New climate plan will treat climate and nature as ‘connected’
Abby Neve
Work has begun on Wales’s first Climate and Nature Action Plan, which will set out a cross-government programme of action to tackle the climate and nature emergency as one challenge.
As part of the plan, a Climate and Nature Board will be set up, bringing together experts to provide constructive challenge, coordination, and hold delivery to account.
Lly Gruffydd, Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, will chair the Board.
He said:
“This is not about treating climate and nature as separate problems – they are connected problems and we need to respond to them in a connected way.
“In developing the plan, we will bring people, communities, partners and organisations into the process of shaping solutions, drawing on their experiences as well as the evidence.
“Together, we will look for opportunities to take action across government and society that tackles the causes of these challenges, not just their symptoms.
“This means protecting and restoring the natural systems Wales depends on, while also helping us deliver our wider commitments to healthier communities, more resilient places, a stronger and fairer economy, rural resilience, cleaner air and water, warmer homes, green skills and jobs, sustainable food and farming, and better places to live.”
Ceri Davies, Chief Executive of Natural Resources Wales said:
“We welcome today’s announcement from Welsh Government on the development of a Climate and Nature Action Plan and the establishment of a Climate and Nature Board.
“Bringing climate change and nature loss together as one connected emergency is a positive and important step. It reflects the reality that these challenges are closely linked, and that working together offers the best chance of finding lasting solutions.
“This is an opportunity to help nature recover, build resilience to climate change and support the wellbeing of communities across Wales. We look forward to working with Welsh Government, partners and communities across Wales and are ready to play our part in helping deliver positive outcomes for people, places and nature.”
Annie Smith, RSPB Cymru’s Head of Nature Policy & Casework, also welcomed the plan. Shesaid:
“We welcome the promise that nature loss and climate change will be addressed in a joined up way. They are two sides of the same coin, both signalling an environment that is under too much pressure.
“Nature is our greatest ally in the fight against climate change. We need this new plan to drive the protection and restoration of habitats that will help communities adapt to the impacts of hotter summers and wetter winters, while also building more resilient populations of our struggling species.”
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Gwych! Why I vote Plaid Cymru. Joined up focused action on the important issues. What can be more important? Another good proof of the wisdom in taking responsibility for our own affairs. U.K. is too mired in privilege, class & arrogance.
This could be positive but he has also pushed back the net zero target from 2035, set in the 2021 Cooperation Agreement, to 2040.
The problem Plaid Cymru always have is that they spend too much time listening to the NFU.
In the last 100 days they have committed to weakening farm pollution regulations, keeping most of the SFS in the basic layer which has no environmental benefit, and are trying to find a way to kill badgers again.
None of that is good for nature or climate. Unless that changes this plan will come to little.