Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
Today, I welcome the publication of the final reports of the Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge Group. The Group was created to deliver the Cooperation Agreement (2021) commitment to “Commission independent advice to examine potential pathways to net zero by 2035 – the current target date is 2050. This will look at the impact on society and sectors of our economy and how any adverse effects may be mitigated, including how the costs and benefits are shared fairly”.
Former Minister Jane Davidson kindly agreed to Chair the work. The Challenge Group was populated by a volunteer team of experts from academia, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector, all of whom are committed to achieving a positive change in Wales for generations to come. The work of the Challenge Group involved publishing calls for evidence and engaging widely within and outside Wales.
I’m enormously grateful to all the members of the Challenge Group, and Jane Davidson in particular, for their phenomenal effort. I am also grateful to the Wales Centre for Public Policy, who have supported the Challenge Group with research and secretariat services.
We pride ourselves in Wales on working together on common problems and opportunities, and the Group is an excellent example of collaborative working. I am proud that whilst Wales already has ambitious climate targets, we continue to challenge ourselves.
The work of the Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge Group has been independent of Welsh Government. We will therefore take time to carefully consider their proposals.
In 2025, the Senedd will be asked to agree the targets for Carbon Budget 4 (2031-2035), and in 2026, the next Welsh Government will publish a plan setting out how Carbon Budget 3 (2026-30) will be met. This report will be considered as part of this work.