Members have argued most about river pollution, sewage and the future of Welsh Water, including a Reform UK motion for a Welsh rivers Act on 24 June. Wildfires, flooding and extreme heat have driven debate on resilience and funding. Other lines include the deposit-return scheme, net zero, farming pollution rules, coal tips and contaminated land.
The main arguments
On Welsh Water, Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats) cited bills up over 30 per cent in two years and high executive pay. David Mills (Reform UK) criticised fines and bonuses. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) said Plaid wants Welsh Water in Welsh hands. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Laura Anne Jones (Reform UK) moved a motion for a Welsh rivers Act on sewage accountability and nutrient management. Vikki Howells (Welsh Labour) backed a reset of water governance. Andrew RT Davies (Welsh Conservatives) argued NRW should be reconstituted as a dedicated regulator. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Mike Hedges and Vikki Howells (Welsh Labour) questioned ending the winter slurry-spreading ban. James Evans (Reform UK) said farmers should not be treated as the default problem, citing the Bolton review's call for a proportionate, risk-based approach. Contributions: [1][2][3]
After the summer wildfires, Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) announced a resilience summit for 22 October. Jayne Bryant (Welsh Labour) said the response fell short. Anthony Slaughter (Wales Green Party) urged a climate shock fund. Darren Millar (Welsh Conservatives) noted the resilience framework barely mentions wildfire. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Llyr Gruffydd (Plaid Cymru) said glass is in the deposit-return scheme from day 1, with a four-year transition. Darren Millar and Andrew RT Davies (Welsh Conservatives) oppose including glass. Vikki Howells (Welsh Labour) welcomed the phased approach. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Gareth Beer and John Clark (Reform UK) said net zero brings higher bills and is ideologically driven. David Mills (Reform UK) said climate change is serious but objected to current policy. Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats) cited NFU Cymru's net zero by 2040 goal. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Niamh Salkeld (Plaid Cymru) led a debate on contaminated land. Llyr Gruffydd (Plaid Cymru) backed the polluter-pays principle and pressing the UK Treasury. Paul Rock (Wales Green Party) urged that coal tip extraction be covered by a UK coal ban. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Where the parties stand
Welsh Labour
In opposition, Welsh Labour Members pressed ministers on river pollution, slurry rules, a climate resilience fund and coal tips. They defended the previous Government's record and criticised the national park decision as lacking ambition. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru Ministers want Welsh control of water, a Wales-specific regulator, a climate and nature action plan and a deposit-return scheme that includes glass. They cite £85 million for flood risk management this year. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Reform UK
Reform UK Members pushed a Welsh rivers Act and criticised Welsh Water. They questioned the wildfire response and the deposit-return scheme, and argued net zero raises costs for households. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Welsh Conservatives
Welsh Conservative Members raised repeated sewage discharges in west Wales, called for NRW reform, opposed glass in the deposit-return scheme and challenged the UK emissions trading scheme's effect on Welsh industry. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Welsh Liberal Democrats
Jane Dodds raised water bills, executive pay and a review of Dŵr Cymru. She also pressed for action on the climate emergency, community energy and a televised climate and nature briefing. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Wales Green Party
Wales Green Members asked for clear reporting on climate and nature progress, an extreme weather resilience fund, protection of green spaces and coal tip extraction to be covered by a ban. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
What the government is being pressed on
1Members asked what ministers will do on sewage, bills and executive pay. Rhun ap Iorwerth said Plaid wants Welsh control and clear expectations of NRW and Ofwat. On 22 September he said a vision for a reformed water sector will be published this autumn. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
2Hedges and Howells (Welsh Labour) asked how water quality will be protected if slurry rules change. They also asked for a guarantee that water protections survive the farming bureaucracy review. The material provided contains no ministerial reply. Contributions: [1][2][3]
3Slaughter (Green) and Howells (Labour) asked for a climate resilience fund. Llyr Gruffydd cited £85 million for flood risk management and almost £5 million revenue for councils. Rhun ap Iorwerth said climate action runs across all portfolios. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
4Lynne Neagle (Labour) asked about funding for areas worst hit by wildfire, such as Blaenavon. Steve Bayliss (Reform) asked for a costed plan by 31 October. Rhun ap Iorwerth said the 22 October summit will focus on practical action. Contributions: [1][2][3]
5Vikki Howells (Labour) asked about talks with the UK Government on funding for coal tips and contaminated land. Llyr Gruffydd said the Government will make the case to HM Treasury at next year's spending review. Contributions: [1][2]
What the public is asking for
Petitions ask for a halt to Newport junction closures (13,771 signatures), an inquiry into Dŵr Cymru (2,167), no development on peatlands (2,027), a televised climate and nature briefing (1,281) and testing for contaminants (1,207).
