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Reflections on NICW
Reflecting on our work The importance of reflective practice As individuals, we learn best when we critically analyse and consider how we have responded in various situations. Learning happens best when we consider whether the approach we took could have been amended in some way to reach a different outcome. We consider that a similar…
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Nature Guardian Case Study
Nature as a Stakeholder: A Case Study of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales’ Nature Guardian Pilot – Elspeth Jones Executive Summary In 2025, the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICW) undertook a six-month pilot to test a novel governance intervention: the appointment of a “Nature Guardian” to participate directly in Commission discussions. The pilot was not…
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A toolkit for community engagement on climate change
A toolkit for community engagement on climate change Infrastructure decisions made today will shape the lives of people living many decades into the future. As climate risks become increasingly complex and uncertain, public bodies and infrastructure providers need to work in new ways so that communities who want or need to understand, discuss, and influence…
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The wind is not ours; how Wales was left out of its own energy future
The wind is not ours; how Wales was left out of its own energy future The Celtic Sea; power, profit & possibility On 19 June 2025, The Crown Estate announced – in English only – what it calls a “new frontier” in UK offshore wind development, partnering with Norwegian energy giant Equinor and Gwynt Glas…
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Tunnels, trains and (ferry) terminals; infrastructure insights from north Wales
Tunnels, trains and (ferry) terminals; infrastructure insights from north Wales NICW undertakes several study tours a year to understand more about local infrastructure issues. This blog post describes our visit to Conwy and Ynys Môn in July 2025 Several times a year the Commission visits different parts of Wales to understand local issues of infrastructure…
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Diverging currents; the approach to flooding in Wales and England
Diverging currents; the approach to flooding in Wales and England This is a guest post by Dr David Clubb, Chair of NICW. The piece was first published in Business Wales on 27 June. As climate change intensifies, the UK faces an escalating threat from flooding which is among the most costly and disruptive climate-related hazards.…
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Reshaping the Future Generations Act
Reshaping the Future Generations Act Background On 31 March 2025, the Equality and Social Justice Committee of the Senedd agreed to undertake scrutiny of the Well-being of Future Generations Act (WFGA). Our consultation response (below) was submitted to the Committee on 24 June. Reframing the future The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 was…
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Welcoming Elspeth Jones, NICW’s Nature Guardian
Welcoming Elspeth Jones as Nature Guardian Croeso We are delighted to welcome Elspeth Jones to the NICW team as our first Nature Guardian, a role we are launching as part of a six-month pilot programme to explore how NICW can deepen its relationship with nature, land, and place. Background This pilot project has arisen from…
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Transport infrastructure in 2100
Reimagining transport infrastructure in 2100 A long-term perspective What if the transport decisions we make today could shape a more just, inclusive, and resilient Wales by the year 2100? Transport is more than a means of movement. It enables connection, unlocks access, and shapes opportunity. In many ways, it reflects the values of a society:…
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Inviting Nature into NICW
Inviting Nature into NICW Background In October 2024, the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICW) made a bold recommendation to Welsh Government: nature should have a voice in decisions about flood policy and implementation. This was not just a call for greater environmental awareness; it was an invitation to imagine a future where nature sits…
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Between Targets and Trust: Wales and Net Zero
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Learning from Fairbourne and Barmouth
NICW undertakes several study tours a year to understand more about local infrastructure issues. This blog post describes our visit to Fairbourne and Abermaw in March 2025 Several times a year the Commission visits different parts of Wales to understand local issues of infrastructure that can help inform our views and bring more lived experience…
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Renewable energy in Wales; is there sufficient progress?
This is a personal blog post written by Nick Tune, one of the two lead Commissioners for the NICW renewable energy project. The report On March 3, 2025, the Welsh Government published the Energy Generation in Wales 2023 report offering a comprehensive review of energy generation and consumption across Wales. The report highlights that renewable…
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Every time it rains…. How do we build resilience to flooding in Wales by 2050?
This is a personal blog post written by Dr Eurgain Powell, one of the two lead Commissioners for the NICW flooding project. “Working collectively, alongside nature: a unifying vision and clear pathway helps create a vibrant partnership of society working together with nature to build resilience and adapt to the impacts of climate change.”NICW vision…
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Taff Tidy
