Building Bridges for Community Climate Action in Torfaen
We are a group of Torfaen residents with different skills and experiences brought together by our commitment to deliver positive change in the face of the climate emergency.
Our purpose is to support a journey towards a net zero and nature friendly Torfaen, bringing together citizens, businesses and Torfaen council.ย
We believe in local solutions to local challenges and that residents are best placed to help inform strategies to respond to the climate and nature emergency on our doorstep.
Read more About Us.
- Climate Cafes
- Workshops
- Education
- Discussion Groups
- Group Visits
- Connections
- Volunteer Days
- Film Screenings
- Empowering
- Panels
- Get-Togethers
- Inspiration
Whether you’re an experienced advocate or just starting to explore, there are many ways to get involved and make a difference!
We run regular events throughout Torfaen, and hold monthly meetings both in-person and online. Follow us on social media or check out our updates page to see what’s coming up.
We’re always looking to form new connections with local business and groups. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or ideas.
Everyone is welcome!
Root for Our Future
Our current project – Root for Our Future – is all about exploring food sustainability within Torfaen. Everyone is welcome to attend one of our events. They’re completely free!
273
Climate Action Torfaen
Building bridges for community
climate action in Torfaen
Ahead of Senedd elections in May, climate action has become a political football.![]()
![]()
The debate around net-zero has been divided into two camps. One says net zero is necessary because they are concerned about the impact climate change is having on our communities and the wider world. They say, following the science, that if we donโt act now, things will only get more severe. The other calls to scrap net zero primarily because they think it is ๐๐ผ๐ผ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ.![]()
![]()
What gets missed is that the ๐๐ผ๐ผ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ camp includes plenty of people who do care about climate impacts. They see the devastating flooding that has hit our communities โ many fear it themselves, and want to feel more secure. But in the face of growing financial hardship in Wales and the UK, with the NHS and public services suffering, the thought of large public spending on climate action seems a reasonable place to cut.![]()
![]()
Yet done properly, climate action is not a drain. Itโs one of the biggest opportunities Wales has to strengthen communities and improve lives.![]()
![]()
Hundreds of thousands of new jobs have been created in the public transport, renewable energy, and recycling sectors. Wales is already an exporter of electricity through hydro and wind, and renewables are one of our key national resources. They can be an income source to fund quality public services, as in countries like Denmark and Sweden. These countries lead the world in quality of life ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ they are pushing ahead on climate action, not in spite of it. Energy communities can ensure our energy resources are locally owned and governed, putting money directly into local areas.![]()
![]()
Renovation and retrofitting of buildings brings high-quality jobs that must be local: local workers adapting to our specific conditions, not copy-pasted blocks lining the pockets of international investors.![]()
![]()
Climate adaptation efforts, including restoring hillslope ecosystems to soak up floodwaters, requires local knowledge and workers to protect communities from severe weather.![]()
![]()
On the other hand, the costs will continue accumulating if we scramble to respond without a plan. Flooding already cost ยฃ81 million in damages to property in Wales in 2020, according to Natural Resources Wales. In a sign of things to come, Rhondda Cynon Taf council was recently forced to buy 16 properties at a cost of ยฃ2.5m, as it realised it could not protect them against worsening storms. Scrapping net zero throws a generational opportunity for local transformation into the wind, leaving us with one card less against the abandonment of our communities. ![]()
![]()
So the real question is not whether we can afford net zero.![]()
![]()
It is whether we can afford to scrap it.![]()
![]()
๐ท Clydach Terrace, Ynysybwl
๐ฑ Ever wondered where your food really comes from? ๐ฑ![]()
![]()
Join us in Torfaen for a relaxed and inspiring talk all about how our food is grown, why it matters, and what the future could look like.![]()
![]()
This is a great chance to learn more about the food on your plate โ no prior knowledge needed!![]()
![]()
The talk will be given by Sue Pritchard, who works nationally on food and farming issues and also lives on a small local farm, bringing big ideas together with real-life experience.![]()
![]()
If youโre curious about food, farming, or just enjoy interesting conversations โ this oneโs for you.![]()
![]()
Everyone welcome. Come along, learn something new, and join the conversation! ![]()
![]()
Book your free ticket by emailing us at hello@climateactiontorfaen.cymru ๐ฑ๐
Is Torfaen doing its bit on clean energy?![]()
![]()
Torfaen uses a huge amount of electricity โ around 364 GWh every year โ to power our homes, schools, hospitals and businesses. But hereโs the uncomfortable truth: around 95% of that electricity is generated somewhere else.![]()
![]()
The map shows in green where we currently renewable energy generation, and the red shows where there is potential sites for wind generation. ![]()
![]()
Right now, Torfaen has no operational wind farms and just two solar farms, which together supply only 2โ3% of our electricity. Even when you add all domestic rooftop solar, weโre still only generating about 5% of what we use locally.![]()
![]()
This matters because Wales as a whole is close to meeting its electricity demand with renewables. Other parts of the country are doing the heavy lifting โ while Torfaen remains a net importer, quietly relying on other communities to host the infrastructure we depend on.![]()
![]()
Recent wind and solar proposals have sparked strong opposition, and concerns about landscape and heritage are valid. But rejecting all new renewable energy locally doesnโt make the problem disappear โ it just pushes responsibility elsewhere.![]()
![]()
If Torfaen is serious about climate action, resilience and fairness, some level of local renewable energy is unavoidable. The real question isnโt if change happens โ itโs how we do it, and whether local communities benefit.![]()
![]()
We've pulled together the data and context in a longer article below. Have a read โ and letโs have an honest conversation about where our energy comes from, and what Torfaenโs role should be. ๐![]()
![]()
climateactiontorfaen.cymru/is-torfaen-doing-its-bit-on-clean-energy