DAERA has today launched a consultation on Northern Ireland's
Fourth Carbon Budget. The 16-week consultation will run from 28
July 2025 to 17 November 2025 and seeks views on the setting of
the level of the Fourth Carbon Budget for Northern Ireland.
In launching the consultation the DAERA Minister, MLA, said: “The
setting of carbon budgets is an important step in ensuring that
we have a gradual transition to net zero which can be done in a
fair and just way.”
He added: “Following on from setting the first three
carbon budgets in December 2024, which covered the period from
2023 to 2037, my Department is now seeking views on setting
Northern Ireland's Fourth Carbon Budget which would take us up to
2042.
"Whilst 2038 is 12 years away, it is important to set out
a trajectory now, not only to meet the legal requirements set out
in the Act, but to provide certainty to investors, businesses and
to allow for gradual transition which can be delivered in a
fair and just way as we work to reduce our emissions.
"Over the last few months, I have launched consultations
seeking your views on Northern Ireland's first Climate Action
Plan and our third Climate Change Adaptation
Programme.
"I acknowledge and appreciate the time and effort it
takes to respond to these consultations. I am grateful to those
who have engaged to date as your views and opinions are important
to my Department.
"This latest consultation is a further step in our
climate change journey and I encourage all interested
organisations, groups, and individuals to provide their views on
this latest consultation."
The consultation can be accessed on the DAERA website
at: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-setting-northern-irelands-fourth-carbon-budget-2038-2042.
Notes to editors:
- A carbon budget is the maximum amount of greenhouse gases
that can be emitted in a given 5-year period and is expressed as
an annual average percentage reduction level over that period.
- The plans and policies will be brought forward to deliver on
the Fourth Carbon Budget will be included in the Fourth Climate
Action Plan (CAP4), which will be due to be published during
2038, and which would be subject to its own 16-week public
consultation.
- Section 27 of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022
requires that Carbon Budgets from the fourth one onwards are set
at least 12 years before the start of the period in question. As
such DAERA have launched this consultation to seek views now.
- The 2022 Climate Change Act requires that the Fourth Carbon
Budget must be set at a level which is consistent with meeting
the already legislated for emissions reduction targets for 2040
and for 2050
- The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) is an independent,
statutory body established under the Climate Change Act 2008. Its
purpose is to advise the UK and devolved governments on emissions
targets and to report to Parliament on progress made in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for and adapting to the
impacts of climate change.
- The Climate Change (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 sets a
statutory target of Net Zero (100% reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions compared to the 1990 baseline) by 2050 and includes a
number of requirements such as setting 5-year carbon budgets to
cap emissions and also the development and publication of
Northern Ireland's Climate Action Plans to accompany each carbon
budget period.
