Debate contribution: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2024
Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew Muir
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 26 November 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2024
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4677296
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Members who contributed to the debate. Before I sum up, I will say that I look forward to going to Fermanagh and South Tyrone tomorrow to visit Encirc. I think that we all agree that it is a good example of the circular economy and decarbonisation in action, so I look forward to going there. It is just one business that I will be visiting tomorrow while I am down in beautiful Fermanagh. The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2024 will implement a net zero-aligned emissions cap and make various technical and operational amendments to the UK emissions trading scheme. The amendments will not impact on Northern Ireland's electricity-generating installations, which continue to participate in the EU scheme under the terms of the Windsor framework. The Order will increase the climate ambition of the UK ETS, as it aligns the emissions cap of Northern Ireland with that of Scotland and Wales and with UK-wide net zero objectives. The UK ETS has, however, already effectively implemented a net zero cap from January 2024, as I referred to in my opening remarks, as amendments to the UK ETS auctioning regulations have ensured that the number of allowances available for auction have been in line with the net zero-consistent trajectory from the beginning of this year. That provides businesses and participants with certainty to be able to plan their decarbonisation strategies. In addition, the UK ETS Authority has taken action to smooth the transition for participants to the new net zero-aligned cap. The tightening of the cap will not result in any additional administrative burdens for participants. The ETS is one of the most effective emissions reduction interventions: it has reduced Northern Ireland greenhouse gas emissions in sectors within its scope by 52% since the inception of EU ETS in 2005. Further amendments to expand the scope of UK ETS to other industrial sectors, such as waste incineration and domestic maritime, to increase the effectiveness of the scheme and further contribute to UK and devolved Administrations' net zero climate objectives are subject to ongoing and planned UK-wide consultation exercises. In order that we in Northern Ireland, along with the rest of the UK, can continue our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the effective implementation of UK ETS, we need to pass the Order. Accordingly, I commend the Order to the House.
397 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.64).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Constitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereignty.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.64 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Constitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereignty | 0.53 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.47 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:35 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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