Since becoming a Minister in 2000, Carwyn has demonstrated leadership across a broad range of issues, including the environment, housing, rural affairs, education and constitutional issues. He led Wales through the foot and mouth crisis, winning farmers over to the cause of devolution, and as Counsel General has been the link between the Assembly Government and MPs in the development of the Assembly's new powers that followed the 2006 Government of Wales Act. Carwyn has represented Wales in meetings with UK Government Ministers and in Europe – where, amongst other things, he safeguarded Wales's GM-free status.
Carwyn has played a key role in the Assembly Government's impressive record on tackling climate change. He published the first Sustainable Development Scheme, mainstreaming sustainability through the Assembly's activities and ensured delivery of ambitious targets on recycling, energy efficiency and renewable energy. In 2006 he published a 20-year Environment Strategy for Wales, focusing on a new programme to improve local environmental quality and implementing a Climate Change adaptation plan.
He has also played a strong role in improving communities across Wales. He has spearheaded programmes to promote affordable housing through the planning system and has directly improved communities by tackling anti-social behaviour such as fly-tipping, noise pollution and alley-gating. He succeeded in delivering new funds for flood protection, significant improvements in beach cleanliness and new guidance to protect town centres and to reduce flood plain development.
In 2001, Carwyn spearheaded Wales's effort to tackle the Foot and Mouth crisis – a response widely commended in Europe, and ensured the effective plans were in place for potential future public and animal health crises.
As minister responsible for rural affairs and agricultural issues, he has overseen the modernisation of farming in Wales, focusing on sustainability and diversification. In 2001, he launched Farming Connect – an innovative public/private partnership service giving farming families practical advice on maximising their income, helping to foster an entrepreneurial culture, and to farm in ways which are sustainable environmentally. Carwyn is also proud of opening up the Welsh countryside to walkers and tourists. In 2003 he oversaw a rural delivery scheme described as the best in Europe.
In his brief stint as Minister for Education, Culture and the Welsh Language, Carwyn published the draft LCO on Special Educational Needs, supported investment in information technology to widen opportunities for young people to learn, provided grants to boost ethnic minority educational achievement, and set out plans for dealing with basic skills and 14-19 learning pathways.
Throughout his ministerial career, Carwyn Jones has fought hard to make Wales's voice heard. At a UK level, he pressed for water affordability for low-income households, for more powers to tackle animal health issues, for strengthening of GM restrictions and working with all UK Government departments as Counsel General.
