Business leaders in North Wales have launched a major campaign to help the region reach net zero status.
Led by the Mersey Dee Business Council and announced that the inaugural meeting of Net Zero North Wales, the campaign will focus on several key areas for businesses and not-for-profit organisations to reach the climate goal.
These include the development of low carbon and renewable energy supplies such as looking at hydrogen as a potential fuel source, improving electric vehicle recharging infrastructure, on-site or local energy generation, energy efficiency and retrofit schemes for properties.
The campaign will also look for ways to help the transport sector become less carbon reliant, and encourage a 'circular economy' to reduce waste and advance recycling schemes.
Enterprises will also jointly lobby governments, local authorities and key figures in industry to further invest in the development of carbon-neutral technologies.
Many local businesses have been recognised for their efforts to become carbon neutral. These include using solar technologies at premises, use of electric vehicles and introduction of recycling protocols.
"They are widely recognised as local pioneers in promoting clean energy and sustainable production methods which still retain profitability," said Business Council chief executive Ashley Rogers.
"We can all learn from their experiences and from each other as we go forward. This is the basic concept behind the Net Zero North Wales network and we are calling on organisations across the region to get involved."
Clare Budden, group chief executive for ClwydAlyn Housing and Business Council chair, said: "It’s crucial we share ideas, lobby influential authorities and come up with innovative ways in which the whole of our region’s community can benefit from the campaign to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint.
"I am glad to say that the social housing sector is already working innovatively and playing a leading role in the race to achieve a net zero North Wales."
She added: "Social landlords are investing huge amounts of money into decarbonising existing properties and building new energy efficient, low carbon homes which is not only helping in terms of climate change but also tackling fuel poverty at the same time.”
Around 30 local enterprises contributed to the inaugural Net Zero North Wales meeting at the Conwy Business Centre in Llandudno Junction.
Among those was Anglesey Sea Zoo which houses the first fully solar-powered aquarium in the UK after installing 50KW of PV solar panels on a £1m extension plan bringing further green technologies to the tourist attraction.
Owner Frankie Hobro said: "It’s vital for businesses to invest in green technologies. We’re at a stage now where we are in the last chance saloon and if we don’t act it spells disaster for the local environment and our entire planet.”
