Wales' greenhouse gas emissions fell 8.6% in 2024 compared to the previous year, driven mainly by the closure of coal-fed blast furnaces at Port Talbot steelworks, according to the UK Climate Change Committee. The site had been the UK's single largest source of carbon dioxide, responsible for about 2% of national emissions. The overall reduction since 1990 now stands at 44%. The blast furnaces were turned off in July and September 2024, with 2,000 jobs lost. They are set to be replaced by a 1.25 billion pound electric arc furnace that will recycle scrap steel, producing far fewer emissions. The CCC noted that industrial changes accounted for 74% of Wales' direct emission reductions in 2024, though increases in buildings, transport, and aviation partially offset the gains. The CCC criticized the Welsh and UK governments for not doing more to prepare the local economy for the transition, warning that job losses could damage public support for climate action. Both governments have pledged funding for new green jobs and clean energy infrastructure in the region.
