AQW 24770/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 21/03/2025
Answered On Date: 07/04/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for her assessment of the Climate Change Committee’s report entitled Northern Ireland’s Fourth Carbon Budget: Advice for the Northern Ireland Executive.

Answer:

I welcome the publication of the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC’s) Fourth Carbon Budget report and value the important role that the CCC plays, as an independent body, in advising on emissions targets and reporting to Parliament on the progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

CCC held an online briefing session on their advice, for departmental sectoral leads on 1st April 2025, facilitated by DAERA, and my officials have been working through the report to consider the implications for the Department.

Carbon Budgets are an important mechanism for keeping the North on track towards longer term emissions reduction targets. The CCC’s report made clear that the Executive need to broaden and accelerate action from today and through the 2030s, in order to meet the Fourth Carbon Budget and I am committed to ensuring that my Department plays its part in that.

As the transport sectoral lead, my Department has a statutory responsibility to reduce emissions from the ‘transport sector’ to net zero by 2050. We have developed a strong evidence base to inform a credible pathway and an associated set of actions to achieve this.

Data and expert advice are at the heart of our approach so, as you would imagine, my officials are giving careful consideration to the CCC’s advice and the recommendations included in the report. While this work is ongoing, it is clear that many of the recommendations are aligned to the actions my Department is already progressing such as the implementation of the Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate; the development of integrated active travel networks; action to encourage greater use of public transport, and work with Translink to increase the provision of Park and Ride facilities.

Translink is also contributing to climate change targets by operating and enhancing the public transport network, supported by capital funding from the Department. Recent projects include the opening of Belfast Grand Central Station, which improves infrastructure and encourages the use of public transport. Additionally, Translink is investing in a zero-emissions fleet, including electric and hydrogen-powered buses, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable transportation. Subject to funding, plans are also being progressed to electrify the rail network, initially between Belfast to the border and following this, across the rest of the network.

Collaborative working is key to addressing the shared challenges we face, and aligned to the Committee’s advice, my officials are also engaging with their counterparts in the Irish government, to explore how we can work in partnership on our shared objective of transport decarbonisation. This work will continue in the weeks and months ahead as we consider the full range of the Committee’s advice in more detail.