8. Will the First Minister outline how his attendance at COP26 will benefit residents in the Vale of Clwyd? OQ57171

Llywydd, residents of the Vale of Clwyd have already experienced the impact of climate change in river flooding and flooding by the sea. COP26 brings new ideas and a chance to learn from experiences elsewhere in the world, so that those can be put to work to the benefit of Welsh citizens.

Thank you very much, First Minister, for that reply. My constituents, particularly those ones living on the coast in Rhyl and Prestatyn, are highly susceptible to flooding from rising sea levels. According to the International Energy Agency, commitments made at COP26 will still result in a 1.8 per cent rise in global temperatures. This is terrible news for coastal regions and those living there, as it means that their homes will be underwater. First Minister, I accept that the Welsh Government can't force the likes of China, Russia and the US to drastically cut their emissions, so the residents of Rhyl and Prestatyn will have to contend with flood waters in the coming decades. However, the Welsh Government can mitigate against rising sea levels. So, First Minister, I ask you: what actions will the Welsh Government be taking to defend coastal regions against rising flood waters from both the sea and our rivers?

Well, Llywydd, the Welsh Government is investing £27 million, one of the largest ever coastal risk management projects in Wales at east Rhyl, in the Member's constituency—a two-year project that will see 600m of new sea defence wall and promenade constructed there, and a really major investment to defend the population of that part of the Welsh coast from the effects of climate change. 

The Member is right, though, that the actions agreed so far at the climate conference will not be sufficient to achieve the Paris goals of a 1.5 maximum rise in global temperatures, and unless we can see further agreements and further commitments—we want to play our part here in Wales, but we can only do that as part of a global effort—unless we see those agreements made in the final days of the conference, then we will be left dealing with the consequences. 

Llywydd, when I was at Glasgow, I was able to meet the governor of Louisiana in the United States, and I particularly met him because that state is still dealing with the impact of coastal and other flooding from major weather events. It was a sobering meeting. They have tens of thousands of people still living in hotel rooms because of the impact of events some many, many months ago. There is depopulation in their coastal communities, as people move away, feeling they cannot face another event of the sort that they've now had to cope with twice in 10 years.

Now, there was a lot to learn from the way in which the government of Louisiana is helping its citizens, and we'll continue to have a dialogue with them. But unless the world is prepared to act, then the experiences that other parts of the world are already having to deal with will be seen here in Wales as well. And that's why the work of the remaining days of COP26 are particularly important. 

Thank you, First Minister.