DAERA Minister has told an event on tackling
climate change that his department recognises the urgency of the
challenge and highlighted the concrete steps he has already taken
to address it.
Speaking at the ‘Love Our Planet and Our Neighbours' event in
Queen's University Belfast, he said sustained collaboration
across government, industry and community was needed when it came
to addressing the threats posed by climate change.
“Action on addressing climate change is a key priority
for my department but the scale and urgency of the challenge is
such that it must be through collective effort. We are already
feeling the impacts locally with severe flooding, record
temperatures, the impact on Lough Neagh and indeed as we continue
the clean up after Storm Eowyn,” Minister Muir said.
"Recognising the urgency of the challenges ahead my
department has taken significant steps to address it with the
implementation of climate change legislation and NI's first ever
carbon budgets setting out a pathway to meeting our emissions
reduction targets.
“The next steps are to get our first Climate Action Plan
agreed and out to public consultation, as well as publish the
Green Growth Strategy, and start rolling out schemes under the
Sustainable Agriculture Programme,” he added.
Welcoming the publication of the Belfast City Council Good
Relations Unit's report “Segregation and the Environment:
Breaking Down Barriers”, he said it showed how important it is
for everyone to tackle climate change together.
“A Just Transition is key as we travel the road together
to net zero. Establishing the Just Transition Commission this
year will play a key part in securing a just and fair approach.
Often it is the most vulnerable who are most affected by
consequences of Climate Change.
“As I stated at the event, almost 27 years on from the
Good Friday Agreement, it is shocking that we are still suffering
to such a great extent from the impacts of conflict and
segregation – even when you look at those issues through a
climate crisis lens.
“Some services are still duplicated, communities are
disconnected and physical and psychological barriers are
influencing how we move around our city.
“Not only does this encourage continued division but it
also prevents us from tackling the very real threat of climate
change as a united and resilient community.
“Only through working together can we achieve the
emissions reductions we need to reach Net Zero by 2050 and grow
our green economy for the benefit of all members of our
society.
“We need to look at the action required to address the
impacts of climate change through an interlinked and system wide
approach. This research from Belfast City Council begins to do
just that by setting out the very real context of the challenges
faced by many people in this city,” concluded Minister
Muir.
Dr Amanda Slevin, Lecturer in Climate Policy, Politics and
Sustainability and Co-Director of the Centre for Sustainability,
Equality and Climate Action, Queen's University Belfast
said: "This event has created an opportunity to explore and
expand pathways for inclusive action for climate and environment,
in ways that are intrinsically entwined with peacebuilding and
just transitions.
"This is the time for all of us to come together to actively
transcend divisions. It is the time for us to co-create a
community of communities through which, together, we can advance
the multi-level solutions we need to address the pressing
socio-ecological crises we face."
Notes to editors:
2. The Minister was speaking at a special event 'Love our Planet
and our Neighbours' to mark the publication of Belfast City
Council's Good Relations Unit report “Segregation and the
Environment: Breaking Down Barriers”.
3. The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 sets a net zero
target for 2050 in line with Net Zero commitments across the UK
and Ireland.
4. In addition, the Climate Change (Carbon Budgets 2023-2037)
Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 map out targets for achieving
this in the run-up to 2050:
- setting the first carbon budget
(2023-27) at an average annual reduction of 33%;
- setting the second carbon budget
(2028-32) at an average annual reduction of 48%; and
- setting the third carbon budget
(2033-37) at an average annual reduction of 62%.
4. The Climate Change (2040 Emissions Target) Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2040 sets an emissions target of an at least
77% reduction by 2040 against baseline.
