being proposed in the US.

Amelia Womack was born and raised in Newport. The 34-year-old has been Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales since 2014. She qualified as a  scientist in 2007 and has since worked with businesses to deliver social and environmental change in communities.

“The Green Party has been talking about a Green New Deal for the last ten years. It’s amazing to see Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez bringing this to life in the U.S. This has inspired me, as well as the wider  Green Party, to get it back on the agenda here, starting with this byelection.”

The Green New Deal takes its inspiration from Roosevelt’s New Deal of the 1930s, which used massive investment in jobs and infrastructure to pull the US out of the Great Depression.

A Green New Deal would mobilise resources on a scale unprecedented in peacetime to tackle the climate emergency and address spiralling inequality. It would involve huge investment in clean energy, warm homes and affordable public transport – delivering a decent, well-paid job to everyone who wants one. It would rebuild once proud communities that have been hollowed out by deindustrialisation and austerity, allowing them to thrive as part of a collective endeavour to protect the planet. And it would protect and restore threatened habitats and carbon sinks like forests, wild places, soils and oceans.

“Newport has higher unemployment than many places and lots of empty properties. A Green New Deal in Wales would create thousands of jobs in Newport in exciting industries which are growing around the world. We have seen ten years of austerity now which clearly hasn’t worked.  A Green New Deal would create jobs, help people out of poverty and give the Newport economy a massive boost.”

If Amelia is elected in Newport West she would be joining Caroline Lucas who has been a Member of Parliament since 2010. Caroline was elected on a manifesto based on the Green New Deal and is backing Amelia’s campaign. Caroline said:

“The Green Party urgently needs more voices in Westminster and Amelia would be a powerful voice for the people of Newport. We have a fast closing window of opportunity to act to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis, and young people in particular are starting to demand that their voices be heard. I hope Amelia will join me soon in Westminster to help deliver a Green New Deal, which would see a massive increase in green investment alongside the creation of hundreds of thousands of good quality jobs.”

Amelia is co-founder of Another Europe and has been campaigning for a People’s Vote. The by-election will be held just days after the proposed date for leaving the European Union.

“We have seen two years of chaos in Westminster. Scientists now accept we have until 2030 to take positive action to avoid climate breakdown. We need politicians who do their jobs and take this threat seriously rather than wasting time.”

Amelia grew up in Newport and says that Paul Flynn was an inspiration to her when she was young, leading to her getting involved in politics.

“I am proud of the rich history and resilience of my home. Newport West has had a radical free-thinking MP and I am ready to continue in Paul’s footsteps.”

Congratulations to Green Party of England and Wales's Deputy Leader Amelia Womack, who secured our highest ever vote share in the Newport West by-election. 

This shows that the appetite for Green politics is growing in Wales, and for good reason. The IPCC report showed us that we have just 12 years to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown, and while Wales is leading the way in the UK, our representatives in Westminster and the Senedd still aren't doing enough.

There is only one party who can offer the change we need. Join the Green Party of England and Wales to stand for what you stand on. 

Wales Green Party are pleased to announce that their lead candidate in the forthcoming European Parliament elections will be the current leader of the party in Wales, Anthony Slaughter.

Anthony has been actively involved in Green politics for over a decade, both locally in Cardiff and the surrounding area, and nationally across Wales. He has previously served two terms as Wales Green Party deputy leader and has represented the party as an election candidate in many elections at every level including parliamentary, Welsh  Assembly and local authority.

Mr Slaughter has lived in Penarth, in the Vale of Glamorgan, for the last 15 years where he works as a garden designer. Locally, he has long been engaged with community based environmental group Gwyrddio Penarth Greening. This involvement has included initiatives such as establishing a community orchard, a local food festival and promoting sustainable public transport.

On a national level Anthony has engaged actively with a diverse range of activist groups over many years including Extinction Rebellion, the People's Assembly, 20's Plenty for Wales and many more.

Anthony Slaughter said,

' I am proud and excited to have this opportunity to represent Wales Green Party in the European elections in May.

Not only are we the party that has alwys been committed to remaining in the EU and consistently supported a People's Vote on any final Brexit deal, but a vote for the Greens in this election is also a vote for the only party that truly recognises the urgent priority for bold action on the accelerating climate emergency and the need for major economic transformation of our profoundly unequal society.'

The full Wales Green Party list for the EU election on 23 May is, in order, Anthony Slaughter, Ian Chandler, Ceri Davies and Duncan Rees.

Wales Green Party welcome the decision announced today by First Minister Mark Drakeford that the plans for the controversial M4 relief road have been scrapped, a decision that follows many years of campaigning by the Green Party and many other organisations. 

Anthony Slaughter, Leader of Wales Green Party, said ‘This is absolutely the right decision and one that should have made several years ago. At a time when the climate emergency is being recognised at every level of government it would have been an act of criminal folly to go ahead with a road building scheme based on 1970’s transport policy and a betrayal of future generations. 

We hope that this decision is followed by meaningful action to create a sustainable transport system fit for the twenty first century. Urgent action is needed to reduce our carbon emissions and tackle the air pollution crisis.’ 

Deputy leader of the Green Party Amelia Womack, who campaigned on this issue in the recent Newport West by election, added ‘This is fantastic news that the First Minister will scrap the M4 relief road. This is a powerful action to protect our precious biodiversity as well as to ensure we’re tackling our carbon emissions, so we remain below 1.5 degrees of warming. 

Drakeford now needs to ensure that there’s proper investment in public transport networks to reduce the volume of traffic and help reduce congestion in the area.’

Bore da / Good morning conference

Greetings from Wales, at such an exciting time for our Party as part of the Green Wave sweeping across Europe.

Congratulations from Wales to our seven recently elected Green MEPs, a vital part of that wave, who will play a crucial role in transforming the EU into an institution fit to face the challenges of the 21st Century. Congratulations also to all involved in the European election campaign. It was a pleasure and a privilege to be part of such a dedicated and passionate team. Greens really do work differently, and we are increasingly seeing the results of that work, and I look forward to seeing even more Greens elected across every level of government in England and Wales in the coming years.

Congratulations from Wales to all those local parties in England that achieved those fantastic results in the local elections. This grassroots work at community level is the reason our Party is growing, and Greens are winning.

