Debate contribution: Climate Change

Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on 11 November 2024.

MLA

Mr Andrew Muir

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

11 November 2024

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statements

Heading

Climate Change

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4667646

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to update the Assembly on progress on our commitments, arising from the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. Today, world leaders are gathering in Baku, in Azerbaijan, for the twenty-ninth UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, otherwise known as COP29. The twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties focused on placing people and livelihoods at the heart of climate action, with inclusivity of a diverse range of stakeholders.

COP29 will continue with that theme, with a focus on climate justice for those who are most impacted by the effects of climate change but did not necessarily contribute towards the emissions that have led to those impacts. I believe that, alongside others, we have a moral duty to take action to tackle climate change and to deliver our climate targets. To that end, I am fully committed to our doing so in a way that is fair and just.

That brings me to my first update, which seeks to ensure that all sections of society are placed at the centre of and involved in our decision-making. The Assembly should be commended for the fact that a just transition runs through every aspect of the Climate Change Act that we passed in 2022. A just transition requires a whole-of-society approach to tackling climate change and its impacts, an approach that seeks to promote inclusion and to respect human rights while promoting development and the creation of decent work and quality jobs. The just transition approach that we are taking ensures that, as we transition to a low-carbon society and economy, we do so in a way that is fair and just and does not leave anyone behind. I am therefore delighted to inform the Assembly that I have launched a public consultation on the establishment of a Just Transition Commission for Northern Ireland. The establishment of the commission is one of the key legislative requirements arising from our Climate Change Act. The consultation is a key milestone in moving that forward and ensuring that we establish a commission that delivers on the functions envisaged by the Assembly, as set out in the Climate Change Act. It is important we have the right membership on the commission to ensure that it is as effective as possible. The 2022 Act sets out the sectors and groups that must be represented on the commission. However, I am of the view that, to fully address the transformation required, the commission may need to broaden its representation from others, such as those from the energy and transport sectors. Once the commission is established and fully operational, it will be an invaluable resource to the Assembly and Departments as a source of expertise to help ensure effective and inclusive emissions reduction policy. The commission will provide advice to Departments on how to ensure that their emissions reduction policies, including climate action plans (CAPs), comply with the just transition principle. Importantly, it will provide an independent oversight function to ensure that Departments are held accountable and are adhering to the just transition requirements set out in the Act. I turn to delivering on our climate commitments. In February 2020, I spoke to the motion declaring a climate emergency. It was my maiden speech, in which I quoted Alan Turing, who once stated:

"We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done."

