Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change explained

Post:	Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change
Body:	Wales
Flag:	Flag of Wales.svg
Flagsize:	50px
Incumbent:	Huw Irranca-Davies MS
Department:	Welsh Government
Style:	Welsh Cabinet Secretary
Status:	Cabinet Secretary
Abbreviation:	Secretary
Reports To:	the Senedd and the First Minister of Wales
Seat:	Cardiff
Nominator:	First Minister of Wales
Appointer:	The Crown
Termlength:	Five years
Termlength Qualified:	Subject to elections to the Senedd which take place every five years
First:	Julie James MS

The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change (Welsh: Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd) is a member of the Cabinet in the Welsh Government. The current officeholder is Huw Irranca-Davies since March 2024.

Ministers

Name		Picture	Entered office	Left office	Other offices held	Political party	Government
Minister for Climate Change
	Julie James		13 May 2021	20 March 2024		Labour	Second Drakeford government	^[1] ^[2]
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change
	Huw Irranca-Davies		21 March 2024	Incumbent		Labour	Gething government	^[3]

Responsibilities

See also: Politics of Wales and 2021 Senedd election.

The post's responsibilities are:^[4]

• Climate change, natural resources and energy responsibilities
  • Marine and freshwater planning, biodiversity, conservation and licensing
  • Ensuring land policy is used optimally and most versatile, advise on the restoration of mineral sites, Agricultural Land Classification and implementing EIA (Agriculture) Regulations
  • Energy policy, which includes small and medium-scale energy production, domestic energy and energy efficiency
  • Renewable energy in Wales
  • Climate change, addressed with carbon budgets and emission reduction targets
  • Natural resources management, including oversight and implementation of the Environment (Wales) Act, as well as overseeing Natural Resources Wales
  • Cross-cutting mitigation and adaption measures relating to climate change, including the involvement of water, flooding (and coastal) risk, land drainage, and controlling marine and air pollution.
  • Coal tip safety in Wales
  • Water
  • Forestry policy and legislation, including restocking and the monitoring of the health of trees, and "forest reproductive material"
  • National Forest for Wales
  • Biodiversity policy, including the Nature Recovery Plan's implementation
  • Sustainable use of resources, and waste management
  • Managing the quality of the local environment, including litter, fly-tipping, the Deposit Return Scheme, noise policy and regulation
  • National Parks
  • Leading allotment and urban green infrastructure strategy
  • Community Green Spaces
  • Countryside, coast, right of way, and waterways/water bodies access
  • Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty^[5]

See also

• Government of Wales
• Ministry

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mosalski . Ruth . 2021-05-13 . Live updates as Mark Drakeford overhauls Welsh Government cabinet . 2024-01-19 . Wales Online . en.
2. News: 2021-05-12 . Wales election: New health and education ministers in reshuffle . 2024-01-19 . BBC News . en-GB.
3. News: 21 March 2024 . Wales' new First Minister Vaughan Gething announces his cabinet . ITV News.
4. Web site: Julie James MS: Minister for Climate Change GOV.WALES . 2024-01-18 . www.gov.wales . en.
5. Web site: 2024-01-02 . Welsh Government organisation chart GOV.WALES . 2024-01-16 . www.gov.wales . en.