A 16-week public consultation on Northern Ireland’s inaugural Climate Action Plan has been launched today, Thursday, 19 June, by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, who described it as a "milestone moment'.

The draft Climate Action Plan is a legal requirement stemming from the Climate Change Act passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2022. It outlines the strategy for Northern Ireland to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and details how it will meet its first carbon budget target of a 33% average annual reduction between 2023 and 2027, compared to the baseline.

Finalising and consulting on this draft plan is a key commitment in the Programme for Government, with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) leading its development on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive. The plan incorporates policies and proposals identified by various departments, aimed at reducing emissions across all sectors of the economy and society.

Minister Muir underscored the urgency and scale of the climate challenge: "I am fully committed to delivering Northern Ireland’s first Climate Action Plan – one that is grounded in robust science and evidence, shaped by stakeholder voices, necessarily ambitious and aligned with our pledge to a just transition. This isn’t just a plan. It’s a roadmap towards a more sustainable future. The publication of the draft Climate Action Plan is a milestone moment that will inform how we reduce our emissions, grow our green economy, protect our environment and improve our health and wellbeing."

He acknowledged that pace might have been lost due to the previous absence of devolved institutions but asserted his determination to move forward, recognising that "we can ill afford to delay or defer action." Stakeholders from various sectors have already contributed to the plan's development, and this public consultation offers a broader opportunity for input from the public. A series of consultation events, including sector-specific sessions, are planned across Northern Ireland throughout the 16-week period. Full details of these events can be found on the DAERA website.

The Minister urged widespread participation, highlighting the tangible impacts of climate change already being witnessed: "We have seen the damaging and costly impacts of climate change around the world and closer to home from flash flooding, wildfires and more frequent and severe storms. No section of society is immune. It is essential we take action and I would encourage everyone to take part in this 16-week consultation."

Professor Stephen Belcher, Met Office Chief Scientist, supported the initiative: "We can see our climate is rapidly changing in our observations. We have a responsibility to future generations to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to Net Zero to stabilise the climate. And we also have a responsibility to citizens now and to future generations to accelerate our efforts to adapt to the extreme weather events we are seeing now in our changing climate. Action plans such as this are a vital step in this journey and the consultation on this plan is a valuable opportunity for the public to engage with this process."

In addition to the Climate Action Plan, DAERA is advancing other climate initiatives, including a consultation on the third Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme, which opened on Monday, 9 June and closes on Monday, 4 August. Work is also progressing on establishing the Just Transition Commission, and a consultation on Northern Ireland’s fourth carbon budget is forthcoming.