Plenty has, indeed, been done. The Assembly not only voted to declare a climate emergency in 2020 but voted unanimously at Final Stage for what is now known as the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. Since coming into office earlier this year, I have been very conscious of the obligations and opportunities that arise from the Act and have been working to deliver on our climate commitments. In May, I introduced legislation for new climate change reporting duties for public bodies. In September, I secured Executive agreement for Northern Ireland’s first environmental improvement plan (EIP). Alongside that, I have been progressing the carbon budgets and the climate action plan to provide us with the ambition and the delivery plan to enable Northern Ireland, as a region, to maintain pace on our climate targets. There are significant benefits for all the people here, if we fully embrace the opportunities provided by addressing climate change not only through welcome investment in sustainable, green energy and technologies but through the new employment opportunities that those will bring and the benefits of decarbonisation through increased energy supply security. From my engagement with leaders across many sectors, the message is clear: we in the Chamber need to provide clarity to investors and businesses here and internationally that we have a clear and long-term commitment to decarbonisation to ensure that, as a region, we do not miss out on the investment opportunities that tackling climate change can bring. A key mechanism for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions will be through the setting of our carbon budgets, which will set the maximum amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted in a given five-year period. Their primary purpose is to ensure that a mechanism is in place to put us on track to meet our 2030, 2040 and 2050 statutory targets in a planned and gradual way. Last year's consultation on the proposed carbon budgets, which were in line with the recommendations of the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC), showed significant public support. Over recent months, I have been working to secure the agreement of my Executive colleagues to the setting of our first three carbon budgets and our interim 2030 and 2040 emissions reduction targets at a level that we consulted on and that was recommended by the CCC. I will then bring them to the Assembly. By setting the carbon budgets, we will show collective leadership and make clear our commitment, alongside every other nation on these islands, to decarbonisation. We will deliver on our carbon budgets through the development of a series of climate action plans that will set out the policies and proposals across all sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during the associated five-year period. My Department has been leading on the development of our first climate action plan with input from all Departments. Extensive work has been undertaken to ensure that we have a credible plan that is supported by robust science and evidence. To put us on the path to net zero, our policies and proposals have to be ambitious. Our current policies are not sufficient, as they stand. It requires transformation. We must work together to drive forward action on climate change for our current and our future generations: it is the issue of our time. We must provide leadership and deliver clear direction to our businesses and society on how net zero will be achieved. Our approach must be fair, must benefit the most vulnerable in our society and must create high-value work and a sustainable economy. It is vital that we listen to the public as we shape our approach, and that is why I am determined that we publish our draft climate action plan for consultation as soon as possible once we have set the carbon budgets. I look forward to bringing the first CAP to the Executive in the coming weeks, and I will update the Assembly in advance of the 16-week consultation. When considering collaboration, it is important to emphasise that this is a whole-of-society issue. We cannot do it alone. Collaboration and partnership across government and with all key stakeholders are vital. In tackling climate change together, it is essential that we protect our environment and take advantage of opportunities to develop our green economy and, in particular, to seize economic opportunities to showcase Northern Ireland as a leader in innovation, technology and science that will drive inward investment. Members will be aware of the world-leading manufacturing that we have on our doorstep, with Wrightbus, Artemis Technologies and many others. We must support, invest in and continue to grow those opportunities or risk being left behind. I turn to the green growth strategy. As Members will be aware, a consultation on the Executive’s draft green growth strategy was launched just before COP26. My Department, in consultation with all other Departments, has been working to refresh that strategy to ensure that it is current and up to date. "Green growth" is an accepted OECD term, and, in their draft Programme for Government (PFG), the Executive have recognised the importance of harnessing the potential of green growth and decarbonisation for our economy. The green growth strategy will provide our framework for tackling the transition to a greener, sustainable future. I intend to present the updated green growth strategy to the Executive in the coming weeks so that there is an agreed framework in place for all Departments to develop policies and deliver programmes that tackle climate change, protect and restore our environment and support the growth of our economy. In the draft Programme for Government, the Executive have recognised the impact that climate change is already having on our communities, the environment and our economy, particularly through increased occurrences of severe weather events, leading to impacts such as flooding that we must address. The devastating events in Spain that we witnessed at the end of October, with the sad loss of life, should be a wake-up call for us all. What would a year's worth of rainfall in eight hours do to our businesses, farms, economy and communities? We know the impact last year on Downpatrick, Portadown and other areas. To improve our resilience in the context of climate change, my Department has been leading on the coordination of the development of our third Northern Ireland climate change adaptation programme. That plan will set out the actions by all Departments that are under way and in development to adapt to climate change risks. It is important that we acknowledge that, even if we were to achieve net zero by 2050, we would still have locked-in impacts of climate change to which we must continue to ensure that we are adapted to, in order to improve our climate resilience. Subject to Executive agreement, I will launch a public consultation on the draft third Northern Ireland climate change adaptation programme later this year. Whilst Northern Ireland Departments will not be attending COP29 in person, we will continue to support the UK Government's COP objectives where needed. Recently, I had the privilege of being invited by the Under2 Coalition to attend New York Climate Week. The coalition represents 178 individual states, regions, provinces and sub-national Governments, like ours, totalling more than 50% of global GDP. During Climate Week, I was fortunate to be able to engage in a range of events and discussions with Ministers and governors from across the globe, see first-hand the world-leading Billion Oyster Project in New York harbour and engage in a number of direct bilateral meetings with our international counterparts. The key theme of Climate Week was that the time to act is now, not tomorrow. I was reminded that we are not alone on this journey. It is a global problem, and we all have a role to play in finding the solution. Across the region, we have so much expertise, knowledge and skills and a strong history of innovation that we should rightly be proud of. We are already developing local solutions. Northern Ireland has the chance to showcase our globally leading science and technology and to embrace future industries that will attract green investment and have real economic benefits. During my brief time in New York, it was apparent that we have much to be proud of in Northern Ireland in the progress that we have made to date and, in particular, the strength and depth of our climate change legislation. It was evident that other regions admired our approach and the strength of our legislation through elements such as embedding biodiversity, soil and air-quality targets; the establishment of a Just Transition Commission; and the important embedding of the just transition principle in our legislation. I believe that the progress that we have made to date and the steps we are about to take in setting our first three carbon budgets, finalising the development of the first climate action plan and publishing our green growth strategy will act as a springboard to drive forward necessary emissions reductions and begin to realise economic, health, social and well-being outcomes for all our communities. Finally, I hope that colleagues will recognise my emphasis on partnership and collaboration in the statement and in how I do business. No single Department or sector can deliver the road to net zero. We need to all work together to bring all sections of society along with us in a just and fair way, as we transition to a net zero society and economy. From speaking to people across Northern Ireland, it is clear how much we value our environment, and we need to protect it. That has never been more apparent than in the impact that our actions have had on Lough Neagh, which we now seek to reverse. Climate change is the issue of our time. We have the opportunity now to stop its worst effects impacting our communities and businesses whilst we also grow a sustainable economy. I believe that we owe it to ourselves, our young people and future generations to do all that we can now to tackle climate change. Everyone in the Chamber and beyond has a leadership role and a part to play. With the impact of climate change we face challenges that go beyond anything that we have dealt with before as a society. It impacts every aspect of our lives. I believe that it is a challenge that, together, we can and must rise to.