Who ministers are meeting
Ministers have met water companies, Natural Resources Wales, the Disused Tips Authority, national parks and fire and rescue services. They have also met industry bodies on the deposit-return scheme and net zero, and groups such as WWF Cymru, Flood Forum Wales and Keep Wales Tidy.
In the Sixth Senedd (2021 to 2026)
From the previous Senedd's record, for issues that run across both. The rest of this analysis covers the Seventh Senedd only.
In the Sixth Senedd, Members scrutinised Dŵr Cymru's performance and asked who is accountable for it. They celebrated Wales's recycling record while arguing over glass in the deposit-return scheme. Debates on coal tips, flooding and NRW funding ran alongside plans for environmental governance.
In April 2024 Llyr Gruffydd (Plaid Cymru) presented a committee report on Dŵr Cymru with 12 recommendations. Lee Waters (Welsh Labour) said the not-for-dividend model should not excuse poor performance. Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) described an accountability gap. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Huw Irranca-Davies (Welsh Labour) said Wales had become second in the world for recycling. Rhys ab Owen (Independent) criticised the UK Government's use of the Internal Market Act against glass in the deposit-return scheme. Contributions: [1][2]
Julie James (Welsh Labour) said the coal tip safety programme began in 2020, with over 1,500 inspections. Peredur Owen Griffiths (Plaid Cymru) warned about the proposed coal extraction at Bedwas. Contributions: [1][2]
Rhys ab Owen (Independent) said cuts were undermining NRW's work. Julie James (Welsh Labour) published a White Paper proposing environmental principles, a new governance body and biodiversity targets. Contributions: [1][2]
Written by AI on 23 October 2026 from 240 contributions in the Senedd between 12 May 2026 and 19 October 2026, with the petitions and ministers' meetings on this brief. Each point links to the contributions it draws on; check them before quoting. How the analysis is written.
Where things stand
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.
The Programme for Government 2026 to 2030 belongs to the Seventh Senedd. Choose the Seventh Senedd to see how often each commitment has come up.
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.
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.
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.
Establish a strong and independent Office for Environmental Governance Wales to hold public authorities to account for delivering environmental targets.
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.
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.
In the news
The latest headlines on this brief, linking to each outlet's story.
Each bar is the share of that party's speeches and questions in the Sixth Senedd that touched this brief, so large and small parties can be compared. The upright line marks the chamber as a whole: 0.65%.
Ministers' meetings with outside organisations and their engagements on this brief, from the register the Welsh Government publishes every three months. 2 since the 2026 election; the latest:
4 August 2026
Eisteddfod - Ymweliadau ar y Maes (Dŵr Cymru)
Meeting, First Minister of Wales
24 June 2026
Chief Executive of Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water
Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
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
No written questions on this brief in the Sixth Senedd yet.
Petitions
3 petitions to the Senedd on this brief, open ones first, then by signatures:
Water companies hold a critical position in safeguarding both environmental and public health. Concern over the pollution of our waterways has been building, and as such, scrutiny of water company practices has become more stringent.
Water is an essential resource. Whilst our natural waters form important ecosystems and are integral to the environment, water also plays critical roles in applications as diverse as sanitation, industry, navigation and recreation.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Legislative Consent: Water (Special Measures) Bill - Evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Legislative Consent: Water (Special Measures) Bill - Evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Legislative Consent: Water (Special Measures) Bill - Evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Legislative Consent: Water (Special Measures) Bill - Evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Legislative Consent: Water (Special Measures) Bill - Evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Legislative Consent: Water (Special Measures) Bill - Evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Legislative Consent: Water (Special Measures) Bill - Evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Legislative Consent: Water (Special Measures) Bill - Evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Legislative Consent: Water (Special Measures) Bill - Evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Halting and reversing the loss of nature by 2030 - evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Halting and reversing the loss of nature by 2030 - evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Halting and reversing the loss of nature by 2030 - evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
Contributions tagged in each month of the Sixth Senedd. No sittings were held in August 2023, December 2024, February 2025, March 2025, April 2025, May 2025, June 2025, July 2025, August 2025, September 2025, October 2025, November 2025 and December 2025.Show the numbers
Month
Contributions
January 2023
0
February 2023
0
March 2023
0
April 2023
0
May 2023
0
June 2023
0
July 2023
0
August 2023
No sittings
September 2023
0
October 2023
0
November 2023
0
December 2023
0
January 2024
23
February 2024
9
March 2024
13
April 2024
33
May 2024
30
June 2024
34
July 2024
37
August 2024
1
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.
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.
