, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
There certainly are significant changes taking place for the better. Last week, we unveiled a new fleet of trains to replace the Pacers, and once you have the chance to go on them yourself, you'll see that it is a transformative passenger experience. We're…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
Thank you. I think the full quote, to give him fairness, was to acknowledge that there were considerable challenges of overcrowding, and some passengers were refusing to wear masks despite the very clear guidelines, but fundamentally, the trains are safe…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: COP26
Yes, and thank you for the question. And I was very pleased, when I was in COP, to take part in panel discussions with the Climate Cymru youth ambassadors, along with the Scottish youth ambassadors and the Minister from the Scottish Government. And what was…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: COP26
Well, I think that it's a fair challenge. I don't have the figure to hand, but I recall reading that the subsidy that the UK Government has given to fossil fuels through freezing the fuel duty escalator since 2010 is in excess of £30 billion. It may even be…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: COP26
Thank you very much, and indeed I was pleased to meet with the MP James Davies amongst many others at COP. There was a good Welsh presence at the conference. He makes mention to some of the world's worst polluters, well of course we are amongst the world's…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: COP26
We had a nice chat.
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: COP26
Thank you very much. Absolutely, our net-zero plan for Wales includes an annual reduction in miles driven of 10 per cent over the five-year period, which is going to be a very challenging target to meet. We put that in there knowing it is a stretch target. We…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: COP26
Thank you to Mike Hedges for those comments. I do think Wales is already an example to the world in many of the actions that we are currently taking. Certainly, one thing that's struck me, and Members will know that I'm not somebody who's uncritical of our…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: COP26
Thank you for that series of questions. In terms of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, it has literally been less than a week since it was created, and I think it's important that we send the signal that we are part of that as a country that was there at the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: COP26
Thank you for those questions. I certainly agree that Alok Sharma did a good job in taking COP through its paces in reaching an agreement—not one that we all would have wanted to see, but, nonetheless, an agreement that takes us forward, though it did fail…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: COP26
Llywydd, we have rightly declared a climate emergency and we now need to act accordingly. We have seen some progress in responding to the scale of the challenge. This Senedd agreed in March to change our legislative targets. Wales now has a net-zero target…
, Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: COP26
Diolch, Llywydd. Ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said that the latest data signals a code red for humanity. This year, Canada registered its highest ever temperature, shattering the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
Thank you. I agree with that analysis. I absolutely share her desire to see a south-west Wales metro. I think the truth of it is that the Swansea bay metro, as we call it in shorthand, has been the least developed of the three metro schemes, and that's partly…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
Yes, the maps we published last month illustrate the scale of our ambitions, including new stations, routes and services. Travellers will see improvements to their network from next year through new trains, and we're working hard with local authorities to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
While I fully recognise the concerns, I think it's really important that we tackle this problem in a responsible way, and that we work together to find solutions. I do not support greenwashing by companies using tree planting as a way to justify their…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
Yes. Any new woodland creation in Wales must comply with environmental impact assessment regulations. The woodland carbon code is the voluntary offsetting standard for UK woodland creation and it provides assurance about the carbon savings of sustainably…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
Well, I join the Senedd today from COP26 in Glasgow, where today is transport day, and we have signed a declaration with a number of leading countries to work towards all sales of new cars and vans being zero emissions globally by 2040 and no later than 2035…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
Yes. Naturally, we're in contact with both Stagecoach and the trade unions about this, and I'm very concerned that the dispute hasn't yet been brought to a successful resolution. I would certainly urge that to happen as soon as possible, because people are…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
Yes. The future of public transport in South Wales East is promising. Work is well under way on transforming the core Valleys lines, taking forward the recommendations of Lord Burns around Newport, and we are starting to see the new trains being delivered…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
Well, with respect, I do answer the Member's questions; she just doesn't like the answers. I don't think that subsidising and encouraging domestic air travel is in keeping with the challenge of climate change that we have and that the Prime Minister is trying…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
Let's be very clear that the powers over buses—the regulation of them—remain at the UK level. So, the fact that we've been in power in Wales is irrelevant, because we don't have the power to change the way the market is regulated. We think that, through…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
I've recently met both with First and with the trade unions to discuss the range of pressures that the bus industry is facing at the moment. The specific issue that Natasha Asghar raises, I'm afraid, is a direct consequence of the privatisation of the bus…
, Plenary
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Community benefits of energy projects
Well, clearly that's unarguable. And one of the focuses of the deep dive that I'm starting tomorrow is going to be how we energise and mobilise a coalition for change across the public and private sector to really get some pace going. Because, as we all agree…
, Plenary
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Community benefits of energy projects
I will, but I would just say to him that I wouldn't mistake the uploading of information to a website with a lack of activity on community energy.
, Plenary
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Community benefits of energy projects
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. I think there's been a great deal of consensus in the Senedd this afternoon on the importance of renewable energy and how vital it is to make sure that this is rooted in our communities, both in terms of getting acceptance, but…
