6. What is the biggest challenge facing the Welsh Government in meeting its 2030 carbon reduction target? OAQ52669

Thank you. The biggest challenge is our emissions profile, with 57 per cent coming from industrial installations and power stations, where we have limited policy levers. Where policy is devolved, the Committee on Climate Change has identified several challenges specific to Wales in their advice, which is featured in our latest consultation.

Your consultation raises some challenging targets in the context of climate change experts raising the red flag and saying that Government is simply not taking the action that needs to be taken if we're going to avoid rising levels of global warming. There was very distressing information today that the Conservative UK Government has yet again failed to raise the fuel levy, which endeavours to reflect the actual cost of people using private vehicles. And I want to understand how you think you're going to reach the very challenging target of a 43 per cent reduction in vehicle emissions by 2030 in the context of the proposal to invest £1.5 billion in a few miles of road on an M4 relief road, because the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales is arguing that this will increase the numbers of vehicles using that road by 42,000 vehicles every day. So, I want to understand what your strategy is for actually reducing vehicle emissions without reducing the number of vehicles on the road, and instead investing in public transport and active travel.  

The Member will be aware in relation to the M4 that the First Minister is leading on this and, obviously, I will be having discussions with him as he considers the report that's come from the court. You do make a very important point around challenging targets and, as I said, we don't hold all the policy levers so it's sometimes very frustrating to be able to address the challenges that we do have. However, I think it is important to set ambitious targets. I think it's important to set pragmatic and realistic targets, and I think we have a good story to tell in areas where we do have the devolved powers. So, for instance, we've met our 3 per cent target year on year, but as I mentioned in my opening answer to you, the emissions profile that's the real concern is around industry, so I think it's really important that we don't just take these things in isolation, but that we work together across Government to make sure that we do achieve our ambitions. For instance, I've also announced that I expect to have a carbon-neutral public sector in Wales by 2030. I've made very challenging targets around renewable energy, also by 2030. 

Cabinet Secretary, an area where you do have power over is that of the infrastructure for charging electric vehicles—an issue that I raised with you last week and I'd like to return to. I recently visited the site of a proposed electric charging station adjacent to the A40 in Monmouth. The plan also, critically, includes two small-scale on-site power plants, so that the electricity that would be used in the charging station would be generated locally from renewable sources, which is far more efficient and desirable than transporting fossil-fuelled electricity along the inefficient national grid. Do you agree with me that this type of scheme is to be welcomed? It's probably going to go through a planning stage, so I don't want you to comment on the exact nature of this particular scheme, but would you agree to look at the Assembly guidance given to local authorities so that, when schemes like this come along, they are encouraged, so that we can have electricity generated locally in this way, in a way that will help the Government and all of us meet our 2030 carbon reduction target?

Yes, absolutely, as a general point, I would agree with you, and I think you made a very pertinent point around this during a debate last week. You can't just keep using fossil fuels, as you say, when you're looking at hydrogen, for instance, and electric vehicles. Obviously, I'm concerned about the national grid capacity anyway. I've had some very concerning discussions with National Grid in relation to this, so, yes, certainly as a general point I would agree with you.