Welsh minister heads to COP31 to learn from wildfire prevention abroad

Llyr Gruffydd, the Welsh Government's Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, is travelling to the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, this week to learn from other countries' work on preventing wildfires. The conference runs from 9 to 20 November.

What he will do

Mr Gruffydd will take part in a wildfire resilience event organised by the Under2 Coalition, a network of governments of which Wales is a founding member, with the Government of Türkiye and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. The programme includes a visit to the Antalya International Forest Training Centre. He will also hear from partners in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa about flooding, drought, wildfires and extreme heat, speak at events on food waste and the circular economy, and discuss clean electrification and investment in climate and nature projects.

Why now

The Welsh Government says the trip follows a summer of record heat, drought and fires that affected communities across Wales, and that what he learns will shape its wildfire prevention plans for next year. On 22 October the First Minister convened a resilience summit of fire services, police, local government, farmers and climate experts. Agreed action included bringing in international expertise to train Welsh fire and rescue services, a review of how land management can reduce wildfire risk and a stronger national wildfire board. The release gives no costs or dates for new measures. The government is also developing a cross-government Climate and Nature Action Plan.

"The wildfires we experienced this summer across Wales served as a warning, and we must be prepared," Mr Gruffydd said. "I'm travelling to Türkiye to share Wales' experiences, learn from countries that face these challenges every year, and bring back valuable insights to help strengthen our approach at home."