A Welsh Conservative investigation has revealed that the Labour Welsh Government spent £3,140.28 to send officials from the Welsh Government to CBD COP16 in Colombia. Whilst no Ministers attended the event, all attendees had the option to participate remotely, an option that would have reduced the conference's carbon footprint.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change, Janet Finch-Saunders, said:
“For Welsh Government Ministers to claim any moral high ground when discussing climate change, whilst they send officials off on carbon-intensive international flights to attend climate change conferences smacks of hypocrisy.
“The Labour Welsh Government could have set an example by reducing its carbon footprint and demonstrating its commitment to sustainability by attending virtually, rather than spending taxpayer money on travel and accommodation which undermines their message of environmental responsibility.
“Labour Ministers must justify the decision to send officials to COP16 in person rather than using virtual means and must demonstrate greater accountability in ensuring their plans for net-zero carbon do not result with a net-zero cost to the taxpayer.”
