AQO 1548/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 06/02/2025
Answered On Date: 24/02/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the appointment of a Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner, as required in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

Answer:

The draft Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 were laid in the Assembly in late January.

This Statutory Rule is subject to the draft affirmative resolution procedure before the Assembly. That is, they must be laid in draft and then approved by the Assembly.

The Business Committee will now schedule a date for a debate in the Assembly on a motion to approve the draft Statutory Rule.

The Statutory Rule is in line with what is allowed for in the Climate Change Act in that it will allow TEO to establish an independent office to be known as the ‘Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner’ who will be empowered to oversee and report on the operations of the Act.