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Business News Wales
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business News Wales
Future Generations Commissioner Urges Action on Wales Environment Bill
A landmark opportunity to protect and restore nature in Wales could fail without crucial targets to save wildlife, the Future Generations Commissioner is warning. Derek Walker says a new piece of legislation lacks the legal force needed to guarantee long-term action. The draft Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill, currently under scrutiny in the Senedd, does not include a legally binding target to drive the recovery of nature – a gap that environmental advocates and the commissioner say must be addressed before it is passed. The Commissioner is presenting evidence to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee as part of the Stage One scrutiny of the Bill. He is calling for the inclusion of a headline nature recovery target on the face of the legislation, warning that leaving target-setting to future governments could delay urgent action for years. The commissioner's Future Generations Report, published in April, recommends setting a headline target now to drive delivery from day one, provide clarity of purpose, and create a long-term obligation on future governments to continue restoring biodiversity. Mr Walker highlights that species abundance—a key indicator of ecosystem health—is in sharp decline in Wales. One in six species including water voles are at risk of extinction, and native species like the curlew and Atlantic Salmon are in critical decline, according to the State of Nature Report. The Commissioner supports a proposal from Wales Environment Link that species abundance be adopted as the headline measure of biodiversity health, with interim and long-term deadlines to track progress. The target in law for nature's recovery should also come with a clear plan of action and long-term funding arrangements, he says. Mr Walker said: 'A clear, measurable target for nature tells the story of what this law is really about—recovering nature and doing so urgently. 'Adding a nature recovery target to the law now would be a critical step toward a greener, healthier future for Wales and ensure we are taking all the action to increase nature across every part of Welsh life, whether we're planning for nature recovery, recreation, food growing or improving our health. 'Targets create momentum, drive accountability, and ensure that every sector plays a role. Without one, we're deferring action and leaving nature's future to chance. 'There's already a precedent for this measure elsewhere in the UK. We need to send a message now that nature matters—not just today, but for generations to come.' Mr Walker said a nature target would drive collaborative and integrated action towards nature's recovery in the same way the Net Zero by 2050 target is driving decarbonisation from the public and private sectors. Without this target written into the Bill, the process of establishing statutory targets would be left to a future Senedd, with an estimated timeline pushing implementation as far as 2029, the Commissioner said. Campaigners warn this could undermine Wales' commitment to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. Research shows spending time in nature boosts mental and physical wellbeing—and thriving ecosystems are essential for clean air, water, food, and climate resilience. In Pembrokeshire, the Outdoor Health Project run by Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, connects patients with green spaces to support their recovery, while Llandough Hospital has created therapeutic meadows to enhance healing. The commissioner is also calling for preventative funding in health to be ringfenced. Wrexham Council's tree and woodland strategy uses the Tree Equity Score, a free tool mapping nature such as tree cover, which is at its lowest in disadvantaged areas, while also showing impact from air pollution and heat disparity – the areas that will suffer from the greatest impact of heat and cold. Public bodies can use the tool for planning, while people can check it to see how their area scores for access to nature. 'When there's a target, it's added to the risk register—suddenly, you have a seat at the table. That's when change really begins to happen,' said Anthony Rogers, Biodiversity Implementation Officer, Pembrokeshire Nature Partnership. People can have their say before the consultation on the Bill closes on July 30, 2025.
South Wales Argus
05-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Senedd members warn Wales is 'too late' on environment
Delyth Jewell expressed concerns about delays in introducing the environment bill, which aims to reverse nature loss, with one in six species now at risk of extinction in Wales. Plaid Cymru's shadow climate secretary said: "For years, Wales has been behind the curve and we've been an unfortunate exception in terms of environmental governance." Gaps arising from Brexit left Wales with the weakest environmental governance structures in western Europe, according to the Wales Environment Link charity. The bill would establish the "long-awaited" Office of Environmental Governance Wales (OEGW) to check public bodies' environmental performance and hold them to account. Similar bodies were set up in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England in 2021. In 2018, then-climate secretary Julie James committed to legislation to address the governance gap at the "first opportunity." Ministers declared a climate emergency in 2019 before appointing an interim environmental protection assessor in 2021. Ms Jewell, who represents South Wales East, told the Senedd: "At last, I welcome the fact that we're now bridging that gap… the need for targets for nature is clear." If passed by the Senedd, the bill would establish a framework for targets on biodiversity and enable the public to challenge public authorities on environmental issues. Ms Jewell supported calls for headline targets and timeframes, with much of the detail – which is not included in the bill itself – set to follow in regulations. Janet Finch-Saunders, the Conservatives' shadow climate secretary, warned Wales has been lagging on setting biodiversity targets. "This is, I feel… too little, too late," she said. Labour's Huw Irranca-Davies explained the bill goes further in some areas than in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, citing the example of a power to enforce urgent compliance. 'We may be behind other UK nations but actually we've been able to learn the lessons from them," he said. He accepted: "We do now need to proceed with urgency… to refine and craft this."