Closer to home, a final congratulations to, our hard working and tireless Deputy Leader, Amelia Womack on tripling the Green vote share in the recent Newport West by election with a campaign that significantly raised our Green profile. Something, that I have no doubt, played a major part in our increased Welsh vote in the European election.

On the subject of Newport, many of you will be aware, that we had some good news in Wales last week, with the First Minister’s announcement that plans for building an M4 relief road outside Newport have finally been scrapped. This was absolutely the right decision and one that should have been made many years ago. At a time when the climate emergency is being recognised at every level of Welsh government it would have been an act of criminal folly, and a betrayal of future generations, to go ahead with a road building scheme based on 1970’s transport policy. The campaign against this road has been a long one going back to the 90’s, and Welsh Greens have been an active part of that campaign, alongside a wide variety of community and environmental organisations, from the very beginning. The First Minister’s statement is a tribute to the work of all those activists. Campaigning works. We are winning.

In many ways, First Minister Mark Drakeford had no choice, as head of a government that has acknowledged the climate emergency and introduced the pioneering well Being of Future Generations Act, he could not ignore the climate threatening implications of a programme of increased road building. An important precedent has been set, one that can only help us as we push the Welsh government towards serious action in tackling the climate crisis.

As Greens, we welcome the Welsh government’s recognition of a climate emergency, along with many Welsh local authorities. The last few years have been a wake-up call for the severity of this crisis.

We have just experienced the most traumatic year globally in terms of climate – deadly wildfires, catastrophic floods, impacts on food production, and a huge rise in the number of climate refugees. The recent evidence about massive insect loss and wider extinctions of life also point to the need for urgent transformation of our economies, societies and our politics.

The implications of a collapsing climate are finally beginning to sink in. If we act effectively now, we are still locked into a period of climate change impacts for which we must prepare. That is why Wales Green Party will support all those seeking declarations of emergency.

But what does a climate emergency mean?

The point of declaring an emergency is that we must reorganise our priorities. Emergency means that immediate remedial action must be taken, and existing measures toughened up. Making good political noises is a start but the systems we need to rescue are not impressed by noise. As one placard seen on a recent demo put it;

Ice doesn’t have an agenda – it just melts!

Emergency means that we must step up our search for effective measures, and fund implementation. Emergency means some hard political choices must be made and difficult messages be given – hard but not impossible. Greens believe that there are ways forward that can gain widespread support for the measures that are necessary.

We have all seen the dramatic pictures and the news headlines about the worst climate and ecological disasters. We hear less about the stories of the aftermath of such events. The long slow recovery of communities often hampered by inadequate political will and funds, the blighted communities and the increases in inequality that result. The living environment matters hugely to all communities, people notice when wildlife is in decline, or local places are full of rubbish. Younger and older people suffer especially from dangerous levels of air pollution and the lack of good public transport. When climate impacts strike, inequality worsens. These are well-being issues across the generations, and we must recognise these human dimensions in our response to climate emergency. Social and economic equality and security for all are key to tackling this crisis. We in the Greens have long recognised this. Our longstanding opposition to the politically driven austerity agenda being just one example.

It is also important to consider the history of Wales in understanding the challenges and potentials of this moment in time, this crisis. As an early colonised nation, Wales has been developed in a classic extractive pattern, with infrastructure designed for these purposes and its culture and institutions suppressed or destroyed over time. Wales made a huge contribution to the first Industrial Revolution based on fossil fuel energy, founding the Welsh mining, steel and industrial port communities and now Wales has the potential to lead the second Industrial Revolution, a revolution based on clean, green renewable energy. All that is needed is the political will. This is why the need for elected Green representation at every level of Welsh government is so urgent. We need to see Greens at the heart of Welsh government, a Welsh government with real and meaningful powers over our nation’s future.

Wales Green Party believes that Wales should have as much decision making power, up to and including full independence, as voted for by the people of Wales in any referendum. As an internationalist party that believes in localism and devolving power to the lowest level, we know just how much good action takes place at a local level.

And in many ways, Wales could be ahead of the game when it comes to tackling the climate crisis. We had the passing of the historic Well-being of Future Generations Act by the Welsh government back in 2015. Rightly hailed at the time by the United Nations as a ground-breaking piece of legislation, a shining example to other nations of how legislation could be used for the benefit of all, and not the short-sighted interests of a few. This should have been, and still could be a game changer.

Four frustrating years on, we are still waiting for those well meaning words to be translated into meaningful actions. That said, the first Minister’s scrapping of the M4 relief road is a hopeful and welcome sign that the implications of the Act are finally influencing policy. Yet policy and decision making in so many areas still lag woefully behind.

In Cardiff last year we had a situation where Cardiff Community Energy, a cooperative with local Greens in leading positions, were on the verge of finalising a deal to install solar panels and solar water heating on all of Cardiff’s leisure centres. After many years of work and negotiations the plug was pulled at the last minute by Cardiff Council. This just isn’t good enough.

Just outside Bridgend, we have the inspirational Solcer House. The house, a Cardiff University project, is an example of just what could be done to tackle the housing crisis. A house that generates more power than it uses while providing affordable, sustainable housing. Instead we see the continued building of vast estates of housing built using last century techniques and reliant on continued car usage. This just isn’t good enough.

At a Westminster level, we have the continued refusal to support the game changing Swansea Tidal Lagoon, while desperately searching for new investors for a long discredited nuclear industry. This just isn’t good enough.

Wales deserves better. As a nation with unrivalled natural resources and a long history of tackling social injustice, Wales could and should be leading the way in creating a greener and fairer future. Greens are the change that Wales needs. Greens promoting a Green New Deal. Greens introducing a Citizen’s Income. Greens standing up to the rise of the far right. Greens fighting to keep our place in Europe.

In just under two years’ time, Wales Green Party will be taking part in the next National Assembly for Wales elections. On current polling, backed up by our European election results, we are on track to get our first elected Greens onto the last legislative body in the UK without Green representation. This will be a game changer, for Wales and for the UK. The Green wave is not going away. With your help and support we can, we must, and we will get the elected Green representation that Wales so desperately needs.

Thank you / Diolch

Last week saw the devastating news of the planned closure of the Ford engine plant in Bridgend. A decision that has caused widespread uncertainty for thousands of directly and indirectly employed workers in the local community and beyond. The Green Party has long highlighted the issues with both petrol and diesel engines and has been calling for the necessary transitional support to be supplied to these facilities for many years.

