AQW 7482/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 23/09/2020
Answered On Date: 19/10/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on plans to decarbonise business activity by introducing legally binding targets to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050, as is the case in the rest of the UK.

Answer:

I have written to the independent expert UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) for advice on what would be our equitable contribution to the UK’s net zero emissions target, to ensure our greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets are credible and evidence-based. Unfortunately the CCC are not in a position to respond to my request until after they have provided advice on the UK’s sixth carbon budget, which will be published in December 2020.

In the interim, my officials have provided me with proposals on an options appraisal for a Climate Change Bill in Northern Ireland. I will consider those options along with the advice provided from the CCC and will present my findings to the Northern Ireland Executive to agree a way forward.