CEO, Gary Newman ponders over the coming year and how the development and management of natural and built environments must adapt to climate changes that are happening now
We ended 2024 with Storm Darragh; a stark reminder of the power of our weather, the urgency of addressing climate change, and the lack of preparedness of our infrastructure. The image above, of the Anglesey solar farm damaged in the storm, is a vivid illustration that effective adaptation of our energy systems, infrastructure and buildings to climate change is every bit as important as mitigation. We certainly need to create natural and built environments as adapted as possible to the climate changed future that is increasingly upon us.
Step into 2025 and we see images of the LA fire on our screens. A new type of fire, impossible to control and eating everything its path.
All this just makes the our agenda increasingly relevant and increasingly urgent.
The Woodknowledge Wales agenda
The good news is that the agenda to decarbonise the built environment with timber and the natural environment with trees remains a Welsh Government priority, exemplified by the first Welsh Timber Industrial Strategy (TIS) out for consultation soon.
The movement to drive forward timber construction is led by Built by Nature and Bauhaus Earth. I was fortunate to attend the Built by Nature Summit in Amsterdam just before Christmas. It was particularly gratifying to hear from the developers and financiers lining-up to do their bit. It felt like a moment of significant change. It was also pleasing to learn that Woodknowledge Wales is held in high esteem internationally, esteem amongst our international peers, reminding me that we need to look outward to connect across political borders with like-minded people and organisations across the globe.
Woodknowledge Wales makes and nurtures connections
Talking of connecting, I believe that the defining role of Woodknowledge Wales is to make and nurture connections. To break down the silos and consequent misunderstanding that slows progress; not simply along the forestry and timber value chain from land to building, but also from academia to industry, between farmers and foresters, or linking across government departments or across industrial sectors, between government and industry, and critically linking the climate crises, to nature recovery, the provision of water, food and materials and of course the need for human health and wellbeing. Don’t get me wrong, these silos of thinking and doing serve a purpose, but they also hinder progress, and particularly so when substantial change is necessary
Woodknowledge Wales membership continues to keep on growing and reaching parts unimaginable from our beginning as a member alliance in 2017. I am genuinely humbled by the positivity and enthusiasm for our work – whether it’s for our new Regenerative Materials First project, the Home-Grown Homes Project, our Communities of Practice, the ever-growing WoodBUILD conference, or anything else on our ever-expanding list of responsibilities. Consequently, the Woodknowledge Wales team and board continue to grow to try to keep pace with the action, and the continued support of our members provides us with the financial resources and emotional energy to keep going. Our members and wider network are of course the place where real change takes place – whether its planting a tree or constructing a building or anything in between.
Thank you all.
Looking ahead with great excitement
My colleagues and I are looking ahead to 2025 with much excitement. Hopefully you will be able to make it to one or more of our events – especially this year’s WoodBUILD, which will be held in Llandudno on 3rd and 4th of June and promises to be our biggest and boldest yet, so I sincerely hope you can make it.