Leader of the Wales Green Party, Anthony Slaughter said, ‘This decision comes as no surprise. Unfortunately, the industry and Government have been slow in recognising the inevitable fate for products that clearly had a limited shelf life if we are serious about tackling the climate crisis.

Urgent action is now needed to minimise the impact of this decision on the community and the workforce that has done all, and more, that it could to keep the plant viable. We strongly hope that it is not too late for the Welsh Government to work with the sector and save the plant by assisting in an adaptation to future cutting-edge technologies.

The Green Party ended our Spring conference, on 9th June, by passing an Emergency Motion expressing our sympathy with the Bridgend workers and community, and calling for a just transition to new technologies, creating opportunities to support our highly skilled workforces go forward and create an industry fit to face the challenges of the 21st century.’

Yesterday across Wales Green Party representatives joined in the Global Climate Strike to raise awareness of the crisis our planet faces. 

In North Wales, Iolo jones Town Councillor of Llanfairfechan joined the crowds in Bangor, where in Colwyn Bay, Adam of the North West Wales local group gave a speech calling for System Change Not Climate Change. 

Above - Iolo Jones in Bangor

Above - Adam Turner in Colwyn Bay

In Wrexham Duncan the Wales deputy leader joined the crowds at Wrexham.  

Above - Duncan Rees Wales Deputy Leader (Right) 

In Monmouthshire Ian Chandler joined the crowds in Monmouthshire (Below). Ian was also interviewed on BBC Radio Wales and his interview can be heard here 

The Ceredigion Green Party joined the streets in Aberystwyth with the Schoold Children. 

Finally, Anthony Slaughter Leader of the Green Party in Wales joined the streets of Cardiff where thousands of protestors joined the Global Strike. Anthony went on to say that "The massive turnout for today's Climate Strike march in Cardiff showed the strength of feeling from all sections of our community on the ongoing Climate Crisis and the impacts already being felt across the world. While people of all ages were present this was a day when young voices were prominent with speaker after speaker articulating their generation's anger at government inertia. This was a day for politicians to listen and take real, meaningful action to tackle the Climate Emergency. Business as usual is no longer an option"

 

Cynhadledd, croeso i Gasnewydd, croeso i Gymru.

Conference, welcome to Newport, welcome to Wales.

Conference, these are troubling times. With our democracy in crisis and at a time of Climate Emergency our Green voice is needed more than ever.

Our political system is broken with Johnson and his Bullingdon bully boys intent on defying Parliament and dragging us over the dangerous cliff edge of a no deal Brexit, trashing communities, livelihoods and endangering peace in Ireland.

Increasing extreme weather events here and across the planet, together with the biodiversity crisis, highlight the devastating impacts of the climate emergency and the challenging future we face.

In the face of these challenges we see the tired old parties continuing to fight the battles of yesterday, refusing to acknowledge that business as usual is no longer an option. This is why we are seeing increasing numbers of people turning to the Greens. Here and across Europe the Green wave is growing as people recognise and share our desire for a cleaner world and a fairer society. A vote for the Green Party is a vote for the future.

Here in Wales we have our own perspective on these challenges as we have seen the impacts and potential of the National Assembly for Wales, currently celebrating twenty years of devolution. As a party with a core value of devolving power to a local level Wales Green Party strongly supports all calls for increased devolution of powers to the Senedd, up to and including full independence if voted for by the people of Wales in any future referendum. As Westminster becomes increasingly inward looking and appears indifferent to the fate of a post Brexit Wales it is no surprise that many people are beginning to imagine a different future away from Westminster.

Wales Green Party also welcomes the recent legislation that will give sixteen- and seventeen-year olds the vote at the next Assembly election. A longstanding Green policy this will greatly boost democratic participation and opportunities for new thinking, and we will continue to campaign for votes at sixteen in all elections.

As a nation with many coastal communities at risk of flooding due to rising sea levels and an agricultural sector threatened by extreme weather events, people in Wales are acutely aware of the need for meaningful action to tackle the climate crisis. This was recognised by Wales becoming the first nation to declare a Climate Emergency with many councils following this lead. As Greens we will work within our communities and with every level of government to ensure that these welcome words translate into meaningful action.

Here in Wales we also have the ground-breaking Well-being of Future Generations Act, passed by the Welsh Government in 2015. This unique piece of legislation should be and could be a game changer and the welcome scrapping of the planned M4 relief road earlier this year was a hopeful sign that the implications of the Act are finally influencing policy.  Yet policy and decision making in so many areas still lag woefully behind.

At a time of biodiversity crisis, we see communities across Wales, like Dinas Powys in the Vale of Glamorgan, fighting the proposed destruction of valuable ancient woodland for the construction of an unnecessary, over engineered dam. Business as usual.

At a time of Climate Emergency, we see Welsh Government ministers boasting of increased air traffic from Cardiff airport, pushing for airport expansion and bidding for new routes such as Cardiff to London, Cardiff to Manchester. Business as usual.

This is why we need Green elected representation so urgently at every level of government in Wales. Greens holding decision makers to account. Greens helping shape a cleaner, greener, fairer future. Greens doing things differently. Business as usual is no longer an option.

Elected Greens in Wales will deliver a Green New Deal for Wales, ensuring a just transition for previously abandoned communities. Elected Greens will renew our democracy with a new vision for prosperity without unsustainable growth, a vision that will address the grinding poverty and inequality so widespread across the country.

In less than two years’ time Wales Green Party will be contesting the National Assembly for Wales elections. We are on track to get our first elected Greens onto the last legislative body in the UK without Green representation. This will be a game changer. With your help and support we will get the elected representation that Wales so desperately needs.

Thank you, Diolch

Our conference and AGM is in Swansea this year in the YMCA. The event is open the public as well as Green Party Members.

Tickets are available on the door. 

Date 2nd and 3rd November.

11:30 -18:00 Saturday

9:00 - 16:00 Sunday

Venue YMCA, 1 The Kingsway, Swansea, West Glamorgan, SA1 5JQ

Wales Green Party Conference Timetable

Wales Green Party have argued alongside Caroline Lucas and others that a General Election is not the answer to the Brexit crisis and continue to campaign for a People’s Vote as the only fair solution to the current Parliamentary deadlock.

Wales Green Party are however fully prepared for an election campaign and will be campaigning across Wales in the coming weeks promoting their strong radical Green vision to Welsh voters.

Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter said, ‘At a time of climate emergency this must be an election about our planet’s future and the urgent action needed to tackle this crisis. Greens are the party with real and meaningful policies to create a cleaner, greener safer world for all.

The problems we face can only be tackled through international cooperation which is one reason the Greens have been a Remain party from the start. We also recognise the ever-increasing social inequality within our communities that is behind so much of the anger and frustration that drove the Brexit vote.

We need to work together with our neighbours to create a fairer society and a liveable planet. This action starts at the ballot box. A vote for Wales Green Party on 12^th December is a vote for urgent action on climate chaos, a just society and a call for a Final Say on Europe with a People’s Vote.’

The Green Party will not field a candidate in ten constituencies in wales in the upcoming General Election as part of a series of electoral arrangements with the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru. Our candidates are stepping aside to ensure that the Remain vote on 12 December is unified and that a Tory candidate is not successful in the constituency.

A spokesperson for the Green Party said:

“Brexit would be deeply damaging across Wales, and this is the right thing to do for local people. As already demonstrated in the 2017 General Election, Greens are willing to work with other parties for the common good. Go to our website at greenparty.org.uk to find your nearest Green candidate and support their campaign to secure a Green voice for Wales”

Electoral arrangements have been made in a handful of constituencies across Wales and England.

A statement was secured by a Plaid Cymru candidate on Anglesey stating that he would not support rebuilding Wylfa B, and instead campaigning for investment in renewable energy on the island.

Ymgeiswyr y Blaid Werdd yn camu i'r neilltu i sicrhau'r bleidlais Aros.

Ni fydd Blaid Werdd Gogledd Orllewin Cymru yn sefyll ymgeisydd yn Arfon nac Ynys Môn yn yr Etholiad Cyffredinol fel rhan o gyfres o drefniadau etholiadol gyda'r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol a Phlaid Cymru.

Mae ein hymgeiswyr yn camu o'r neilltu i sicrhau bod y bleidlais Aros ar 12 Rhagfyr yn unedig ac nad yw ymgeisydd Torïaidd yn llwyddiannus yn yr etholaeth.

Dywedodd llefarydd dros y Blaid Werdd:

"Byddai Brexit yn hynod niweidiol ledled Cymru, a dyma'r peth iawn i'w wneud i bobl leol. Mae'r Gwyrddion yn barod i weithio gyda phartïon eraill er budd pawb, fel yr ydym eisoes wedi profi yn yr Etholiad Cyffredinol diwethaf yn 2017. Ewch i'n wefan greenparty.org.uk i ddod o hyd i'ch ymgeisydd agosaf a chefnogi eu hymgyrch i sicrhau llais Gwerdd yng Nghymru."

Gwnaed trefniadau etholiadol mewn llond llaw o etholaethau ar draws Cymru a Lloegr.

Sicrhawyd gosodiad gan ymgeisydd Plaid Cymru ar Ynys Môn yn datgan na fyddai yn gefnogol o ailgodi Wylfa B, ac yn hytrach yn ymgyrchu am fuddsoddiad mewn ynni adnewyddadwy ar yr ynys.

Wales Green Party are pleased to confirm that Anthony Slaughter, the leader of the party in Wales, has been selected as the party’s candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan constituency in December’s General Election.

The Vale of Glamorgan is one of 11 seats in Wales being targeted by Unite to Remain. This is a cross party arrangement with Greens, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats working together in a select number of seats to maximise the Remain vote and ensure a strong anti Brexit voice at Westminster.

Anthony Slaughter has been a strong campaigner for a People’s Vote on any Brexit deal over the last three years and is a co-founder of the Vale for Europe campaign group. He has represented Wales Green Party at elections at every level, including twice standing as a candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan council.

Anthony Slaughter said, ‘I am standing as the Green candidate in this election to give voters in the Vale a clear choice to vote for a Remain party. We have been consistent in our opposition to Brexit, calling for a People’s Vote from day one. Brexit would be deeply damaging across Wales and this is the right thing to do for our communities.

I am also pleased that we are working cross party on this vital issue, putting the old tired tribal politics aside.

At a time of climate chaos it is equally important that voters are given the opportunity to vote for the one party with real, longstanding policies to  tackle both the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis.

In these challenging times a vote for Wales Green Party is a vote against the climate chaos and a vote for Europe.’

At the end of February it was the Town Council Election for the Cefn Saeson ward where Megan Poppy Lloyd stood as a Green Candidate. The election was called after the Labour councillor, Alan Carter, sadly passed away late in 2019, leaving a vacant seat on Neath Town Council.

In the last round of local elections in Wales, three Labour councillors were elected unopposed in the Cefn Saeson ward. Upon discovering that none of the other main parties planned to field a candidate, Neath Constituency Green Party made the decision to field a candidate.

Following this short campaign, with only two dedicated and hardworking canvassers we gained 44.2% of the vote!

The final result was Labour - 264; Green - 209. Turnout was 22.8%. 

Neath was only 56 votes away from having its first Green Town Councillor, this couldn't be done with out the help of green party members and supporters volunteering donating their time and energy. Thank You to everyone involved in this campaign.

Neath Town Council By-Election in Cefn Saeson Ward

The Green parties of the United Kingdom have called for the Westminster government’s forthcoming emergency coronavirus legislation to a Coronavirus Solidarity Pact to ensure that vulnerable people are offered extensive protections and security.

They added that the Pact, and other actions, must follow extensive consultation with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments.

The Green parties called for the Solidarity Pact to include measures (with sufficient funding for the devolved administration to provide similar arrangements under their responsibilities) including:

* Funding and arrangements for free deliveries of food and essentials for people over the age of 64 and people with disabilities

* Funding for families with children receiving free school meals to cover the cost of replacement meals should schools be closed

* Acting to ensure essential hygiene supplies are available at reasonable prices

* A holiday from council tax for each household affected by the coronavirus, with compensation to councils for the lost revenue

* A suspension of no-fault evictions or the eviction of anyone affected by the coronavirus crisis and a freeze on rental payments for those affected (with compensation for landlords for the lost rent)

* An end to the five-week delay in claiming housing benefit

* An end to all benefit sanctions for at least the length of the crisis

* A ban on the cut-off of electricity, gas and water supplies to residential properties and small businesses during the crisis

* Support for small businesses affected by the coronavirus, including a business rates freeze for those affected

* Funding for special provision to assist homeless people off the streets, with facilities provided for any homeless person needing to self-isolate and/or suffering from illness

* Giving asylum-seekers the right to work and providing financial support when needed to individuals with “no recourse to public funds” visa status

* Provisions to ensure that prisoners and others in detention receive the best possible protection and medical support

Sian Berry, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, said: “The coronavirus threat is a time for national solidarity. There is great fear and anxiety about the pandemic. Individual security - the confidence that you won’t be made homeless, lose your utilities, or go hungry - will provide a crucial bedrock.”

