Thank you, Presiding Officer, and good afternoon, First Minister. 

8. What plans does the Welsh Government have to achieve its net-zero target? OQ58697

Good afternoon as well, Llywydd, to Dr Hussain.

Last year, we set out our ambition of net-zero emissions by 2050. The ambitious actions required are contained in 'Net Zero Wales'. Last month, the Minister for Climate Change informed Members of plans to create a public sector renewables developer—just one of the steps needed to achieve net zero.

First Minister, your 'Working Together to Reach Net Zero' action plan for 2021-25 sets out the range of ambitions and actions expected by working closely in partnership with a range of organisations. The Welsh Government's indicative budget for 2023-24 sets out £2.9 billion for climate change to invest in those areas of delivery where the Welsh Government could usefully lead the change we all want to see. We all appreciate the significant financial challenge ahead. In light of his discussions with Cabinet colleagues, how much of that finance for 2023-24 is now secure, and, if it isn't, what does this mean for your plan? Thank you. 

That's a very important question near the end of today's questions, because it goes to the heart of the dilemma that the Welsh Government will face after Thursday's autumn statement. If the Chancellor decides to solve his dilemmas by taking an axe to our capital budgets, then inevitably that will have an impact on our ability to invest the £1.8 billion that Dr Hussain mentioned. It's a targeted capital investment in our response to the climate and nature emergency. Our ambition will be to go on making that investment. If we are serious about the climate emergency, then we have to invest today in those infrastructure projects that allow us to make a better response to it in the future, whether that is in the investment we are making in flood relief, whether it's in the way in which we are able to redesign some of our twenty-first century schools projects to make sure that buildings play their part in reaching net zero. All of that is dependent upon the capital budget available to the Welsh Government. I can give the Member this assurance: when the Cabinet sits down to make what could very well be, as Peter Fox said, some very difficult decisions, we will always be guided by the principles of the Well-being of Future Generations Act (Wales) Act 2015, which is that, in balancing the very challenging decisions of today, we always have in mind as well the impact that those decisions will have on future generations.

I thank the First Minister.