To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the Climate Action Plan.

Mr Muir

The climate action plan will set out Northern Ireland’s approach to meeting the carbon budget for 2023-27. It will also establish a pathway towards the interim targets for 2030 and 2040 and the overall net zero by 2050 target. Ambitious policies and proposals will be required to put us on the path to net zero; our current policies, as they stand, will not be sufficient. 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, which is important. Significant progress has been made. Last month, the first three carbon budgets for 2023-27 and the interim 2030 and 2040 emissions targets were set. The legislation came into operation on 12 December 2024, which was a positive moment. Officials are in the process of finalising the draft climate action plan document for consultation. Given the cross-cutting nature of the climate action plan, the draft will need to be approved by the Executive prior to its publication for consultation. I aim to bring the draft climate action plan to Executive colleagues as soon as possible to seek their approval to publish the plan for a 16-week statutory consultation. I am fully committed to delivering a climate action plan that is transformational, evidence-based, informed by stakeholders and in line with my commitment to a just transition.

Mr Muir

I thank the Member for his important question. That news is very concerning, but, sadly, it is not surprising. It is yet another example of a global tipping point. Climate change is expected to become more severe and more frequent as global warming increases, which will have real impacts on lives and livelihoods. Tragically, we are seeing that today. My thoughts are with all the people affected in California, especially those who have lost loved ones and those who have been forced to flee their homes. Whilst that might be on our TV screens, it is real to us in Northern Ireland because each of one of us, whether individually as citizens or as participants in government, needs to take action on climate change and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. It does not need to be like this, and it is really important that we invest in taking action, whether in climate change mitigation or adaption. That is why I am taking forward this work on climate change: I believe in it. We have a moral responsibility, not just to the people of Northern Ireland but to those way beyond it, to address those issues, which affect people across the globe.

Ms McLaughlin

The delay in the climate action plan is concerning because of the global crisis. What impact will that have on our ability to meet interim carbon budgets and overall net zero targets? You mentioned the cross-cutting nature of the issue. Are you concerned about the lack of pace in our progress?

Mr Muir

Thank you, Sinéad, for your question. In this place, we lost a lot of pace in taking action on climate change as a result of the collapse of the Assembly. We lost two years to that, and, before that, we lost years because of stop-go government. That is why we need to have reform of these institutions. Since taking up office, I have been working hard on this. I worked hard to get Executive agreement on the carbon budgets, and I was glad to get support in the Assembly to be able to do that. That was just before Christmas, and very quickly thereafter I met officials to go through the content of the CAP. That is being finalised, which is important and detailed work. I will bring it to the Executive for consultation once that work is complete. I am quite confident about the content and interventions in the first CAP. It is a bit like a marathon: the first 10K is a bit easier than the last, but it is important that we do the first 10K. Collectively, we must take action. My Department and I cannot do it alone: we all need to do take action collectively. I am confident that we can do that in Northern Ireland if we put our shoulders to the wheel. I am massively positive on this. I brought the green growth strategy to the Executive, and I continue to engage with my Executive colleagues to get agreement on it because it is about the benefits associated with decarbonisation, such as good green jobs, with which, hopefully, everyone is on board.

Mr Frew

It seems to me that the main outcome, or one of the main outcomes, of the Minister's ambitious plans is to penalise hard-working people who are trying to provide a living for their families, including business owners, farmers, electricity bill payers and ordinary employees. How can the Minister ensure that the transition is a just one?

Mr Muir

I am firmly committed to a just transition and I am taking action in that regard. That is why we are look to set up a just transition commission in Northern Ireland, which, perhaps, will be one of the first to be set up under statute. Beyond that, I was glad to be able to secure an agreement with the Finance Minister to set up a just transition fund for agriculture within the draft Budget. That is an example of my commitment to a just transition, and I encourage people to respond to the consultation on the just transition commission, because the road to net zero has to be about a just and fair journey. That is what I am passionately committed to.