Public sector unites in Llandudno to accelerate Wales’ journey to net zero

Hosted at Venue Cymru the Journey to a net zero Wales event brought together public sector professionals from across the country to exchange insights and explore how Wales can take action on climate change.

Now in its third year, the event on 11 June, was delivered by our teams at Salix in collaboration with Welsh Government and the Welsh Government Energy Service.

Kirsty Adamson, our senior programme manager and chair of the day, opened the event by acknowledging the growing strength of the community of public sector professionals working towards net zero. 

She said: "Bringing people together like this is not just a formality, it’s a celebration of shared purpose and collective achievement."

Overlooking the sweeping Llandudno shoreline, the day offered a striking backdrop to conversations of future resilience, carbon reporting, and climate responsibility.

Jon Merrey, senior delivery manager at Welsh Government, spotlighted the remarkable momentum of climate investment across Wales, stating that more than £100 million in public sector funding was delivered in the past year, doubling that achieved in 2024 and triple the 2023 figure.

“Despite the pressure we’re all under,” Jon said, “this community continues to find solutions, drawing on deep experience and a growing pool of data. The strength and commitment here are what makes net zero not just possible, but inevitable.”

Deputy First Minister, Huw Irranca-Jones appeared in a feature video. In the video he, thanked delegates and reinforced the government’s commitment to climate action. 

He said: “Public services have a key leadership role in showing that net zero is not only achievable but beneficial.

“With your support, we are making a real and tangible difference.”

Salix Director Ian Rodger made a powerful presentation linking the lived impacts of climate change to the urgency of energy efficiency projects. 

Ian said: “Rising sea levels, heavier rainfall, and climbing temperatures are no longer distant threats, but current realities in Wales.”

He also highlighted the reasons for optimism with more than 13,000 projects delivered across the UK by Salix and 1,344 public sector projects supported in Wales through the Wales Funding Programme and Recycling Fund initiatives.

These have achieved energy savings worth £19.2 million and resulted in annual CO2 savings of 55,000 tonnes.

Ian praised the uniquely collaborative environment in Wales: “The stakeholders in Wales are the strongest I’ve seen across the UK. 

“The way the Welsh Government Energy Service is set up, with support from Salix, is a model for how to create a knowledge-driven, supportive ecosystem for net zero.”

Strategic lead, Carwyn Davies and manager, Stefan Runge, at Welsh Government Energy Services supported Ian in their presentation which discussed the presence of climate change in our daily lives. They also highlightedthe funding delivered, and projects supported by the Welsh Government Energy Service.

Public sector representatives’ presentations showcased leading local authority work. Flintshire County Council, a consistent innovator in energy projects, detailed their longstanding use of the Recycling Fund and recent investment in data centre cooling systems, LED lighting, solar PV, and air source heat pumps.

Molly Salter, energy conservation technical officer at Flintshire, discussed the success of the council’s Climate Toolkit, a behavioural change initiative aimed at schools, town and community councils. 

She explained: "This is about embedding climate awareness in the everyday lives of young people and communities.”

Molly said the toolkit has already reached more than 140 schools and inspired many to create their own lesson plans and carbon reduction strategies.

Meilir Hughes, chief property and asset manager at Isle of Anglesey County Council shared the council’s ambitious solar carport project, part-funded through the Wales Funding Programme and Ynni Cymru. 

Ynni Cymru, the Welsh Government’s publicly owned energy company, is investing £10 million in local renewable energy projects through its Smart Local Energy Systems (SLES) grant scheme. 

The fund supports public bodies, community groups and small businesses to install solar panels, batteries, EV chargers and heat pumps, with priority given to projects in deprived areas. The system at Anglesey, will directly power council offices and improve car park safety with better lighting.

David Lewis, energy and commercial services manager at Gwynedd Council emphasised the importance of robust monitoring and stakeholder engagement.

He said: “We’ve already reduced our emissions by 60% across buildings and we did that by focusing on the basics first. Now we must ensure we’re monitoring effectively and continually raising awareness.”

The event breakout sessions invited open discussion and peer-to-peer learning, allowing attendees to share challenges and suggest solutions directly - strengthening the network of Welsh public sector climate leaders.

Rachael Holliday, programme coordinator at Salix, presented on Round 2 of Digarbon, a targeted fund supporting further and higher education institutions in heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency. With £10 million available this financial year, Digarbon Round 2 reflects the continued evolution of Welsh funding mechanisms to match sector needs.

To close the day, Alexandra Edmonds, development manager at the Welsh Government Energy Service delivered a reminder that effective energy systems go far beyond installation with reference to optimising solar array. 

She said: “Installation is not generation. Someone must take ownership of monitoring because real savings come through real accountability.”

With the Welsh public sector aiming to achieve net zero by 2030, we believe at Salix that events of this nature serve as a valuable platform for cross-sector collaboration, strategic insight, and the exchange of practical knowledge. 

They provide space for reflection on progress to date while helping to shape the direction of future action.

At Salix we remain committed to working in partnership with the Welsh Government and the Welsh Government Energy Service to support the delivery of energy efficiency and decarbonisation initiatives across the public sector in Wales.