Written question WQ84670

As I have repeatedly stated in Plenary, I have agreed to consider the role of legally binding targets for nature to help tackle the nature crisis in Wales, and my officials are developing options for these. The negotiations on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the next set of 10-year targets, are due to conclude at COP 15 in late summer 2022. In developing targets we will take account of the new GBF, as well as the approach set out in the Environment (Wales) legislation and the Wellbeing of Future Generations, the wellbeing goals and suite of indicators. This recognises that biodiversity loss and recovery are driven by a wide range of pressures and drivers on our natural resources and ecosystems.

30by30 is one of the targets proposed for the post-2020 biodiversity framework. It is shorthand for a target to protect 30% of the world’s land and 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030. I will be leading a deep dive focussing on the effective implementation of the 30 by 30 target, considering how we best achieve it, what the challenges are in doing so, and how we overcome such challenge in Wales. I will report on the findings of the deep dive when completed.