7. Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: Biodiversity

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:22 pm on 10 January 2023.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 6:22, 10 January 2023

Can I just begin by not only welcoming the statement, but genuinely welcoming the leadership that you, Minister, and Welsh Government have shown in this? It was great that you were out there, that you were not just out there, but actively engaged in those discussions, both on an international perspective, but also domestic perspective as well, and showing some of the things like the peatlands project in Wales, where we can actually show some examples of where we can lead the way as well.

We do have a real opportunity here. I'm taken by the Minister's passion, as always. She spoke at an event in the Senedd before she went off to COP15. It was very clear there, and you were well over the brief, but you've come back, as you say, evangelical about this, looking for environmental governance now with teeth, which is good to hear, and meaningful targets on the back of COP15 on a domestic basis. You know that the non-governmental organisations have broadly welcomed not just your involvement out there, but also what was discussed and what was agreed out there, but now they're looking to see how this is going to be translated into a Welsh context. So, Minister, can I ask you, where do you see the greatest challenges now in taking this forward with the urgency that's needed, with the ambition that's needed, and how do you do that in real partnership with landowners and farmers, but also NGOs, statutory bodies and so on? 

And just as I sit down, can I just mention Lyme bay—a no-take zone for fisheries? It was one of the most unpopular decisions at the time ever for the Minister who took it, Jonathan. Now all the fishermen look at it and say, 'What a success that was.'