5. What action is the Welsh Government taking to combat climate change in Wales? OQ58683

Thank you. Last year, we raised our ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Ahead of COP26, we published Net Zero Wales, our emissions-reduction plan. We are now focusing on delivery of the actions in Net Zero Wales and our current climate adaptation plan, 'Prosperity for All: A Climate Conscious Wales'.

Thank you, Trefnydd, leader of the house.

'We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator.'

These are the dramatic words of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, addressing the start of COP27 in Egypt. The UN Secretary-General has given a stark, clear warning to the world that we are in the fight of our lives and we are losing. Trefnydd, I know that the First Minister of Wales is passionate, as are you, about Wales playing its part—a substantial part—in humanity's efforts to safeguard our planet for future generations. Delivering a fair and affordable transition to a low-carbon future means ensuring there are new, clean, affordable sources of renewable energy for Wales. So, Trefnydd, what is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that we deliver on our net-zero obligations in ways that will benefit all the communities of Wales?

Thank you. Delivering a fair and affordable transition to a low-carbon future means ensuring that there are new, clean, affordable sources of renewable energy for Wales. We also need to grow a resilient economy, in which we can continue to seize and exploit opportunities in those new and green technologies and markets. But, they've got to be underpinned by a mature, innovative and competitive industrial base. I think the words you used, fair and affordable, are really important. The Minister for Climate Change has made it very clear that it has to be a just transition, and that no-one must be left behind.

You'll be aware of our deep dive into renewable energy that was undertaken earlier this year. That really outlined the opportunities that are available. It also discussed the barriers that, of course, are there to overcome, and the proposed actions that we can take if we are going to upscale our renewable energy generation here in Wales. I mentioned in my earlier answer to the leader of Plaid Cymru that the First Minister and I attended a round-table at the Ireland-Wales Forum in Cork with renewable energy producers and developers, and they certainly see the opportunities that we have here in Wales in relation to that.

The Minister for Climate Change has set out policy on the importance of local ownership of energy developments, because I think it's really important that those communities retain those social and economic benefits from hosting new energy-related developments. But, I think it's fair to say we do need the UK Government to step up to the plate and provide a stable environment for that investment, because I remember when solar panels were all the rage, and then they took away the tariff for that. I went to a farm where farmers had put a hydro scheme on their farm, and were very keen to go to the next valley to help a farmer there put one in, but by then the feed-in tariff had gone. So, I think it's really important that the UK Government do step up to the plate in relation to that.

As Sameh Shoukry, COP27 president designate, stated only last week,

'As best available science indicates, some impacts of climate change are now irreversible and require concerted global solidarity and action, not empty rhetoric'.

Whilst the world is being told to prioritise the environmental crisis, here in Wales our environmental governance has been described by Professor Steve Ormerod as

'not being able to handle substantial environmental legal issues.'

Whilst our climate change committee has welcomed your aim to create a greener Wales, we have been abundantly clear that it is imperative that environmental law is underpinned by a robust governance framework that provides effective oversight of implementation and accountability of Government when it fails to deliver. In light of the global call for urgent action to protect our environment, why has your Government—[Interruption.] Are you listening to your Minister? Sorry. Why has your Government not prioritised the implementation of the statutory environmental governance oversight body that your Government promised during the last Senedd term? Why have you failed on this, Trefnydd? Diolch.

Well, if we hadn't left the European Union, we wouldn't have any gaps in our environmental governance.