I’m unable to attend, but I will certainly have a senior official going in my place.

As referred to by Simon Thomas in his opening remarks, we now have in place a legislative framework that addresses these issues. Our groundbreaking Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 mean we have the strongest foundation within the UK, and we are acknowledged internationally as being exemplars in implementing our international commitments to sustainable development and biodiversity.

Both Acts recognise that safeguarding and sustainably managing Wales’s natural resources are key to our well-being. Public bodies within the well-being of future generations Act are now under a duty to contribute to the seven well-being goals, which include maintaining and enhancing a biodiverse natural environment, with healthy, functioning ecosystems. We’ve now published our well-being objectives, which set out how we will use the well-being of future generations Act to help deliver our programme for government and maximise our contribution to the seven well-being goals. Our well-being objectives include to manage, use and enhance Wales’s natural resources to support long-term well-being.

The environment Act draws upon the ecosystem approach set out in the convention on biological diversity. The Act will ensure ecosystem resilience is a key objective of how we manage and use our natural resources, so our habitats and species are able to thrive and adapt to the pressures they face.