Thank you for writing to me regarding the important issue of climate change in Wales.
I am delighted that the United Kingdom will be hosting the COP26 conference as it provides the opportunity to further drive our aspirational environmental targets and our international ambition to unite the world to agree coordinated action to tackle climate change.
I am proud of the UK Government’s role in tackling climate change and the transition to Clean Growth, with the UK being the first country to legislate to eliminate our contribution to climate change by 2050, and the fastest in the G20 to cut emissions. Since 1990 the UK economy has grown by 75 per cent while cutting emissions by 43 per cent.
In the UK's sixth Carbon Budget, the Prime Minister has set the world's most ambitious climate target in law of reducing emissions by 78 per cent by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. This will take us over three-quarters of the way to net zero and comes on top of our interim target of reducing emissions by 68 per cent by 2030, also compared to 1990 levels.
As climate change is a devolved matter, it is vital that this Welsh Labour Government uses its powers to ensure that Wales plays its part in combatting climate change. As you may know, the Welsh Government declared a climate change emergency in 2019 however has so far failed to take any serious action. It is particularly concerning that the Committee on Climate Change has reported that Wales is not on track to meet its 80% target let alone achieve Net Zero. The Welsh Government needs to take the action required to tackle climate change rather than hide behind empty rhetoric.
My colleagues and I will therefore continue to hold the Welsh Government to account and ensure that climate change is a top priority.
Thank you again for taking the time to write to me.
