Climate change bills in Northern Ireland move closer to completion | Climate crisis

Northern Ireland’s first legally binding climate act faces a race against time to get passed before the devolved institutions at Stormont are dissolved in the coming weeks.

The second of two climate change bills – introduced by the agriculture minister, Edwin Poots – has moved through consideration stage, with a batch of new amendments prompting more than 25 hours of assembly debate.

But its passage into law is threatened by a congested legislative timetable in the time before Stormont’s dissolution next month to allow for elections. After Paul Givan’s resignation as first minister last week, deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill said the climate bill was among high-priority pieces of legislation that parties would hope to fast-track before the approaching deadline.

The bill will introduce a 2050 amendment with new features net zero target for Northern Ireland, along with an independent Climate Change Commissioner’s office. Other amendments added to the bill will include a “just transition” fund aimed at supporting agriculture, statutory carbon budgets, targets for biodiversity and soil quality.

A commitment will also be made that 10% of future transport budgets go towards active travel.

Northern Ireland is currently the only UK and Ireland jurisdiction without climate legislation. The country’s low public transport spend (27% per headComparable to the UK average) Declining biodiversity levelsAmong other things, these factors have encouraged calls for a promised act on climate change.

The Green party NI leader, Clare Bailey, who tabled a first climate bill in 2020, told assembly members this week: “A majority of MLAs have made it clear that they support robust and ambitious climate legislation for Northern Ireland. We will have a net-zero Climate Change Act for Northern Ireland in any form that it takes because people want it and the climate emergency requires it.

“It was not so long ago that climate denial was rife in Stormont. I never imagined that we would reach a point where there was such agreement across the political spectrum about climate change action.

“The voice of the people has been heard. The assembly’s will has been recorded. I trust that the minister will respect democracy. It’s time for a Climate Change Act for Northern Ireland.”

An amendment proposing greater monitoring of Northern Ireland’s nitrogen levels was voted down last week and another proposed amendment seeking an outright ban on fracking was excluded from the consideration stage debate. A separate fracking bill follows a 2020. Moratorium on drilling and licensing of petroleum products, is making its journey through the assembly.

It will take approximately two weeks to make any final amendments to the climate change legislation before it can be passed to a final-stage vote.

Campaigners and civil society groups that had previously criticised the bill’s lack of ambitionThe new additions to legislation have been welcomed by many.

Daithí McKay, from the Climate Coalition Northern Ireland group, said the bill in its amended form “represents a progressive way forward to net zero”.

He added: “The public expects the assembly to deliver and we now need a clear timetable from the minister setting out when he plans to complete the passing of the climate change act.”

Friends of the Earth NI director James Orr said: “If the amended bill passes, Northern Ireland will be in a position to hold its head high with the right climate action alongside the rest of the UK and the ROI and will no longer be the only place on these islands without climate legislation.

“We must ensure that these amendments are refined and developed to form a collective climate change act that is greater than the sum of its parts – one which truly reflects the gravity of the climate crisis and what needs to be done.”

Poots, a strong advocate for Northern Ireland’s agrifood industry, said that implementing a 2050 net zero target would have “profound and irreversible consequences” for the sector. He has also suggested he would seek to “exempt” farmers from some of the bill’s requirements.

He said: “I am disappointed that the assembly have agreed an amendment to my climate change bill to set a 2050 net zero target.

“To push to net zero within that timeframe will have profound and irreversible consequences for our agri-food sector and our economy.

“I will now consider my next steps and aim to find a way forward that minimises the impacts on our agri-food sector and maximises the benefits for the climate change agenda. The approach and actions have to balance climate change, the economy and the wider environment.”