She added: “The government also needs to stress that there is only so much it can do. Personal and community solidarity - people checking on vulnerable neighbours, setting up systems to ensure vulnerable friends and relatives get regular phone contact - is going to be crucial in the coming months.”

Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Green Party, said: “That solidarity has to extend to between Westminster and the national governments. Scotland urgently needs clarity over the implications of last week’s budget. The relationship between Holyrood and Westminster has to be reforged, which means Westminster acknowledging its responsibilities to act as an open, cooperative partner as we face up to this great challenge.”

Clare Bailey, leader of the Northern Ireland Green Party, said: “The situation of Northern Ireland is different to the rest of the United Kingdom. We need to work in tight cooperation with the Irish government with an all-island approach. That means Westminster has to provide the funds we need, but also be flexible in understanding our approach is different to the rest of the UK.”

Anthony Slaughter, Wales Green Party leader, said: “Meaningful input from Wales into Westminster decision making is crucial. We also need strong support for small independent businesses. Without that, we risk emerging from this crisis with our communities hollowed out and our economy even more concentrated in the hands of the few.”

Wales Green Party is pleased to announce the selection of Gwent Green Party member Lauren James as the new Deputy Leader following a vacancy that arose last year after previous Deputy Mirka Virtanen stood down. Lauren will be joining the existing leadership team of Anthony Slaughter, Leader and Duncan Rees, her fellow Deputy Leader.

Lauren James has been an active member of Wales Green Party for 5 years, volunteering at both a local and national level. A single parent of three children, Lauren has lived in Newport, South Wales for six years. Since 2017 she has worked from home as a social media manager alongside publishing a green lifestyle blog for parents.

Lauren cares deeply about the natural world, education and the lives of young people. She is a passionate advocate for gender equality and social justice.

Anthony Slaughter, Leader of Wales Green Party said, ‘I am looking forward to working with Lauren in her new position. As a colleague, her passion and commitment in building and promoting our party and its values has been invaluable and I am confident she will bring these strengths to her new role, helping Wales Green Party to deliver our vital messages on climate justice and social justice in these challenging times, and securing the elected Green representation that Wales so desperately needs.’ 

Lauren James said, ‘I’m thrilled to be selected as Wales Green Party Deputy Leader. In these uncertain times it’s been heart-warming to see the community come together. From frontline NHS staff, teachers and other key workers to parents educating their children at home, Wales has shown resilience and solidarity in a crisis unlike anything in living memory.

I look forward to being a strong Green voice for women, children and young people in Wales.’ 

Cyflwyno i' r ymgynghoriad Llywodraeth Cymraeg a'r Economi Gylchol
Wales Green Party Response to Circular Economy Consultation

APRIL 2020
WALES GREEN PARTY
The Gate, Keppoch Street,Cardiff, CF24 5TR

A GREEN VISION FOR A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
The circular economy in Wales should be a central part of a greener, resource efficient and climate-resilient economy, supporting the Wellbeing of citizens including a healthy and flourishing natural environment. Commitments to Circular Economy should help to bring transformative change through a holistic and participatory approach involving civil society, government and business towards a more resilient and more equal society. The Circular Economy agenda has the potential to deliver a major shift in the way our future economies and societies could be organised and managed. The need for such changes is very clear since the COVID pandemic, which has pushed us to recognise the real essentials for our communities and societies, including well-supported care and social welfare systems.

OUR RESPONSES
Our answers to the consultation questions are intended to highlight these wider issues of social and economic change and to flag up areas where ambition needs to be strengthened. In this we also draw on responses from civil society and local authority experts from regional consultation sessions. We also draw upon a number of excellent other submissions to this consultation from other organisations:

Circular Economy Wales (CEW)
Zero Waste Wales (ZWW)
Cardiff Community Energy (CCE)

COMPLETING THE STRATEGY
The Welsh Government Strategy document provides valuable insights, but it does not yet present a sufficiently complete picture to gain public understanding and support, or to generate transformative social impact. Our view is that the document does not really present a full strategy as it fails to state the conditions under which a Circular Economy could really flourish. It is necessary to build on the good work done in the past – but working from the concept of ‘Beyond Recycling’ downplays the fact that Circular Economy demands a change in goals for the economy as a whole. As noted by many consultation participants, a Circular Economy can only really exist if we move towards an economy that supports Wellbeing for people and planet – not growth at any cost and GDP. A related point from consultation participants was that we need to develop methods, tools, and scenarios for learning and engagement towards a ‘Circularity Culture’. Such an approach needs to work with learning, and with the Arts, through to changed business models and economic practices. Lastly, the contribution of governance to Circular Economy requires democratic innovation involving greater civil participation in helping ensure that public money is used for public benefit – for example more support for the social business start-ups and coordination in this area. We support CEW in calling for a major independent social business organisation to lead in Circular Economy in Wales, to serve communities, government, for-profit and not-for-profits.

RESPONSE TO THE WELSH GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ON A CIRCULAR ECONOMY STRATEGY, ‘BEYOND RECYCLING’
Question 1: Are the suggested actions the best way to help us recycle more?
This question continues to presume that the responsibility for waste will continue to be that of government. New business models and legislation are moving towards concepts of leasing many goods with the responsibility of recycling staying with the producer. The current recycling settlement highlights one of the worst aspects of economic developments since the financial crisis of 2008 – Privatise gains and socialise costs. This model needs to be questioned and changed it is still ‘end-of-pipe’ and fails to address the root causes of the enormous waste in our societies.

In addition consultation participants pointed to the changes in the legal landscape underway in areas such as climate change (Heathrow Airport; Bristol Airport). In this changing landscape it was felt that the Welsh Government should be pushing for a more ambitious review of legal issues to do with waste and advocating for wider measures to be put in place supporting ‘Right to Repair’ and other such measures that address the production process earlier at the design level.

