MIKE HEDGES AM CALLS FOR A ROADMAP OF WELSH GOVERNMENT ACTIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.

MIKE HEDGES AM CALLS FOR A ROADMAP OF WELSH GOVERNMENT ACTIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.

Speaking after First Ministers Questions, Swansea East AM Mike Hedges said … ‘ I believe Climate Change is the biggest challenge facing Wales today and I welcome the declaration of the Climate Change emergency by Welsh Government. I feel strongly that for everyone to be clear about what the Welsh Government is doing to address the Climate Emergency, we need a clear plan which sets specific targets against which progress can be measured. I welcome the First Minsters view that a Road Map is on their agenda.’

2. What discussions has the First Minister had with cabinet colleagues following the declaration of a climate change emergency? OAQ53936

Mark Drakeford AM 13:34:32

First Minister of Wales
Copy To Clipboard Share To Facebook Share To Twitter Share To LinkedIn
Video
I thank the Member of that question. Cabinet colleagues continuously engage in discussing actions to reduce emissions and to deliver the low-carbon plan for Wales. New arrangements have been put in place to focus on decarbonisation and biodiversity in the current budget round.9

Mike Hedges AM 13:34:54

Copy To Clipboard Share To Facebook Share To Twitter Share To LinkedIn
Video
Can I thank the First Minister for that response? I welcome the declaration of a climate change emergency. I believe that climate change is the most important issue facing us today. I’m probably in a minority but I think it is, very much, the most important issue. Will the First Minister produce a road map of planned Welsh Government actions? This could include things such as the annual tree planting target, and an annual target for home improvements, making houses either zero- or very low-carbon emitters.10
13:35

Mark Drakeford AM 13:35:20

First Minister of Wales
Copy To Clipboard Share To Facebook Share To Twitter Share To LinkedIn
Video
I thank Mike Hedges for those observations. I don’t think he is much alone in believing that climate change is one of the major challenges that face humankind across the globe. We have already set out a series of practical actions in the low-carbon plan, and they build as well on things that the Welsh Government is already doing. We’ve reduced emissions from our administrative estate by 57 per cent, against a baseline, and we’ve already exceeded our 2020 targets. And it’s in that cumulative effect of the many things that governments do that we will have the impact we want to have. So, only last week, my colleague the health Minister announced the £13.5 million we are investing in 111 new vehicles for the ambulance service in Wales, and 33 of the non-emergency vehicles we will purchase are equipped with solar panels to be able to convert sunlight into electricity. If we are to succeed, then we need action beyond Government as well. And I know that Mike Hedges will be very well aware of the work that goes on in Swansea, through the Swansea community energy and enterprise scheme, carrying out local work within that area, particularly in areas of fuel poverty, to make sure that the way that we address climate change does not fall disproportionately on the shoulders of those least able to pay the cost. The low-carbon action plan, Llywydd, provides £4 million new investment in those local activities that, together with the things that Government can do, will make a difference in every part of Wales. And a road map that draws all of those things together is very much in the mind of Welsh Government as we move to address the problem that we know we face.