Attending the seventh summit for subnational Governments and cities was one of the key highlights for me at COP15. The summit was dedicated to showcasing the work of subnational Governments and cities on nature recovery, and I was so impressed by the ambition and energy to drive forward action at the local level. We've made some really valuable connections and I am really keen to build on these across a range of work areas to truly deliver at pace. My bilateral meetings with a range of subnational Governments and regions, including Quebec, Catalonia and Paraná State in Brazil, revealed the common challenges we face in tackling biodiversity loss, and some really innovative ways in which we can approach these.

As a partner to the Edinburgh process and signatory of the Edinburgh process, I'm pleased to confirm the adoption of a plan of action on subnational Governments, cities and other local authorities for biodiversity. This important decision means that the UN formally recognises the vital role subnational and local governments play in driving and delivering action to deliver a nature-positive future. 

We will work with RegionsWithNature, a partnership initiative that supports regional and subnational Government officials and other stakeholders to enhance ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation and nature-based solutions in their regions. I was delighted to contribute an initial case study on our national peatlands action programme to the RegionsWithNature platform at COP15.

I am pleased the historic Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework agreed the 30x30 target with some minor amendments. These included strengthening place-based rights of indigenous people and local communities. I really welcome this, as I heard first-hand from the Wampis delegation about the potentially negative consequences of new designations of their land. In delivering the overall global framework we really must ensure the voices of local communities help shape and contribute to our approach to becoming nature positive.

Whilst at COP15, I participated in a high ambition workshop, focused on implementing the 30x30 target, sharing the approach to our deep-dive and the recommendations adopted. The workshop also provided an invaluable opportunity to learn from other subnational Governments, such as California and São Paulo, about the approaches they have taken. I’m delighted that this collaborative approach will continue post COP with the creation of a high ambition 30x30 taskforce for subnational Governments, in which Wales will play a very active part.

Unlocking the potential of our designated landscapes will be key to becoming nature positive in Wales. To inform our approach to strengthening nature protection within designated landscapes, I had a valuable joint meeting with Parks Canada and the Scottish Government. I was particularly interested in the approach taken by Parks Canada to understanding the true economic value of the ecosystem services provided by the parks, such as natural flood management and improving water quality. Parks Canada have agreed to share the methodology they have developed with us so that we can understand the true value of our own designated landscapes. Equally, their 'prescription for parks' approach recognises the economic value of nature for our health and well-being through avoided costs to our healthcare systems. We can learn from both approaches and I look forward to developing our partnership with them.    

Another important part of COP15 was the biodiversity and finance day. These conversations on the world stage recognised the need for additional funding to deliver the scale of action required. I raised my concerns about greenwashing and the need to ensure that any additional investment is ethical and benefits our local communities. This view was shared across the subnational Governments, with a call to ensure that companies who have destroyed nature should not then profit from its recovery.

The new global biodiversity framework recognises the role of the whole of society in ensuring we protect biodiversity for the future. Speaking at the conference on the main stage, I reflected on the importance of a Team Wales approach in driving for action across the whole of government and the whole of society. This means action is required by all in our communities, our businesses and across wider society. Team Wales must pull together if we are to ensure a sustainable, healthy and nature-rich Wales.

As part of supporting our Team Wales approach, I will shortly be announcing the funding that will be granted to the successful medium-sized projects as part of our nature networks programme. In addition to action to improve the condition and resilience of our protected sites network, each project is required to support the active involvement of local communities through training, apprenticeships, school engagement or strengthening volunteering bases. Through the programme, we aim to create both resilient ecological networks and networks of people actively engaged with nature. Further announcements on the funding of successful large-scale projects will be made in March.

I fully recognise we need to take ambitious and integrated action to deliver these targets and put nature on the path to recovery. We will implement this global agreement by developing our own legally binding nature targets, underpinned by the new strategic biodiversity action plan. It really is time for team Wales to take centre stage and show what we are capable of—we are stronger together and we are united in our ambitions for the future. Diolch.