I thank the Member for his question. There are two parts to it that it is important to answer. One question that we want to tease out in the consultation relates to the sectors that will be represented and the inclusivity of that. We will be keen to hear responses on that. The requirement for a just transition fund for agriculture is set out in the Act. As part of discussions on the Budget that was announced at Halloween, I made the case to the UK Government that there should be separate and additional capital funding to qualify as a just transition fund for agriculture. I was not successful in that, and, as we know, the Budget was not good for agriculture in Northern Ireland. I am now engaging with the Finance Minister, as part of the budget for the next financial year, to see what we can put together as a just transition fund for agriculture. That is important,. and I will work with the Finance Minister and Executive colleagues on it.

You touched on the really important issue of young people in Northern Ireland and their concerns about climate change. I know from meeting the Children and Young People's Commissioner and representatives with whom he works that there is real anxiety. That is why I am looking to convene a citizens' assembly for young people on climate change. That is a work in progress. We want to partner with others, because it is important that we hear their voices on such issues. I get the particular concerns that you outlined about young people working in farming. We need to have succession planning and to give people hope for the future. That is what I am doing day and daily. It is absolutely vital that we get young people into farming and agriculture in Northern Ireland. Climate change is an issue of our generation. It is of particular concern to young people, so it is important that we hear their voices.

You touched on key parts of the Act. I have had significant engagement with my counterparts in the South through the North/South Ministerial Council. I have met Eamon Ryan, Charlie McConalogue and Heather Humphreys. There have also been bilateral meetings with Charlie. I am awaiting the outcome of the election in the South. I do not know whom I will be dealing with after the end of November, but, whomever it is, I am looking forward to having a very strong relationship, because we have to work North/South, east-west and way beyond in order to deal with the issues. It is therefore about having good working relationships. Taking learnings from the work that is being done in the South or across the water is also really valuable for us. That is why we set up the co-centres, which are valuable scientific and research resources.

I and the Executive continue to work through the budget issue. It is, however, not just about cost but about opportunities. I have a real concern that, if we do not travel the road that is set out in the climate change legislation, we will lose investment and good green jobs, which people in Northern Ireland deserve. We need to grasp that issue. I have already addressed the issue with the Committee, and I do not intend to introduce primary legislation to amend the targets.

