Tackling climate change was top of the agenda as the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs met national and sub-national leaders at the Global Climate Action Summit in California.
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
The summit brought together leaders from government, business and civil society from around the World to “Take Ambition to the Next Level”.
At the summit, Wales signed up to the Powering Past Coal Alliance, which grew to 74 members. The Alliance is made up of Governments, cities and organisations committed to moving from coal to cleaner power sources.
The Cabinet Secretary met leaders from states and regions, including British Columbia, Baden-Württemberg, the Basque Country and Quebec, sharing ideas around improving energy efficiency, enabling renewable energy generation, further improving recycling levels, decarbonising transport and expanding our woodlands.
Wales was again confirmed as a Steering Group Member of the Under2 Coalition for Europe, the coalition of sub-national governments which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The coalition has representation from 43 countries with a collective GDP of nearly $30 trillion.
Following the Summit, Lesley Griffiths said:
“Climate change is a global challenge which requires global solutions, so it’s vital we engage with our international partners.
“We have legally binding targets to reduce emissions in Wales by at least 80% by 2050. The summit has been an excellent opportunity to share knowledge with other nations about moving to a low carbon economy.
“We have a strong track record in Wales on developing progressive low carbon policies. We were the first Fair Trade nation in the world, the first nation in the UK to introduce a charge on carrier bags and have an enviable record on household recycling, where we are ranked third in the World.
“However, we can’t work in isolation to achieve our climate change targets. The summit has been a great opportunity to build links with other Governments so we can work together towards our common goal of tackling climate change.”
The Welsh Government’s consultation, ‘Achieving our low Carbon Pathway to 2030’, is open until 4th October.