The Welsh Government has announced more than £10 million of new investment to restore nature, strengthen rural communities and help Wales tackle the growing impacts of climate change.

Setting out his priorities in the Senedd, Rural Resilience and Sustainability Minister Llyr Gruffydd said the funding will support biodiversity projects across Wales while creating jobs and improving access to the natural environment.

The investment comes as Wales experiences soaring temperatures during one of the hottest spells of weather in recent years, with the Minister warning that climate change is already having a significant impact on communities, public services and the countryside.

Alongside the funding announcement, Mr Gruffydd confirmed work has begun on a new Climate and Nature Plan that will guide Wales towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040 while delivering significant nature recovery by 2050.

The strategy will place climate and nature at the centre of decision-making across the Welsh Government, influencing areas including housing, transport, health and the economy.

Key priorities include expanding tree planting, restoring peatlands through the National Peatland Action Programme and establishing a new Flood Resilience and Preparedness Forum to improve Wales’ response to increasingly frequent flooding.

The Minister also pledged greater support for rural communities through proposals for a statutory duty requiring policies to be “rural proofed” and the development of a new Rural Development Strategy aimed at reducing poverty and creating new economic opportunities.

For farmers, the Welsh Government is continuing work to secure a multi-year budget for the Sustainable Farming Scheme, providing greater financial certainty for businesses planning for the future.

A new National Food Strategy for Wales will also be developed to strengthen food security, support Welsh producers and improve supply chains.

Mr Gruffydd said the recent spell of extreme heat demonstrated that climate change was no longer a future threat but a reality affecting every part of Wales.

“The extreme heat we are experiencing this week is a reminder that climate change is not a future risk – it is already affecting people, nature, communities and public services across Wales,” he said.

Reflecting on a recent visit to Barry, where he met schoolchildren learning about coastal erosion and rising sea levels, he added: “They are growing up in a Wales where extreme weather, flooding, pressure on nature and changes to our coastline are becoming more visible. Our job is to respond with ambition, honesty and practical action.”

He said clean air, clean water, healthy soils and thriving ecosystems were “the foundations of our economic opportunities”, supporting jobs, sustainable food production and healthier communities.

Mr Gruffydd also sought to reassure farmers that they remain central to the Welsh Government’s plans.

“Family farms are the beating heart of our rural communities and the backbone of the rural economy,” he said.

“I want to reduce the bureaucratic burden on them and have already appointed John Davies to lead an independent review to cut unnecessary red tape so time can instead be spent on things like managing stock or planning for the future.”

The Minister said he was committed to working closely with communities across Wales to ensure future policies are shaped by the people who know their local areas best.

The announcement is expected to have significance across North Wales, where farming, peatland restoration, flood resilience and environmental conservation play a vital role in supporting both the economy and the region’s internationally important landscapes, including Eryri National Park, the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape, and the Isle of Anglesey.