The Welsh Government is facing criticism for falling “years behind” on its key plan to address the nature crisis in Wales. A Senedd committee has highlighted a lack of action, plan, and investment from the government in tackling the nature emergency. The Welsh Government had pledged in June 2021 to establish legally binding biodiversity targets, but admitted to the Senedd’s climate change committee that these targets are now likely to be postponed for another four years.
The climate change, environment, and infrastructure committee’s recent report scrutinized the Welsh Government’s initiatives to safeguard nature and identified various instances of delays, unmet commitments, and missed deadlines. The committee emphasized the urgent need for a new action plan for nature to address funding shortfalls and expedite implementation. Furthermore, key guiding documents for the Welsh Government’s biodiversity initiatives, such as the Natural Resources Policy and the Nature Recovery Action Plan, are significantly outdated, with promises of updates remaining unfulfilled.
The unsustainable pace of progress towards the international biodiversity target of protecting 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 was also underscored during an inquiry by the climate committee, indicating that Wales is falling far short of this crucial goal. This alarming revelation was brought to light by Monmouthshire Conservative MS Peter Fox during a session in the Senedd, where he raised concerns about the Welsh Government’s lack of urgency in meeting its targets and lagging behind other nations like England and Scotland.
Plaid Cymru MS Delyth Jewell echoed these sentiments by stressing the significant delay in reviewing key policy documents related to nature restoration by the Welsh Government. The potential repercussions of not having the necessary frameworks in place until shortly before 2030 were highlighted as a cause for great concern. Conservative committee member Janet Finch-Saunders expressed disappointment in the failure of the innovative Environmental (Wales) Act 2016 to bring about substantial change, citing delays in strategies and legislation as hindrances to Wales’ biodiversity restoration commitments.
Huw Irranca-Davies, Wales’ climate secretary, acknowledged the shortcomings and reiterated the government’s commitment to investing in nature restoration, with over £150 million allocated since 2021. He outlined plans for additional funding through Nature Networks projects, with further initiatives scheduled for the coming years. An ambitious legislative framework for nature restoration targets and an environmental governance body are among the government’s forthcoming measures to support biodiversity conservation efforts.
Despite recognising the challenges outlined in the committee’s report, Huw Irranca-Davies stressed the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to secure additional funding for nature restoration. The government aims to intensify its sustainable investment strategies to accelerate nature restoration activities across Wales, complemented by a sustainable farming scheme that encourages farmers to allocate at least 10% of their land as habitat. By implementing these measures, Wales aspires to meet its high ambitions for addressing the climate and nature emergency effectively.