Martyn Evans - Sustainable Severn Forum 2015
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Natural Resources Wales (NRW) plays several roles including regulator, advisor, land owner, and incident manager. As a regulator, NRW oversees renewable energy development in marine environments. NRW is also working to address challenges like climate change, energy security, and biodiversity loss. Strategic planning is key to ensuring renewable energy development occurs in appropriate locations. Evidence-based spatial planning through tools like the National Marine Plan can minimize risks for developers while protecting the environment. Collaboration across sectors is needed to align visions and efforts around sustainable natural resource management and renewable energy goals.
Martyn Evans - Sustainable Severn Forum 2015
- 1. Sustainable Severn Forum 2015 The role of Natural Resources Wales 9 December 2015 Martyn Evans Head, Ecosystems Planning & Partnerships, Operations South Renewable Wales 2015
- 2. The Role of Natural Resources Wales • Regulator • Advisor • Land owner & manager • Incident Management Renewable Wales 2015
- 3. Regulatory role (Marine) Renewable Wales 2015
- 4. Growing Challenges • Climate Change • Energy Security & Affordability • Biodiversity Loss • Resource Efficiency • Economic inequality • Growing & increasing elderly population Renewable Wales 2015
- 5. Climate Change Renewable Wales 2015 • The Environment Bill requires Welsh Ministers to meet Climate Change targets. • Renewable energy is crucial in achieving climate change targets.
- 6. A new approach to managing our Natural Resources Renewable Wales 2015 • Environment (Wales) Act • Well Being and Future Generations (Wales) Act • Planning (Wales) Act • Wales National Marine Plan • Power for Purpose: Towards a lasting Devolution Settlement for Wales
- 7. Sustainable Natural Resource Management principles PPC Hydraulic Fracturing (PG) 7
- 8. Energy Wales Statement Renewable Wales 2015 • Stable, clear policy and regulatory framework to de-risk and facilitate energy investment. • Update to fully reflect Welsh ambitions and the entirety of the energy system • Priority areas are marine energy (including demonstration zones and tidal range), grid, fossil fuels, onshore wind. • Promoting joined up delivery and action, including potential new consenting powers.
- 9. Working with Industry Renewable Wales 2015 • Working with the Crown Estates to organise a UK workshop on wave and tidal demonstration zones Strategic sectoral planning Offshore wind – Rounds 1,2 and 3 Wave and tidal stream demonstration zones Tidal Range projects
- 10. Strategic Planning & Assessment Renewable Wales 2015 Wales National Marine Plan Sectoral Planning Strategic Assessment (SEA, HRA) Possible Tidal Range/lagoon sites Severn Tidal Power - 5% UK electricity?
- 11. Severn Estuary conservation designations PPC Hydraulic Fracturing (PG) 11
- 12. Strategic Planning • Helps ensure the right development /activity in the right place. • Minimises consenting risk for developers. • Strategic sectoral planning for the marine environment has been underway for some time, e.g. for oil and gas; offshore renewables. • Wales’ first National Marine Plan is now under development, which will integrate across sectors, and take into account interactions between different uses for the first time.
- 13. Evidence needs The right evidence is crucial to: • Inform strategic plans and policies • Develop spatial policies (e.g. high/low risk areas) • Understand options for reducing or removing adverse impacts e.g. we have produced evidence layers on natural heritage receptors for wave and tidal energy Evidence is needed at a strategic and project level Harbour porpoise distribution In some areas there is limited evidence to inform consenting decisions – this is a significant challenge for the development of marine industries
- 14. In summary Renewable Wales 2015 • Renewable energy is critical to moving towards a low carbon economy • NRW has a key role to play • Spatial planning is key • Collaboration is no longer optional
- 15. Key issues • Plan led or opportunity led? – policy & strategic leadership • A strategic, spatial approach - how to achieve? • City Region Visions: environment as a key growth component of sustainable economies • England/Wales policy integration • Competing demands for compensatory habitat • Evidence: • Integrating natural resources into multiple (competing) objectives • Genuine collaboration needed across public, private and third sectors to align vision, spend and effort PPC Hydraulic Fracturing (PG) 15
- 16. “I take up my old pen again – the pen of all my old unforgettable efforts and sacred struggles. To myself – today – I need say no more. Large and full and high the future still opens. It is now that I may do the work of my life.” (If all this appears to be in the too hard to do box, this may inspire you to soldier on). The playwright Henry James, in his 50’s, following a play of his that flopped. Conveys a sense of capitalising on proud past work, dealing with setbacks, but looking ahead with optimism and confidence to the future.
- 17. Thank you / Diolch. [email protected]