IWD Collection: Jane Davidson by Stephen Brooks

Jane Davidson was the first Assembly Member for Pontypridd and served as a minister under Rhodri Morgan and Carwyn Jones; first as Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning & Skills, and then as Minister for the Environment, Sustainability & Housing.

Jane was part of a ‘green wave’ of politicians and ideas which influenced all four main Welsh political parties in the early days of devolution. In education, Jane championed measures like ‘Education for Sustainable Development & Global Citizenship’, ensuring important issues around people and planet were taught in the classroom.  But it was in her role as minister for the environment where most progress was made on sustainability. 

Working with NGOs, academics and business, Jane established the Climate Change Commission for Wales and adopted Wales’ first carbon reduction targets.  She introduced the 5p levy on single-use carrier bags and paved the way for Wales to become a global leader on recycling. Perhaps her most important legacy was to lay the foundations for what would become the Well-being of Future Generations Act, placing sustainable development duties on public bodies in Wales.

Since leaving elected politics in 2011, Jane has continued to work for a greener, fairer world.  She co-founded the Wales Institute for Sustainability, became a WWF global ambassador and is now Pro Vice-Chancellor Emeritus at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.