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.
