Thank you for your letter regarding the need to clean up Wales’ global supply chain.
Welsh Conservatives have a proud record of highlighting the important role that the Welsh Government needs to play in protecting the environment. We have previously called for a variety of schemes to help clean up Wales such as a Clean Air Act, the banning of plastic straws and cotton buds, as well as a bottle deposit return scheme. We have also called for the increase of penalties and improvement of enforcement for fly-tipping, dog fouling, graffiti and littering to ensure that those responsible pay for their actions.
It is vitally important that the Welsh Government commits to accounting for and reporting on carbon emissions caused by habitat loss and deforestation overseas linked to commodities imported into Wales especially those utilised by public bodies. Furthermore, rather than a Wales-wide Nitrate Vulnerable Zone for Welsh farmers, the Welsh Government needs to explore the impact of house building and the amount of discharges into our rivers by Welsh Water.
As you may know, Welsh Conservatives have repeatedly called on the Welsh Government to implement an Office of Environmental Protection to hold public bodies to account in tackling climate change and protecting the environment. Such an office would address many of your concerns and would help to ensure Wales plays its role in combatting climate change. I’m sure you will agree with me that it is therefore concerning that the Welsh Government has refused to create such an office and once again, choosing to avoid scrutiny.
I’m sure you will agree with me in supporting the UK Government’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and ending the UK’s contribution to climate change. Indeed, the UK was the first G7 country to make this commitment. However, global action is required and I am pleased that the UK Government secured historic agreements at COP26, such as the Global Methane Pledge, which seeks to reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent by the 2030, and the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, which seeks to end and reverse deforestation by 2030, covering 85 per cent of the world's forests. The Glasgow Pact is the first ever global agreement in which every country has signed up to phase down unabated coal.