JANET Finch-Saunders MS for Aberconwy has urged the Welsh Government to quicken the introduction of long-term environmental governance structures.

Following her endorsement of a blog post by Wales Environment Link (WEL) in which the campaigning network decried how “Wales has achieved comparatively little” on the issue of environmental governance, the Aberconwy MS encouraged ministers to fast-track applications from Natural Resources Wales for restorative peatland flood management works.

Wildlife Trusts in Wales recently estimated that it would take more than 100 years to restore all peatland in Wales if we continued on the present trajectory.

Despite Senedd Climate Change Committee meeting held last week, Mrs Finch-Saunders felt greater proactivity and cooperation between parties was required.

The MS for Aberconwy said: “In June 2021, the Senedd declared a nature emergency.

“We voted in favour of introducing a legally binding requirement to reverse biodiversity loss through statutory targets.

“Seven months later and we are still waiting for proactive action, with Wales Environment Link rightly pointing out that the scale and pace of action needed to address the nature crisis is not in place.

“Part and parcel of this work must be the introduction of new environment governance structures.

“Last week, the Minister informed me that the timing of any work on long-term environment governance structures will have to wait until after complex discussions with their coalition partners.

“We are running down the clock on this issue – it seems clear to me that the Welsh Government’s cooperation agreement with Plaid Cymru is delaying the delivery of a green Brexit for Wales.”