Sustained collaboration needed to tackle urgent issue of climate change says SAERA Minister Andrew Muir
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir 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.
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.
“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.”
The Climate Change (2040 Emissions Target) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2040 sets an emissions target of an at least 77% reduction by 2040 against baseline.
“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,”xa0concluded Minister Muir.
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%;
- xa0 xa0 xa0 setting the second carbon budget (2028-32) at an average annual reduction of 48%; and
- xa0 xa0 xa0 setting the third carbon budget (2033-37) at an average annual reduction of 62%.
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.”
