Climate change: Carwyn Jones defends his record as he leaves Senedd
Tackling climate change slipped "down the agenda" in the years following the 2008 financial crash, according to Wales' former first minister. Carwyn Jones was defending his record in power after being announced as chair of climate charity Size of Wales. Mr Jones, a Senedd member for 22 years, said the issue needed to be the world's "top priority", warning communities and livelihoods risked being "destroyed". He stood down from the Senedd ahead of the election earlier this month. Mr Jones said he now wanted to make campaigning for action on climate change - "the biggest challenge that humanity has faced since the second world war" - a focus of his post-politics life. During his time as first minister between 2009 and 2018, major new laws such as the Environment Act and Well-being of Future Generations Act were passed, but Wales consistently failed to meet tree-planting targets and experienced years when greenhouse gas emissions went up instead of down. Pressed on his actions in office, he said there was "always more to do". This video can not be played University Hospital of Wales staff are planting trees to offset the environmental impact of treating Covid patients He pointed to support for public transport and the creation of Transport for Wales as examples of positive action, despite criticism from the environment sector that emissions from transport only fell 3% in Wales between 1990 and 2016. "I think the problem we've had in the past decade is people seem to be more supportive of dealing with climate change when they feel financially secure," he said. "After 2008 and the crash that happened there , climate change started to go down the agenda across the world. "People were more interested in the need to prop up our economies, making sure people have money in their pockets and are secure. "The two things are not contradictory, and I'm glad to see now that climate change is going back up the agenda across the world." While the pandemic had shown how changes could be instigated quickly, it had also highlighted a problem of "countries not working together", something that needed to be addressed in responding to global warming, he warned. This video can not be played Could changes we have been forced to make in the pandemic become long-term environmental solutions? His successor Mark Drakeford's decision to set up a climate change department in the Welsh government with a new minister and deputy minister to take charge of the issue was a "hugely important signal", he said. "We can give practical examples to show other countries that we're doing our bit in Wales - we're a small country but we can have a positive effect," he said. Size of Wales' director Nicola Pulman said the former first minister would bring "a track record at the highest level of government in tackling climate change" to the charity's work. It supports forest protection and tree growing projects in Africa, South America and south-east Asia as well as running a Wales-wide educational programme to help teach young people about climate change. Why this hospital Covid team are planting trees. Video, 00:01:42 Why this hospital Covid team are planting trees Coronavirus: The environments big moment? Video, 00:03:06 Coronavirus: The environments big moment? Covid jobs: how can Wales have a 'green recovery'? Race against time to save Morocco quake survivors US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit 'Everyone in this village is either dead or missing' At the scene of Morocco mosque collapsed by quake. Video At the scene of Morocco mosque collapsed by quake Inside the horror of Europe's biggest wildfire Inside a 'hijacked' South African building. Video Inside a 'hijacked' South African building How chronic pain feels for me. Video How chronic pain feels for me The rise and fall of a parenting influencer Guyana scrambles to make the most of oil wealth Florida's first hurricane-proof town The greatest spy novel ever written? Why is everyone crazy about Aperol? 2023 BBC.