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The Welsh Minister for Climate Change has stated her hope that Wales can be part of the collective fight against climate change and help achieve zero emissions by 2050. 

Julie James MS was speaking after an Under2 Coalition meeting relating to climate change in Brussels. 

Under2 is the largest network of subnational governments made up of 167 states and regions including Scotland, Catalonia, Baden-Württemberg Andalusia and Wales.

After the meeting, Ms James advocated for states and regions to act on their collective power and reflect on the way they engage on climate change with larger bodies, including nations and the EU. 

The event comes six months before COP 28 – the United Nations Climate Change Conference which will take place in Dubai.

Climate Change Minister Julie James said: “Through Under2 we can show leadership and build the momentum needed to make a difference at home and internationally in our fight against climate change.

“The latest IPCC report gave us a stark message about the impacts of climate change, which are going to be felt at the local level by local people. The people that we represent.

“We need to involve people in the actions that we all collectively need to take, in the way we design our energy systems, grow our food, live in our homes, transport our goods and services and the business we work in.

“As highlighted by the Glasgow Climate Pact and the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan’s urgent multilevel and cooperative action is needed and states and regions are instrumental to all of this and often the ones that are at the forefront.”

Ms James continued: “The wealth of knowledge and expertise throughout these states and regions is huge and gives me hope we can fight against climate change and set the global path to zero emissions by 2050.”