The Member rightly states that the legislation was approved unanimously at Final Stage by the Assembly. Delivering on the requirements of the Climate Change Act is challenging for my Department and the wider Executive, but many things in life are challenging. I run marathons, which are challenging, but that does not put me off. I just train harder and go at it. The lack of a sitting Assembly and a functioning Executive until earlier this year has undoubtedly had an impact on meeting our statutory deadlines, as set out in the Act. Many other areas have also been affected by the lack of an Assembly and an Executive. My focus, however, is not on looking back. As is the case when running a marathon, it is about looking forward. It is about trying to do what we can to deliver on the ambition of our climate change legislation: legislation of which I am proud. Since coming into office, I have already introduced public body reporting regulations, which was the first deliverable required under the Act. As many will know, my Department consulted on carbon budgets during 2023, and I am currently engaging with Executive colleagues on setting Northern Ireland's first three carbon budgets and on undertaking the review of our 2030 and 2040 emissions reduction targets. I have met several of my Executive colleagues and had very useful, positive and constructive discussions with them. Once the Executive position on those issues has been agreed, I will introduce legislation for the Assembly to consider. The consultation on the just transition commission will help to inform the final policy content of the regulations that will establish the commission. Progress has also been made on the development of our first climate action plan. We can make real progress on delivering the requirements of the Act in the coming months, and I hope that my Executive and Assembly colleagues will support my efforts to do so together.

I thank the Member for his question. He touched on some key issues, and those are why we are launching the consultation on setting up the just transition commission. We need to do it in partnership with people. I am very aware of the role that agriculture plays not only in our economy but in communities in Northern Ireland. Family farms are the bedrock of our rural economy in Northern Ireland, and we should be very proud of them. I hope to bring the first climate action plan to the Executive and then take it out for consultation. It is very ambitious, but agriculture will play a significant role in it. The sector should, rightly, be proud of that. We often talk in this place about what we are not doing or talk negatively about Northern Ireland, but we should be very proud of the role that agriculture will play in the first climate action plan, because it is positive and constructive. Other parts of the UK and Ireland are looking to Northern Ireland: they see what we are doing and want to replicate it. There are many examples of that in the packages of measures that we are bringing forward. The farm support and development programme is ambitious, and it includes many measures, including the soil nutrient health scheme. We should be hopeful about the future. I do not underestimate the challenges, but we should be positive about the role that agriculture plays in Northern Ireland.

Thank you, Stewart, for your question. The rationale for the appeal of that decision is purely on constitutional grounds. I set that out on 9 July — I remember because it was my birthday — in a written ministerial statement to the Assembly about the appeal. The impact of the decision is very clear to those who read the judgement and written ministerial statement, in that it changes the requirement for referring decisions to the Executive. That has the potential to impact on my progressing important interventions to protect our environment in Northern Ireland. Some of the commentary of late has been bereft of any evidence or sense of reality. The idea that I am some sort of gas guzzler and climate-change denier is untrue. I took the decision after careful consideration of the judgement's constitutional implications. I do not believe in further oil or gas extraction or storage that perpetuates our reliance on fossil fuels. I took the decision purely on the grounds that I set out on 9 July.

Thank you very much. I am not fixated on what the commission will look like. It is important that I acknowledge that. The purpose of the consultation is to be aware of the different views and take them into account. I will deal with the issue about cost before I turn to your first comments about the targets. Similar to the commission that was set up in Scotland and that which was recently set up in Ireland, I propose that commission members will be part-time and that they will be remunerated in line with the Department of Finance's public appointee remuneration levels. My Department will provide funds for the commission to meet secretariat costs, IT support costs and operational costs as required, and fees and expenses will be in line with Department of Finance guidance. Those costs will be dependent on a number of factors. The consultation will seek views on those factors, and the sectors will be represented. That will determine the way forward on cost, particularly with regard to frequency of meetings. I will say a couple of things about the targets. The legislation was agreed unanimously at Final Stage. Hopefully, I will be able to bring forward the first climate action plan. I have confidence that we will be able to achieve that. Why would we miss that opportunity? Why would we turn that away? Why would we turn down the opportunity for investment? I am very serious about this. I want Northern Ireland to succeed. I think that it is the best part of the world, and I am very, very proud to represent it. I want to get investment in here. I do not want companies to go elsewhere. I want them to come here. We need to show that there is certainty and that we are serious about our climate change legislation. As in a marathon, you do not give up at the start line. When you are at mile 20, you might want to consider where you are at. We are nowhere near mile 20. We have not even started. Let us get cracking at it. Let us show a bit of confidence for Northern Ireland, and let us work with people through the just transition commission.

3,984 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:33 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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