6. Plaid Cymru Debate: The energy sector and the climate and nature emergencies

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:58 pm on 13 October 2021.

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Photo of Llyr Gruffydd Llyr Gruffydd Plaid Cymru 4:58, 13 October 2021

One area hasn't been touched upon, and I think it would be remiss of me not to refer to it. I, the Minister and others attended the launch this morning of a report by WWF Cymru, RSPB Cymru and Size of Wales that really drives home, I think, how tackling our domestic footprint in terms of carbon emissions and loss of biodiversity is only part of the problem. I think it's remiss that we hadn't included the global element in our motion, nor in any of the amendments as well.

Wales has a very significant overseas land footprint—quite startling figures revealed in that report today. It really does hold a mirror up, as I was saying earlier, to us as politicians and to society more widely in terms of the impact that we're having beyond our borders. An area equivalent of 40 per cent of the size of Wales was required overseas to grow imports of certain produce that we use here in Wales, 30 per cent of the land used to grow Welsh imports of commodities in some of those countries are categorised as high or very high risk for social and deforestation issues, and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with that activity represents 4 per cent of Wales's total estimated domestic and imported goods carbon footprint, or the equivalent of nearly a quarter of all the emissions of transport in Wales. It's startling, it's striking, it's shameful, really, and each and every one of us, regrettably, are contributing to that. It's important that when Delyth Jewell, in opening the debate, was talking about the need for clarity around the parity that we need to give in relation to climate and nature emergencies—I think it's also now time for that parity to be reflected in relation to our domestic and our global responsibilities, particularly within the context of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, where being a globally responsible country is a responsibility for each and every one of us as Welsh citizens. 

I'll just respond to a few of the contributions. Janet Finch-Saunders was lauding the apparent green revolution, I think was the term that you used, that's coming our way from the Westminster Government. Well, you're certainly doing your bit for Tory greenwashing there. You didn't mention the Cambo oil field or new coal mines in the north of England or, indeed, as you were reminded by some Members, the lack of support for tidal lagoons in Wales, or even the UK Government's seeming insistence on forcing more cars on more Welsh roads, particularly around Newport. So, don't come here and talk the talk when the UK Government isn't walking the walk. I think it's regrettable that you struck that tone. And similarly Gareth Davies blaming Blair and Brown for where we are today. In fairness, it's not as if we've had a Tory Government for 10 years since then, but I'm sure you'll get around to it at some point. Let's hope you get around to it by the time we get to the COP26 negotiations. Because, as the Minister said, it's a milestone moment, really, isn't it, and we mustn't miss the opportunity. My fear is that the UK Government has failed to build an international coalition around the need to really get to grips with this before we get to COP26, but obviously the jury's out and we'll have to see what is achieved. And many of us I know will be attending and hopefully doing our own little bit as much as we can to try to achieve the outcome that we want to achieve. 

Rhys ab Owen, we do need the powers to deliver the future that we want, because of course the UK Government is not delivering that future that we want to see. And, as Luke Fletcher said, we also need the skills in order to be able to deliver on the potential that we have. And, as Peredur said as well, our communities need to be at the heart of the green recovery. It needs to be a transition by our communities for our communities. So, whether it's delivering for climate and for nature through developing energy projects, building up our grid and our ports, investing in our communities, tackling biodiversity loss in planning, changing our consumption behaviour, setting legally binding targets—and I've been on a journey in relation to those targets. I was quite sceptical initially, but we've seen how carbon emission targets are actually driving an agenda on that front—I think we can do exactly the same in relation to biodiversity as well. Whatever it is, and it's probably all of that and more, Wales really has a role to play, and Wales really wants to play its part in achieving that, both at home and abroad. 

So, the question is: how serious are we about this? Now, I've always said to the Government, 'When Ministers are brave, then this Senedd will back you. When you fall short of the mark, then obviously we will call you out.' Delyth Jewell told us right at the beginning of this debate that the eyes of the future are on us today, so let's reaffirm our commitment to Wales and the world by backing Plaid Cymru's motion.