10. Plaid Cymru Debate: Climate Justice

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:23 pm on 18 September 2019.

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Photo of Llyr Gruffydd Llyr Gruffydd Plaid Cymru 5:23, 18 September 2019

Can I thank everyone for their participation? It is ironic that, in an earlier debate, Andrew R.T. Davies was berating a 'delete all' amendment and then getting up to speak to support a 'delete all' amendment in this debate, but there we are.

Hefin David is absolutely right: frustration and fear—young people are scared of the consequences of the climate emergency, and your constituent listed some things that would happen in decades to come. Well, you know, they're happening now. We saw what happened in Mozambique, with the recent cyclones Idai and Kenneth. The coast moved 15 miles inland, and Beira city was devastated—90 per cent of it was wiped out, with thousands killed and 0.5 million displaced. It's happening today; it isn't something that might happen in the future. Mark Reckless, I think I agree with you for the first time ever—strikes are a sign of failure. You listed the cost of reducing carbon emissions, but you told us nothing about what cost there would be for failing to deal, or for trying to deal, with some of the disastrous outcomes of climate events that we're facing as a result of the climate emergency.

I'm not sure why Joyce Watson was looking for a quarrel with Plaid Cymru, because you misrepresented two of our policies, but there we are; maybe we'll have to take that up later on, because I am limited in terms of time.

Greta Thunberg said, and I quote:

'Since our leaders are behaving like children', and I’m saying nothing—her words—

'Since our leaders are behaving like children, we will have to take the responsibility they should have taken long ago'.

And that is exactly what they are doing this Friday in taking part in these school strikes. So, let’s make it clear that we as a National Assembly for Wales are with our young people on that journey, and let’s support Plaid Cymru’s motion today.