South Wales Guardian
05-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Senedd members warn Wales is 'too late' on environment
Delyth Jewell expressed concerns about delays in introducing the environment bill, which aims to reverse nature loss, with one in six species now at risk of extinction in Wales. Plaid Cymru's shadow climate secretary said: "For years, Wales has been behind the curve and we've been an unfortunate exception in terms of environmental governance." Gaps arising from Brexit left Wales with the weakest environmental governance structures in western Europe, according to the Wales Environment Link charity. The bill would establish the "long-awaited" Office of Environmental Governance Wales (OEGW) to check public bodies' environmental performance and hold them to account. Similar bodies were set up in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England in 2021. In 2018, then-climate secretary Julie James committed to legislation to address the governance gap at the "first opportunity." Ministers declared a climate emergency in 2019 before appointing an interim environmental protection assessor in 2021. Ms Jewell, who represents South Wales East, told the Senedd: "At last, I welcome the fact that we're now bridging that gap… the need for targets for nature is clear." If passed by the Senedd, the bill would establish a framework for targets on biodiversity and enable the public to challenge public authorities on environmental issues. Ms Jewell supported calls for headline targets and timeframes, with much of the detail – which is not included in the bill itself – set to follow in regulations. Janet Finch-Saunders, the Conservatives' shadow climate secretary, warned Wales has been lagging on setting biodiversity targets. "This is, I feel… too little, too late," she said. Labour's Huw Irranca-Davies explained the bill goes further in some areas than in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, citing the example of a power to enforce urgent compliance. 'We may be behind other UK nations but actually we've been able to learn the lessons from them," he said. He accepted: "We do now need to proceed with urgency… to refine and craft this."
Western Telegraph
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Senedd members warn Wales is 'too late' on environment
Delyth Jewell expressed concerns about delays in introducing the environment bill, which aims to reverse nature loss, with one in six species now at risk of extinction in Wales. Plaid Cymru's shadow climate secretary said: "For years, Wales has been behind the curve and we've been an unfortunate exception in terms of environmental governance." Gaps arising from Brexit left Wales with the weakest environmental governance structures in western Europe, according to the Wales Environment Link charity. The bill would establish the "long-awaited" Office of Environmental Governance Wales (OEGW) to check public bodies' environmental performance and hold them to account. Similar bodies were set up in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England in 2021. In 2018, then-climate secretary Julie James committed to legislation to address the governance gap at the "first opportunity." Ministers declared a climate emergency in 2019 before appointing an interim environmental protection assessor in 2021. Ms Jewell, who represents South Wales East, told the Senedd: "At last, I welcome the fact that we're now bridging that gap… the need for targets for nature is clear." If passed by the Senedd, the bill would establish a framework for targets on biodiversity and enable the public to challenge public authorities on environmental issues. Ms Jewell supported calls for headline targets and timeframes, with much of the detail – which is not included in the bill itself – set to follow in regulations. Janet Finch-Saunders, the Conservatives' shadow climate secretary, warned Wales has been lagging on setting biodiversity targets. "This is, I feel… too little, too late," she said. Labour's Huw Irranca-Davies explained the bill goes further in some areas than in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, citing the example of a power to enforce urgent compliance. 'We may be behind other UK nations but actually we've been able to learn the lessons from them," he said. He accepted: "We do now need to proceed with urgency… to refine and craft this."