This is one area where the limited nature of the ‘Beyond Recycling’ approach can be seen – as this does not include the serious questions of agricultural waste and pollution. We recommend that Natural Resources Wales should work together with any coordinating body to build in agricultural waste into the strategy and to also outline ways that this can be diminished by changes in farming practices etc. The Circular Economy should form part of the criteria in assessing public benefit in any new farming support system in Wales with an emphasis on helping farmers do the right thing.

We are in broad agreement with the points made in the ZW response to this question. We would emphasise community learning through local Circularity hubs rather than enforcement as the key aim should be to help people do the right thing and support local innovation. We agree with ZW that there is a need to take special measures concerning critical raw materials. (See Q 20 for points about Critical Resources and Circular Economy).

We are in broad agreement with the points made in the CEW response to this question. Putting people and communities at the heart of a Circular Economy is vital. However we also need to develop and deploy the range of expertise and new thinking in our Welsh HE and Research sectors. Brokering the understanding and strategies across these different kinds of knowledge could be a key role for any coordinating organisation. For example, research is needed to draw on the wider knowledge base on Circular Economy worldwide in order that sharing of examples and experience can result in rapid developments that are needed.

Question 2: Should recycling arrangements across Wales be consistent?
YES. We support the responses provided by CCE. A coordinated all-Wales response is needed. We are in broad agreement with the responses provided by CEW. A participatory process need to be engaged to determine the best way to develop and fund a social enterprise focused on enabling the Circular Economy in Wales, learning from the experience of successful social business in Wales and elsewhere. We are in broad agreement with the response from ZW and suggest that this learning could be promoted by Local Circularity hubs who will be able to draw on their knowledge of the people and the area issues.

Question 3: Are the suggested actions in this theme the right ones? If not, why? What other actions could we consider to achieve the aims of the strategy?
We welcome these actions as a short term part of any strategy. However we would propose the following additions.
Re-think the model of responsibility for waste in production more generally as outlined above. Consider giving localities more legal powers to address particular waste nuisances such as large amounts of take-away food containers etc.
Include agricultural waste into the strategy as outlined above.

We agree with ZW that an all-Wales strategic body should be formed. We also agree with CEW that this should be a social business but would add that this should be developed through consultation with stakeholders and experienced social businesses.
We are in broad agreement with the points made by ZW regarding the timeline and ambition and also the necessity to transition as fast as possible away from incineration as a ‘solution’ to waste.

Question 4: What actions could we take to further promote the work on prevention and re-use that occur in our communities?
We are in broad agreement with the responses from CEW, particularly with the need to embed the ‘waste hierarchy’ in any strategy – Re-design, Re-use and Recycle as a last resort.
We also agree with CEW in their emphasis on the leadership role to be taken by social economy actors and that the Welsh Government should support the proposal to create an overarching support and coordination social business for the Circular Economy in Wales.

We would add that this coordinating body should help create and support local Circularity hubs as themselves independent social businesses with income derived partly from delivering learning in the community and fostering innovation in social and for-profit economy for Circularity.

We are in broad agreement with the responses from ZW – especially the need to recognise and draw on the experience and social learning of the existing social business in Wales. This includes the need to develop working relationships and exchange of information with local authorities.

Question 5: Do you agree we should develop and expand the work we do in schools on waste prevention and re-use?
The existing ESDGC curriculum can be expanded and developed to further cover information about Circularity in natural processes, biomimicry and the need for Circular Economy. This can be linked to Global Citizenship and the relationships between being a good local citizen and being a good global citizen. This includes understanding and support for the WG commitment to stop exporting waste to other countries.

We are in broad agreement with the response from CEW that schools should have in place systems for re-use. Creative projects in Circular Economy innovation should also be encouraged and linked to community service aspects.

We also broadly support the suggestions in the ZW response for the review and broadening of the Eco-Schools agenda.

Question 6: What do you think are the key steps that we need to take to further reduce avoidable food waste?
We are in broad agreement with the points made by CEW. The linkages between the composting and use of food waste and regenerative agriculture need to be made. Soil loss and depletion is a big issue in Wales and indeed worldwide. Heavy agricultural machinery, along with floods is destroying soil structure and our soil is travelling down our rivers to be lost in the ocean. This has links to the important question of food security and resilience, likely to be under stress in the economic downturn following COVID (let alone a potential ‘hard’ Brexit and its economically disastrous effects). Again, this strategy needs to be linked to wider agricultural strategies for protecting and enhancing soils.

We are broadly in agreement with the comments from ZW, with their emphasis on the value of community initiatives in recycling food. There is already a food crisis in poorer communities in Wales and it is important to ensure that any surplus is used by those in need.

Question 7: Are the suggested actions in this theme the right ones? If not, why? What other actions could we consider to achieve the aims of the strategy?

The actions proposed are all valuable. However there is a need to develop a more strategic overview to show how they can be made more complementary and add up to more than the sum of the parts. There is a lack of details as to HOW some of these actions will be supported and through what mechanisms.

We agree with the comments from ZW that SROI (social return on investment) is a good measure, however this needs to link more with the objectives of a regenerating and flourishing biodiversity in Wales, supporting human health and wellbeing for current and future generations.

We are in broad agreement with the points made by CEW that devolving management of Circular Economy to social business could help facilitate locally informed action that could result in better outcomes for Reuse. The Circular Economy Fund needs to become a diversified set of financial support mechanisms in order to provide a more thorough and strategic set rather than one instrument.

Question 8: Are the materials we have listed ones we should focus attention on?
The emphasis on wood is largely welcome provided it can be sourced from plantations that maximise carbon storage and biodiversity. There needs to be more emphasis on scarce resources and the problems of composite materials. These topics need to be addressed at source, but effective recycling should mean that valuable materials stay in Wales and can make supplies more resilient as global demand for rare resources grows.

Question 9: Are design changes in products using the materials listed an area to focus on?
YES. We agree with ZW that the WG needs to develop a research-informed set of design changes that guidance and legislation work towards as opportunities arise. We agree with CEW that extended producer responsibility is desirable and achievable. This is one area that participants in the consultation events clearly identified for more ambitious action by the Welsh Government, along with the need to overcome the culture of risk aversion in seeking to develop stronger measures in law and regulation.

