Debate contribution: Climate Change (Just Transition Commission) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on 27 April 2026.

MLA

Mr Andrew Muir

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

27 April 2026

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

Climate Change (Just Transition Commission) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5508642

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank Members for their responses. This is an important moment for the Assembly and for Northern Ireland. It is the important moment when we affirm the importance of the journey of decarbonisation being just and fair and of ensuring that nobody is left behind. I assure Members that, on the passage, hopefully, of the regulations, we will move swiftly to the public appointments process. I encourage people to apply for the positions available. The principle of just transition runs through the climate change legislation and is integral to my vision, as Minister, of ensuring that our decarbonised society is fair and that nobody is left behind. As I have set out, the commission will initially comprise 16 members, including a chairperson, and will represent 12 sectors, with the flexibility to expand. I do not intend to use that flexibility in the current mandate or in the process going forward. The Act requires the membership to include seven sectors: academia, agriculture, civic society, environment, fisheries, trade unions and youth groups. Five sectors that were identified as a result of public consultation are also included. It was important that we listened to the feedback on the proposals in the consultation. The sectors that will be added are built environment, energy, green finance, rural communities and transport. The draft regulations propose making it a legal requirement that the commission's representation include two members from the environment sector and three from the agriculture sector, given the size and diverse nature of those sectors, to ensure that their voices are heard. It is also considered important to have a rural representative on the commission, because it is important that rural views are heard and that all communities are included in the discussion. Whilst reducing emissions will deliver long-term financial benefits, it requires upfront investment. Including a representative from the green finance sector will provide access to expertise on private-sector green finance initiatives that may help to support decarbonisation.

The regulations make provision for the commission to establish ad hoc committees or invite external experts. It is expected that the commission will utilise that power whenever it requires specific expertise that is not already held in its membership.

To assist with transparency, the regulations create the requirement that all reports produced by the commission be laid with the Assembly. The regulations also provide for the commission to request information from public bodies to assist it in its functions. The strength of views from the consultation focused on the sectors the representation of which has now been added in as being mandated. To ensure that the commission can function effectively, it is important not to make it unwieldy or overly administrative. I recognise the wide range of voices that must be heard, and the commission will undertake extensive engagement in fulfilling its advisory and oversight role. It also has the ability to bring in other voices and skills in the form of expert advice, observer roles or working groups and committees. The consultation made it clear that there was overwhelming support for the just transition commission across all sectors and stakeholders. That was clearly evidenced during the time that we were holding the consultation and in our evaluation of the responses. I thank everyone who took the time to engage on the development of the commission through that process. Their input has been key and is reflected in the regulations. Given that the commission's work will be long-term, the regulations have been framed carefully to ensure that it can operate effectively while remaining flexible and carry out its work transparently. As Minister, I am firmly committed to a just transition. The commission is a welcome and important step in ensuring that our decarbonisation is fair and that no one is left behind.

Yes.

The Member may be touching on a case that is before the courts at the moment, and I would be conscious of that. I am very clear, however, that climate action and infrastructure investment are not incompatible. That is very clear. It is also very clear that history will not judge the DUP well when it comes to some of its contributions to this debate and to other debates on climate change. This morning, I was at an event at which business leaders

business leaders set out very clearly to the attendees the realities that the science and evidence on climate change present to us. We owe it to communities around Northern Ireland to take climate action. I will not consign people to the devastation that will be on the journey ahead if we do not take action. Climate change is a reality in Northern Ireland.

It is correct that the regulations that I am presenting today arose from the climate change legislation passed in 2022. It was passed unanimously at Final Stage. It is important that we respect the democratic mandate of the House and the reality of the advantages that Northern Ireland can get from decarbonisation. Unlike others in the House, I will not mimic the Trump playbook, which perpetuates reliance on fossil fuels. We need to get off the fossil fuel roller coaster, decarbonise, move to clean local energy and let people take advantage of that. The journey that we must travel has to be fair. It has to be just, and it has to make sure that nobody is left behind. That is why we are establishing the just transition commission. That is really important to me and to the people of Northern Ireland, and, as was clearly evidenced by the consultation, there is strong support for it. I present the regulations —.

I will continue to make my winding-up speech. I present the regulations because it is important that we take climate action. We have already published a climate adaptation plan for Northern Ireland, and I will be seeking Executive approval for the Northern Ireland climate action plan, on which we have consulted. Some of the nonsense that is being said here distracts from reality. It is very clear that climate action is not something that we can wish away; it is action that we must take. I will not turn my back on the opportunities to lead on decarbonisation that we in Northern Ireland have and that businesses are grasping. I commend the regulations to the House and urge Members to endorse them. We must travel the road of decarbonisation so that all our citizens can benefit from climate action.

1,073 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:31 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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