6. Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Implementation of net zero carbon and the 21st century schools and colleges programme

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:41 pm on 2 November 2021.

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Photo of Joyce Watson Joyce Watson Labour 5:41, 2 November 2021

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I certainly welcome this announcement today. I think you're right to put education at the forefront of environmental sustainability, because it's a generational change that's needed. There are examples of children being very much involved in the RainScape project in Llanelli schools, and the children are fascinated by it and they learn maths from it and lots about their environment. And that's about surface water. 

Since I have a very short time, there are a few things that I want to bring up in the net-zero carbon education building. Of course, we had to have the workforce, then we had to have the materials, and those materials have to be local so that we can deliver the projects. But looking at the sites is equally important. They should not be greenfield sites, and they should be sites that are accessible to the community, in a way that Jenny has already mentioned, where people can either walk or cycle. And I know that's part of your thinking. But we can't hide away from the fact that the public sector is probably the biggest opportunity that we have to drive change in the construction industry here in Wales, and I very much welcome it.