Circular Economy requires not just individual product redesign but the REDESIGN OF PRODUCTION PROCESSES ACROSS DIFFERENT ENTERPRISES. This in turn needs overviews and the ability to work with a range of different actors: communities, business in the for-profit and not-for-profit (social) sectors, local government to identify place based opportunities and strategies. This kind of activity and communications can involve research efforts (modelling material flows etc) and social innovation across business barriers. This kind of effort overlaps with the planning system (see Question 22 below).

Question 10: Are the suggested actions in this theme the right ones? If not, why? What other actions could we consider to achieve the aims of the strategy? Are there other materials we could focus on and why?
The actions proposed are valuable but require more detail as to how they will be achieved and through what strategic instruments.

We support the additional suggestions made by CEW for mattresses, micro reprocessing and paint reuse.

Question 11: Is our focus on improving resource efficient procurement within the Public Service a priority area?
We agree that public money should be spent on procurement that helps deliver public benefit, both directly and in the wider sense of supporting a resource efficient economy. However, narrow constructions of ‘efficiency’ will not suffice. What is needed is a shift to procurement that strengthens the social, ecological, and resource resilience of the Welsh economy. This requires a more joined-up approach in the context of climate emergency and the need for mitigation and adaptation.
We agree with ZW that the power of Welsh public money should be used to help develop the market viability of production that contributes to an all-round more sustainable economy and the climate emergency.

Question 12: Is our focus on materials used and resource efficiency in construction a primary consideration to implement for the future?
Planning Policy Wales (PPW) https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2018-12/planning-policy-wales-edition-10.pdf has many references to how the planning system should support a move to a Circular Economy by embedding these principles into design choices, site selection, infrastructure provision, making use of existing buildings, and providing more sustainable transport networks and settlement patterns, as well as reducing waste and recycling building materials. Planning for a circular economy would recognise inter relationships between the built and natural environment. All these considerations should be a crucial part of preparing Local Development Plans (LDPs) and making decisions on planning applications. There is also reference to training in construction and design industries.

Construction is a key area for improvement and we are in broad agreement with the proposals from CEW for an overall Circular Economy social business to collaborate with the existing work done by Construction Excellence Wales. In addition we propose local Circularity hubs that can liaise with local social enterprise in Circular Economy and provide awareness-raising, networking and local place-based innovation.

We agree with ZW that the synergies of horticulture, silviculture and apiculture should be linked to a national forest project, developed in conjunction with communities and stakeholders.

Question 13: Are the suggested actions in this theme the right ones? If not, why? What other actions could we consider to achieve the aims of the strategy?
In general we welcome the suggested actions. We consider that Public Service Boards could liaise with the proposed Circularity hubs to improve communication, ambition and generate new ideas and initiatives.

We broadly agree with CEW that funding mechanisms based on public benefit should be developed to support Circularity social businesses and the initial need for a central fund.

Question 14: Is our continued business support to make them more resource efficient a priority action?
We agree with ZW that Circularity social business needs support from an overall body and that education is a priority area. We propose that local and societal learning be undertaken by local Circularity hubs that can liaise with schools. Further, we agree that incineration as ‘solution’ should be phased out and that they disincentivise better waste measures.

We agree with CEW that the Circular Economy Fund needs to be re-thought in the light of the importance of social business and new forms of cooperation needed for a more thorough Circular Economy strategy.

Question 15: How would you view starting a Zero Waste Town area?
Zero Waste towns have a great record and should be supported. However, the comments from ZW raise an important point that to adjust the waste responsibility picture and bring in more community & producer responsibility will change LA job structures and roles. Therefore there is a need for a wider discussion on how to transition to a new set of roles and relationships in a just manner.

We agree with CEW that consultation with previous initiatives will be essential to any success. See below Question 22 for more comments on leveraging the consultation process itself in this regard.

Question 16: Are the suggested actions in this theme the right ones? If not, why? What other actions could we consider to achieve the aims of the strategy?
The actions are welcome. However we do agree with ZW that the social sector is a central player in this and should be supported financially and politically to help engage with communities and develop new structures that do not rely on end-of-pipe disposal with LAs picking up the waste responsibility. A cross-sectoral dialogue and engagement was begun in the consultations on this strategy and could be extended – see Question 22. WE agree overall with the CLEANSTREAM approach that CEW supports.

EW have some good suggestions for delivery-based financial support to the social sector and more inclusive ways of accounting for benefit. The additional points from CEW about a need for a deeper understanding and model of Circular Economy is also welcome. The Green Party view is that will need to be linked to a re-purposing of the goals of economy to wellbeing. After the COVID economic and social shock we will need a new social contract that can deliver security, but that moves away from short-term consumerism towards a more resilient economy for all. This has to be the background for any realistic Circular Economy strategy.

Question 17: Are the initiative actions mentioned here those we should aim to provide supporting infrastructure for?
We have proposed that supporting infrastructure (in terms of policies, revenue opportunities, and so on; but also in terms of collection and processing infrastructure) should be reconsidered to support the development of the mixed economy that can help make Circular Economy a reality. In this we also agree with CEW that

Dwr Cymru is a successful model that could well be adapted to a Circular Economy lead body as a social business.
We agree with ZW that Circular Economy means re-thinking learning in schools and in communities, and we would add, across research expertise and local knowledge.

Question 18: How can we work regionally to ensure resource efficient decision making?
We propose that local Circularity hubs can be the basis for Regional working, together in partnership with civil organisations, LAs and social and for-profit business as supported by ZW. These actors could together form Regional partnerships.
We agree with CEW that permanent communication networks need to be developed.

Question 19: Are the suggested actions in this theme the right ones? If not, why? What other actions could we consider to achieve the aims of the strategy?
The suggested actions are welcome but have the major flaw of currently excluding and/or downplaying community and social business sectors. Add these in and the actions will change and become more cross-sectoral.

We agree with ZW that an all –Wales strategy is needed but consider that this would be best served by a lead body that is itself a social business on the Dwr Cymru model as suggested by CEW. NB this model is the envy of many countries and regions and is the origin of much good practice that can be adapted.

Question 20: We would like to know your views on the effects that our proposals in this document would have on the Welsh language, specifically on opportunities for people to use Welsh and on treating the Welsh language no less favourably than English. What effects do you think there would be? How could positive effects be increased, or negative effects be mitigated?
We consider, along with ZW, that if the Welsh government tried to increase community cohesion while encouraging more recycling through a circular economy then effects on the Welsh Language can be positive. This would align with the local Circularity hub proposal. In this case not only are we encouraging learners of the language to communicate more with other learners and Welsh speakers we are potentially encouraging people who currently don't speak Welsh to give it a go.

