Environmental Audit CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Peter Davies, Commissioner for Sustainable Futures, Wales

From 17—20 June 2012 I attended the UN World Summit of Regions in Rio de Janeiro (Rio+20). The summit brought together representatives from over 100 nations as well as NGOs and businesses all over the world to decide on how to tackle the World’s worsening environmental problems.

I, as Wales’ Commissioner for Sustainable Futures, attended the event and further promoted the work of Wales whilst networking with key figures. My presence at the summit enabled me to represent Wales as a leader in sustainable development, promote the role that regional governments have to play in global negotiations and gain valuable insight and feedback at a world level.

I spoke at meetings of the Climate Group and the network of regional governments for Sustainable Development, two international networks in which Wales plays a key role.

I spent time promoting what the Welsh Government is doing to embed sustainable development in everything it does; raising awareness of the important role regional governments play in international commitment to sustainability, and gathering views on Wales’ plans to introduce an SD Bill to create sustainable places for people to live and work.

I addressed the World Summit of Federated States and Regions hosted by the Governor of Rio State and gained insights into the different approaches to SD. I found it extremely useful to meet with and learn from other regional governments—so that we can make our SD legislation as strong and effective as possible.

At the end of the conference, World leaders voted to include the role of regional governments in the agreed declaration text outlining how the world should move forward in addressing environmental issues. It is clear that it is now up to regional governments to lead the way and set examples in how to create sustainable places and practises. Despite the text lacking ambition, I am pleased that Wales now has an opportunity to lead the way.

The world is set on an unsustainable course and the window for action is closing. It is clear that progress can happen quickest at regional level with regional governments being the true leaders in sustainability.

I plan to use my learning from the summit to positively influence our sustainable development policy and will be following up with contacts made over the coming months.

The conference was a great opportunity to tell leaders around the world how Wales is leading the way in building foundations for a sustainable future.

24 August 2012