Event

Delivering a nature positive, climate resilient economy

This event hosted by UK think tank the Institute of Welsh Affairs highlights the ways a greener economic transition can benefit Wales.

Join us as we explore the role of nature at the heart of our economy and highlight the ways a greener economic transition can benefit Wales.

We all depend on our natural world as the foundation upon which our economy is built. Yet they often remain in conflict. Species and habitat loss are at an all-time high with 1 in 5 species in Wales at risk of extinction.

Meanwhile, Wales is already feeling the effects of climate change – more floods, droughts, wildfires, and growing food insecurity. Over 273,000 homes are at risk of flooding in Wales. The impact of flooding is often worse on lower-income households who cannot afford to make their homes flood-resistant or pay the insurance premiums to cover flooding risk. The resulting financial exposure threatens not only households and businesses but also public finance budgets and a stable economy.

We have damaged Wales’s resilience to such events by degrading the environment through, for example, draining peat bogs, degrading saltmarshes, reducing tree cover in places, concreting green spaces in urban areas and building on flood plains. We have undermined the ability of the natural environment to cope.

In response, Wales must transform our economy so that it works with nature to make us more resilient to change and future shocks. This webinar will explore the role of nature at the heart of our economy and highlight the ways in which a greener economic transition can benefit Wales. It will be an opportunity to discuss the role of nature-based solutions and explore how action to restore nature and build resilience to climate change can have a positive impact on the economy, cost of living, health, jobs and protection for communities in Wales.

The webinar, chaired by IWA’s Co-Director Joe Rossiter, will bring together a panel of experts to identify priority recommendations for the next Welsh Government and for businesses. Joe will be joined by:

Calvin Jones – Professor at Cork University Business School and Director of Jones the Numbers

Gareth Clubb – Director, WWF Cymru

Michelle Leavesley – Chief Sustainability Officer, Admiral

Shav Taj – General Secretary TUC Cymru

The discussion will be followed by live Q&A with the audience.