This week, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum (PCF) welcomed Derek Walker, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, to our headquarters overlooking the Milford Haven Waterway. The visit was an invaluable opportunity to showcase how PCF and our partners are addressing some of the toughest challenges faced by Wales’ coastal communities while exploring opportunities for innovation and collaboration.
As a Community Interest Company (CIC), PCF is dedicated to tackling today’s pressing challenges. From the impacts of climate change to the pressures on natural resources, we bring people and organisations together, enabling collaboration to find sustainable solutions.
Our work directly supports Welsh and UK sustainability goals, including the Well-being of Future Generations Act, Net Zero Wales Plan, and the commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050. Through projects spanning marine renewable energy, climate adaptation, coastal education and skills, responsible recreation, water quality and land use, and sustainable aquaculture, we provide a dynamic platform for stakeholders to collaborate and drive meaningful change.
Showcasing Solutions and Opportunities
Derek’s visit included a presentation of PCF’s ongoing work, emphasising the role of collaboration in tackling coastal challenges. Key topics included:
- Nature Finance and Nutrient Management: PCF’s Ecosystem Enterprise Partnership is innovating approaches to nutrient trading, aiming to balance development with environmental restoration. Nature-based solutions and funding mechanisms could unlock opportunities for sustainable housing, agriculture, and aquaculture.
- Floating Offshore Wind in the Celtic Sea: In 2025, areas of the seabed in the Celtic Sea will be leased by The Crown Estate to develop three floating offshore wind farms. With hundreds of turbines, these groundbreaking projects will deliver a massive 4.5GW of clean energy, enough to power up to four million homes. By 2030, an additional 4 -10GW will be leased. These projects can deliver transformative growth, but require urgent support. PCF, through Marine Energy Wales and the Celtic Sea Developer Alliance, is working to maximise the economic, social, and environmental benefits of this sector.
- Climate Adaptation: We highlighted how PCF supports community-led approaches to managing climate risks. As outlined in our Climate Adaptation Strategy, effective planning requires long-term funding and meaningful engagement with communities.
- Social Prescribing and Outdoor Health: Through the Pembrokeshire Outdoor Health Project, PCF is connecting individuals with nature-based programmes that improve mental and physical wellbeing. With over 225 participants since 2022, this initiative has delivered measurable benefits and demonstrated the potential of social prescribing.
- Green Skills Development: Recognising the skills required for the transition to a cleaner energy system, PCF highlighted the importance of training pathways to support emerging industries, such as marine renewables and sustainable aquaculture.
“It was a pleasure to visit Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and meet local organisations to learn more about the good work taking place across the county. What struck me was the high level of collaboration between different organisations working together to deliver positive change. There are big opportunities ahead for the Pembrokeshire, in particular for renewable energy generation from Floating Offshore Wind. We need to make sure we realise that opportunity for the benefit of the residents of Pembrokeshire and for the people of Wales, for today but also for generations to come.”
Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner
Round table discussion
In the afternoon, Derek participated in a round table discussion with key stakeholders including Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, The Crown Estate, Pembrokeshire College, Pembrokeshire County Council, Port of Milford Haven and the nature and communities sectors. The conversation reinforced the importance of collaboration and the need to move from strategy to action in addressing these challenges:
- Innovative Nature Finance
- Climate Adaptation
- Celtic Sea Opportunities
- Green Skills
- Outdoor Health and Social Prescribing
“With concerted effort from the Prime Minister and First Minister, Wales can create a green economy fuelled by green energy, green molecules and green steel linked to a Wales chapter in the developing Industrial Strategy. We know the race we want to win, but we may need to think about how we change some of the strategic framing and rules.
Tom Sawyer, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Milford Haven
A strategy cannot be based on hope, it needs an execution plan, and we need to see urgent, muscular state intervention to help capture the prize and ensure investment in ports and supply chains to support the creation of new industries like floating offshore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture and sustainable fuels. Wales’ reindustrialisation depends upon it.
A whole energy system approach to decarbonisation needs consistent policy, strategic derisking, a supportive regulatory landscape and a long-term, cross-party commitment to delivery. South Wales has seen refineries, power stations and coal mines close in the past with catastrophic impacts that we still feel today. Floating Wind and the associated technologies and off-takers offer a unique opportunity to rebuild our Nation’s industrial backbone and deliver prosperity to our communities and future generations.”
A Shared Commitment to Sustainability
We are grateful to the Commissioner for his genuine interest and engagement, as well as to all who attended, and to our PCF Chair of nearly 25 years Nick Ainger for expertly chairing the round table. This visit underscored the alignment between PCF’s priorities and the themes of the upcoming Future Generations report, such as green finance, skills development, and the importance of community-led solutions.
We look forward to building on this visit, fostering further collaboration, and taking decisive action creating a sustainable future for Wales.
“Welcoming the Future Generations Commissioner to Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum enabled us to showcase the collaborative efforts driving sustainable change along our coastlines. Bringing together people and organisations from across sectors is essential for finding innovative solutions to issues like climate adaptation, green skills, and sustainable development. Derek’s visit reinforced how vital it is to work together to create a resilient future with our coastal communities and environment.”
Jetske Germing, Managing Director, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum