Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Climate Change – in the Senedd at 2:20 pm on 6 October 2021.
Thank you, Buffy. I couldn’t agree more. The challenge of climate change requires everyone to act and act immediately, as I’ve said repeatedly. I make no mistake for doing that, and Members may as well get used to me saying it, because we’re going to be saying it an awful lot over the next few years.
We have been absolutely clear that our net-zero Wales plan has to be an all-Wales plan. It includes pledges of action from individuals and organisations right across Wales, as well as how they can help in tackling climate change. We recognise the vital role our communities play in helping to achieve a reduction in emissions, as well as dealing with the impacts of climate change on their lives as well. So, we will continue to support several grant programmes to enable communities to take action themselves. So, we have the sustainable steps programme run by the National Lottery Community Fund, funded by the dormant account funding. I’ve had a really good meeting with them very recently about how we can lever that money for Wales. We’ve got the renew Wales programme, which provides support to communities to identify and take action on climate change, from renewable energy projects, to community growing projects and initiatives on energy efficiency that she highlighted. And also people can take action themselves through walking and cycling more, increasing energy efficiency in their homes, reducing and reusing items, buying locally and buying more sustainable products. We have a whole number of programmes focusing on supporting individuals to take that action.
And I would say this as well to the young people of Wales who are listening today—this is not a counsel of despair. We can change this, but we must do it, each and every one of us, in our own lives and in our communities and acting together. So, together we absolutely can make a difference and it’s our responsibility here in the Senedd and as a Government to put the platforms in place that enable our communities to do that right thing.