7. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve the environment in Wales? OAQ53929

Llywydd, the Welsh Government is currently consulting on environmental principles and governance should we leave the European Union. At the same time, we are refreshing our nature recovery action plan to tackle biodiversity loss and reviewing the urgency of actions in our low-carbon plan in light of the declaration of a climate emergency.

Thank you, First Minister. I'm sure you'll join me in welcoming the news that Monmouthshire County Council joined the Welsh Government last week in declaring its own climate change emergency, but, as I said to the environment Minister last week, declaring an emergency is one thing, but you need to actually see—I won't use the word 'concrete' in the answer; that would be inappropriate—positive steps on the ground. Electric charging infrastructure for cars is one positive way that this can be done. There are very few charging points in Wales at the moment. In my area, Magor services has got the main one in the Monmouthshire area, in John Griffiths's area. What is the Welsh Government doing to support local authorities such as Monmouthshire and others to build up that electric charging infrastructure?  

Llywydd, we've put £2 million into this as part of our budget agreement with Plaid Cymru. That money has been used in ways that allow local authorities to draw down money from a UK Government fund, so we're getting far more than £2 million-worth of benefit from it. Local authorities in Wales are increasing the number of charging points that they have available. I look forward to working with Monmouthshire County Council.

The Member asked about the specifics that we can do in relation to a climate emergency. I know that he was at the Bee Friendly Monmouthshire event at the weekend, where a Welsh Government project, Nature Isn't Neat, was launched—over £45,000 focused on the town of Monmouth to take particular action in relation to pollinators, and that's all part of a wider pattern of action we need to take in the climate field.