Llyr Gruffydd MS, Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Today, I am pleased to publish the Rural Proofing and Environmental Sustainability White Paper and launch a public consultation on proposals intended to support the delivery of our rural and environmental priorities.
The White Paper brings together two related but distinct sets of proposals. Rural Wales is central to our ambition to deliver fairness and opportunity across all parts of Wales. Consequently, the first proposal we are seeking views on is a statutory duty on rural proofing to ensure rural needs are considered consistently when policies, services and programmes are developed and delivered.
Secondly we are seeking views on a range of environmental sustainability proposals, to make our legislation clearer, more workable and better able to support delivery on climate change, nature recovery, woodland protection, waste management, environmental enforcement and the sustainable use of natural resources. In the First 100 Days, we committed to establishing work on a Climate and Nature Action Plan to help realise our net zero 2040 ambition, and support substantive nature recovery by 2050. This White Paper is one of the practical steps in that work and will help to ensure environmental legislation remains effective, proportionate and capable of responding to future challenges and opportunities.
This White Paper is an important opportunity to help ensure our legislation remains fit for purpose and continues to support a more sustainable, resilient and prosperous Wales for future generations and I want to hear from anyone with an interest in these proposals. Your views will help shape the next stage of policy development and inform decisions on future legislation in these important areas.
A copy of the White Paper is available on Gov.Wales. I look forward to ongoing engagement and collaboration during the consultation process.
This statement is being issued during recess to keep Members informed. Should Members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.