4. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: COP26

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:01 pm on 16 November 2021.

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Photo of Lee Waters Lee Waters Labour 4:01, 16 November 2021

Thank you very much. Absolutely, our net-zero plan for Wales includes an annual reduction in miles driven of 10 per cent over the five-year period, which is going to be a very challenging target to meet. We put that in there knowing it is a stretch target. We haven't got a fully worked up plan, frankly, of how we're going to achieve it. We know how we're going to achieve about 60 per cent of it. The Scottish Government have given themselves a target of a 20 per cent reduction in miles driven, which I am in awe of their boldness. I didn't think it was terribly prudent to commit to something that far beyond what we knew we could achieve. Going to a 10 per cent reduction is flying in the face of 70 years of transport policy and is going to be a challenge. We have set out in the Wales transport strategy the actions that we will take to move in that direction. They will be difficult, but we need to face up to them, because that absolutely is a key part of meeting our commitment to net zero. Because if we don't achieve in the next five years, we will not be on the trajectory to achieve them by 2050.