We consider that there is a need to investigate Welsh expressions and concepts that might express Circular Economy in a uniquely Welsh way and that here is one avenue for involving the Arts and Welsh Language Creative community.

We broadly agree with CEW that there is a strong relationship between maintaining cultural life and diversity of expression and putting in place a more resilient economic model – centrally including Circular Economy.

Question 21: Please also explain how you believe the proposed strategy could be formulated or changed so as to have positive effects or increased positive effects on opportunities for people to use the Welsh language and on treating the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language, and no adverse effects on opportunities for people to use the Welsh language and on treating the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language.
Similarly with the example proposed by ZW of Curitiba, if we can increase the opportunities for local engagement, learning and action by supporting local Circularity hubs. A strong overall message on Circular Economy and common recycling approaches can be made more locally meaningful and relevant by local organisations, embedded in the community.

Engage with Welsh Language creative communities to develop Welsh language cultural expression to communicate Circular Economy in the Welsh Language and through the Arts more generally. 

Question 22: We have asked a number of specific questions. If you have any related issues which we have not specifically addressed, please use this space to address them

Consultation Welcome
The consultation is very welcome and timely. Generally the information provided was interesting and informative. It is difficult to get the different levels of information right for a very mixed group of people and organisations involved. The comments below are intended to help improve the strategy and events going forward to help make the proposals a reality and to raise the level of ambition.

Concepts and information
1. What is Circular Economy? And/or what Should Circular Economy be? This needs to be stated. Our suggestion: A radically systemic and symbiotic ecology of livelihoods generating ecological and public value, responding to both resource limits and wellbeing goals for people and planet.

2. The consultation did not directly draw on the latest thinking internationally on CE (not referenced in the document at any rate) and this meant there was a limitation on the concept used – and consequently a lack of attention to the links needed to other areas of policy. Both these points were raised by participants in the consultations. Main areas overlooked:

a) In stating that the main problem is WASTE the background of RESOURCE depletion and more effective resource use was not really a factor considered fully. In fact resource limits are, and will become, bigger drivers of recycling and will increasingly impact business. Thus there is a business case to be assembled for up-front investment by the WG to help get a head start as a leading recycling economy.

b) One of the areas lacking (as is generally the case with areas that are considered to be ‘technical’ – was the whole issue of cultural perceptions and values associated with waste and recycling. Some participants mentioned ‘education’ and awareness raising –but cultural perceptions of jobs in the waste industry are generally negative and need to be the subject of a cultural campaign. Circular Economy heroes are out there waiting for public recognition and new language and imagery that talks of a better future.

c) Changes in business models and cooperation will need to be supported to help change an overly fragmented (and fragile) economy to something more integrated in new ways. Relationships will need to be formed that are not solely of actors in a market.

d) This point needs to be connected to RESILIENT economies that can withstand shocks and ADAPT FORWARD to the future. What links will be made with the ‘Foundation Economy’ thinking – especially in the wake of the COVID pandemic?

e) The relationship of the agricultural & food sector to the whole topic of waste, recycling & pollution. The different sectors may well need to come into closer relationship as we move towards a Circular Economy. There will be some symbiosis between agricultural ‘waste’ and other products and processes, in addition to the waste & pollution reduction in the agricultural sector that can be achieved. Natural Resources Wales therefore should be involved in this process.

f) The question of the increased use of complex materials and the extreme difficulty of recycling this kind of waste (eg microprocessors) needs to be specifically addressed.

3. Perhaps the conceptual framing of the Strategy and the consultation as ‘Beyond Recycling’ could be seen as contributing a sense of lack of ambition – and of course leaves open the question: ‘How FAR beyond?’ and ‘How FAST?’ Participants in the consultation generally wanted more ambition. Tying the discussion to recycling had the benefit that many people have experience to bring from recycling efforts – but they also brought understanding of the more systemic blocks to making recycling work. These points should have been more systematically captured.

4. There was some comment from participants in consultation meetings that more insight into the STRATEGY proposed for a thoroughly Circular Economy would have been good …for example how this fits with ECONOMIC and WELL-BEING frameworks. There was no analysis of exactly what could be enablers and what are currently blockers from Westminster for example. Alliances with other areas such as Scotland could be developed on this basis.

5. There is a sense that the whole strategy based on voluntary change from producers needs to change gear and involve both ‘carrots and sticks’. The main criterion for this should be assessment of the PUBLIC VALUE to be promoted by any measure, including supporting and extending biodiversity as a key public good, culturally, psychologically and as a contributor to public physical health.

Making Consultation Processes and Public Money work for the Community: multi-purpose events

6. The Welsh Government has rightly used public money and resources for a widespread consultation with meetings held in different regional areas. Some of the spend could have been leveraged to develop local/regional networks to help empower the civil society groups that were there. There was no structured opportunity for networking amongst participants at the consultations other than the people on a particular table. This was a wasted opportunity particularly in the light of the recognition that civil society and community groups are very necessary and important partners in making these ideas happen. These consultations could be the basis for local and regional partnerships.

7. All the community groups, social and other businesses and local authority experts present and engaged in these consultations have knowledge, experience and insight to offer. Another outcome from the consultation to help leverage public money spent would be to work with researchers to help gather information and develop networks. The relevant research communities in Wales could have been involved to help make the links between expertise and practice that are needed to really get stuff done. This should be an action point for further events.

Including Planning
A big gap in the draft circular economy document is a failure to recognise the importance of planning in implementing a circular economy. At a very basic level, the proposed recycling hubs aren’t going to happen unless they get planning permission. The idea of zero carbon cities is being considered and even implemented in other countries and, is being supported by appropriate planning policies https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/The-circular-economy-opportunity-for-urban-industrial-innovation-in-China_19-9-18_1.pdf In the light of this, we would have expected something in the final Circular Economy document to explain the relationship with land use planning

We also support CCE in recommending consideration of off-site construction as there is evidence that this can reduce waste and transport impacts.

Additions to Recycling
We support the points made by CCE about the inclusion of steel and UPV window frames and doors.

In addition we support the focus on looking at new materials likely to come into the picture of Reuse: electric vehicle batteries, photovoltaic panels, wind turbine blades.