Comprehensive new environmental data published by Friends of the Earth Cymru in associations with Friends of the Earth Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, reveal the stark gap between Welsh voters' desire for climate action and action to protect nature and the reality of environmental issues, as the nation prepares for crucial Senedd elections.

The data, covering all 16 Senedd constituencies, shows that while 54% of voters in Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd want faster government action on climate, and 73% think the loss of nature should be a top concern, communities in this constituency face a mounting environmental crisis on multiple fronts.

Water companies dumped raw sewage into Welsh rivers and seas 107,768 times during 2024, totaling 886,422 hours of pollution. That's the equivalent of 101 years of continuous sewage discharge.

In Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituency water companies dumped raw sewage 10,708 times during 2024, totalling 85,530 hours of pollution.

Nearly 800,000 people in Wales are at risk from flooding, which also threatens homes and businesses. 435,000 people are at risk from river and sea flooding and 357,200 from surface water flooding. Climate change is intensifying these risks.

55,500 people in Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd are at risk from flooding, including 26,800 from rivers/seas and 28,700 from surface water.

Pupils in 970 Welsh schools – 71% of monitored locations – are exposed to PM2.5 particulate pollution (particles measuring less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) above World Health Organisation (WHO) safety guidelines. An additional 295 schools face dangerous Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels. Both PM 2.5 and NO2 have been shown to be harmful to human health, and especially to children’s health.

In Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituency 47 schools exceed PM2.5 limits and 0 schools exceed NO₂ limits.

In Neath Port Talbot up to 6,000 potentially contaminated sites such as former industrial sites and disused landfills could be contaminated with harmful chemicals according to publicly available evidence. This leaves the public with little or no information about the safety of land that could sit beneath homes, schools, parks and nature areas.

Friends of the Earth Cymru asked councils what information they kept on contaminated and potentially contaminated sites, researched what information is publicly available on the council’s website and looked at what studies have been undertaken in the past.

Over 45,000 potentially contaminated land sites were identified across Wales – but almost none have been inspected.

786,440 Welsh homes (58%) have poor energy efficiency ratings (EPC D-G), leaving families struggling with high bills and cold, damp conditions. In some constituencies, 70% of homes fall below acceptable standards.

In Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituency 60% of homes were poorly insulated.

Kathy Oakwood from Friends of the Earth Neath Port Talbot said: “It’s obvious that we’re in the midst of the climate starting to break down on a wide scale. If we reach so-called tipping points it could be disastrous not only for climate but for food supplies which depend on a fragile eco-system. We must act now.”