Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart has visited a Pembrokeshire outdoor activity centre which is also carrying out a series of renewable energy projects as part of the site’s redevelopment.

The Welsh Secretary visited Llys-y-Frân Lake on Friday (May 14) six months ahead of the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow which will bring together climate negotiators from 196 countries to continue to tackle global warming.

At Llys-y-Frân, Mr. Hart saw a number of renewable projects which are being delivered by Welsh Water. Hydroelectric turbines have been refurbished and will create enough energy to power than 300 households, while a new fleet of electric boats have been bought for the site, which is due to reopen to the public in the coming months following a £4m investment in the site.

Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said: “Llys-y-Frân Lake is a great example of how many of our fantastic Welsh businesses and attractions are helping to decarbonise all sectors of the UK economy and helping us reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and a great showcase ahead of the COP26 climate change conference taking place at the end of this year.

“As we build back better and greener from the pandemic, Wales will play a crucial role as an established centre of innovation, renewables and the green industries of the future.”

Welsh Water’s managing director of wastewater services, Steve Wilson said: “We were delighted to welcome Welsh Secretary Simon Hart to see how we are using hydro to help operate our Llys-y-Frân tourist attraction in a greener and sustainable way. Our project here forms part of our wider renewable energy strategy where we make use of water, wind, sun and the waste we treat to generate green energy which not only helps reduce our carbon emissions but also reduces our operating costs which in turn helps us keep bills low for customers.”

Also on Friday, COP26 president-designate Alok Sharma delivered a speech in Glasgow six months before November’s climate summit in which he explained how the UK will work with all countries to make a consistent and concerted effort in four areas: Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, enabling communities and natural habitats to adapt to the impacts of climate change, mobilising climate finance, and working together to deliver action.

Six years on from COP21, when the Paris Agreement was reached and the world agreed to limit global warming to 1.5C, this year’s summit will be where all countries commit to the action needed to keep this target alive.

COP26 president Alok Sharma said: “It is not a choice between cleaning up our environment and growing economies. We can do both at the same time. Indeed we have done both at the same time. The UK is a beacon of green growth. As a whole, the UK will completely phase out coal power by 2025 at the latest.

“This is our last hope of keeping 1.5 degrees alive. Our best chance of building a brighter future. A future of green jobs and cleaner air. I have faith that world leaders will rise to the occasion, and not be found wanting in their tryst with destiny. That, in six months time, when we are packing up and going home, we will be able to say, that at this critical juncture, each of us took responsibility. That we chose to act. And that we kept 1.5 degrees alive.”

The UK is leading the way in climate action. In 2012, 40 per cent of our electricity came from coal. That figure is now less than two per cent. The UK was the first country to pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 78 per cent by 2035, we will completely phase out coal power by 2024 and will end the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.

The £4 million major investment to the Llys-y-Frân visitor centre and recreational facilities was backed with £1.7 million of European Regional Development Funds through the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government’s Tourism Attractor Destination programme, led by Visit Wales, aims to create 11 must see destinations across Wales.