Written Statement: Publication of a Draft Strategy for Public Engagement and Action on Climate Change (2022-2026)

In Net Zero Wales Carbon Budget 2 (2021-25) the Welsh Government committed to consulting on a Public Behaviour Change Strategy. Effective public engagement drives our people-centred approach to the climate emergency and my intent is to encourage active participation and action on climate change from the people and communities of Wales.

Today, I have published a Draft Strategy for Public Engagement & Action on Climate Change (2022-2026). This strategy will be subject to an 8 week consultation period from 20 October to 14 December and will be central to Wales Climate Week taking place from 21-25 November. I expect to publish the final version of the strategy in the new year.

Although the development of the Strategy for Public Engagement & Action on Climate Change (2022-2026) has been driven by the commitment in Net Zero Wales to engage society in action to decarbonise, it also sets out the importance of building greater public awareness around the need to adapt our homes and communities to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. The strategy also reflects:

• the important inter-relationship between the climate and nature emergencies;
• the twin-challenge of tackling the energy crisis and climate change; and
• the importance of social justice in the way our approach to the climate emergency is delivered.