Statistics published by the Welsh Government. Each chart covers the years since the 2016 Senedd election, or as far back as the figures go, and marks each election since.
Greenhouse gas emissions
30.1 million tonnes
2024
A year earlier
33.0 million tonnes(2023)
Net greenhouse gas emissions from Wales each year, in million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The total includes international aviation and shipping, and subtracts the carbon taken up by land and forests.
Greenhouse gas emissions: every figure in the chart, newest first.
Period
Wales
2024
30.1 million tonnes
2023
33.0 million tonnesrevised
2022
36.0 million tonnesrevised
2021
35.8 million tonnesrevised
2020
33.8 million tonnesrevised
2019
38.5 million tonnesrevised
2018
38.3 million tonnesrevised
2017
41.8 million tonnesrevised
2016
48.1 million tonnesrevised
Recycling rate
68.4%
2024-25
A year earlier
66.6%(2023-24)
The share of local authority municipal waste that was reused, recycled or composted each financial year, as measured for the statutory target.
The Welsh Government says wood recycling is likely to have been overstated in recent years, and Natural Resources Wales says the 2024-25 rate is likely to be at least 1 percentage point lower. The published figures can't be revised. The statutory target was 58% from 2015-16 and 64% from 2019-20, before 70% from 2024-25.
8 commitments in the Welsh Government's Programme for Government 2026 to 2030 fall under this brief, in the Programme's own words. Under each is how often it has been raised in the Seventh Senedd.
Demanding fairness from Westminster: Fair funding
Deliver a national programme to secure and restore disused tips, ensuring every tip is properly monitored, maintained, and managed. We will continue to insist that the UK government funds this work properly and in full.
Raised in 7 speeches. Most recently on 30 September 2026, by Niamh Salkeld. Matched on: “coal tips”.
Establish a Wales‑wide strategy on remediating contaminated land to map, prioritise and progressively restore post‑industrial land so communities are no longer exposed to derelict sites, toxic soils, and polluted waterways. We will continue to press the UK government to fund this restoration.
Ensure climate action and nature are prioritised and effectively coordinated across government, embedding decarbonisation, sustainability and environmental protection across all portfolios.
Take bold action to improve air quality, reduce waste and tackle pollution by keeping materials in use for longer, and ensuring the polluter pays as we transition to a circular economy.
Apply a whole‑system, catchment‑based approach to improve water quality and strengthen climate and nature resilience in Wales. Our ambition is for every water body in Wales to be on a clear trajectory towards good status. Working in partnership across sectors, we will accelerate delivery of nature‑based solutions that reduce pollution and build resilience to future environmental pressures.
Raised in 7 speeches, 2 written questions and 1 petition. Most recently on 14 October 2026, by Llyr Gruffydd. Matched on: “water quality”.
Develop and implement a cross‑government Climate and Nature Action Plan for Wales, supported by a Climate and Nature Board. The plan will strengthen climate and nature resilience, enhance environmental sustainability, support a just transition and identify practical action towards a pathway to net zero by 2040. As part of the plan, we will set ambitious targets to achieve substantive nature recovery by 2050.
Governing responsibly
Work with our newly created Flood Forum for Wales to bring together local authorities, Natural Resources Wales, emergency services, and community organisations to coordinate national strategy on flooding.
Raised in 5 speeches. Most recently on 13 October 2026, by Llyr Gruffydd. Matched on: “flood forum”.
Source: Welsh Government, Programme for government 2026 to 2030: New ambition for Wales, first published on 10 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Mentions are found by matching the names of plans, bodies and schemes; a mention says nothing about progress.
Key moments in the Senedd
Statements, debates and legislation in Plenary on this brief, newest first. Oral question sessions are counted in the contributions below.
Each bar is the share of that party's speeches and questions in the Seventh Senedd that touched this brief, so large and small parties can be compared. The upright line marks the chamber as a whole: 5.6%.
30% of Welsh adults said climate change and policies to deal with it would be very important to their vote.
Ipsos asked 747 Welsh adults aged 16+ between 2 April 2026 and 8 April 2026, before the 2026 Senedd election. People could choose as many issues as they liked. More on public opinion.
Written questions
59 written questions to the Welsh Government on this brief in the Seventh Senedd, 54 answered so far. The latest:
The summer of 2026 was record-breaking. Wales experienced exceptionally hot and dry weather and official heatwaves were recorded in May, June, July, and August.
Many parts of Wales are affected by land contamination, often related to historical industrial activity. The contaminants can include a wide range of hazardous substances, from ‘forever chemicals’ to heavy metals.
Spring and summer 2026 have been exceptionally hot and dry in Wales. This weather can affect everything from health to agriculture. Climate change is amplifying this extreme weather, making it more common and intense.
Mine and quarry tips are a physical reminder of Wales’ industrial past. These tips can threaten life and well-being, as was seen during landslips at Tylorstown in 2020, and Cwmtillery in 2024.
Contributions tagged in each month of the Seventh Senedd. No sittings were held in August 2026.Show the numbers
Month
Contributions
May 2026
0
June 2026
0
July 2026
0
August 2026
No sittings
September 2026
127
October 2026
142
How this brief is put together
This brief follows the Programme commitments listed above and tags the record with the phrases below. Keyword matching can miss business that discusses the issue in other words, and can tag a passing mention.
Show the phrases it uses
A contribution is tagged when its English text contains one of these phrases. Capital letters don't matter, except in abbreviations, which must match exactly. It is also tagged when the title of the agenda item or question it was part of contains one, as long as the contribution is at least 30 words long. The brief is also tagged whenever one of its themes is.
Establish a strong and independent Office for Environmental Governance Wales to hold public authorities to account for delivering environmental targets.
Raised in 2 speeches. Most recently on 19 October 2026, by Cristiana Emsley. Matched on: “Environmental Governance”.
