To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for his assessment of the Belfast City Council's Segregation and the Environment Breaking Down Barriers research report, which highlighted the opportunity to address climate change by reducing segregation.

Mr Muir

My officials have regular engagement with many of our local authorities that are leading the way in some of their innovative local climate initiatives. I am aware of and have read Belfast City Council's important work through the development of the report, 'Segregation and the Environment: Breaking Down Barriers'. Later this month, I will be meeting the authors of the report. The report outlines the environmental impact caused by duplication of services and reduced access to environmental projects. It highlights the need not just in Belfast but across Northern Ireland to tackle those barriers in order to hit our statutory emission reduction targets and achieve a just and fair transition to a net zero society by 2050. The impacts of climate change do not discriminate. They will affect all of us. Climate change is a shared problem and needs a collective action solution. Segregation hampers communities' abilities to work together collectively, whether the segregation is physical or psychological. In the transformation to net zero, we need to be aware of our unique history and the challenges that we face but also the opportunities, and the council's report recognises that. Divided communities and the fear of violence and antisocial behaviour can lead not just to reduced connectivity but to poverty, poor physical and mental health, unemployment and educational underachievement. Dealing with climate change positively and working together will provide co-benefits that will help address those issues. If we, across the Assembly, can lead the transition to net zero, making use of green growth, creating good local jobs, improving the environment we live in and reducing climate impact, we will see opportunities for better lives ahead.

Mr Muir

The council's 'Segregation and the Environment' report highlights the issues that we face with duplication of services: lack of connectivity between people and communities; parallel services and buildings that all need to become climate-resilient; and additional costs that we therefore bear, both financially and in terms of a greater carbon footprint at city level. Other cities and regions do not face a legacy of segregation and duplication of services in their climate journey. We know that segregation can lead to divisions; the duplication of public services, like separate bus routes; and additional travel, which increases traffic, emissions and costs. Therefore, Belfast may have to do more than other cities to achieve the same results. In designing our climate policies across all Departments, we need to think about the unique circumstances that we face in Northern Ireland. Duplication of services compounds division, adds to a lack of contact, leads to mistrust and can decrease connectivity. However, that is where we can join up our policies. Reducing our carbon footprint, adapting to the effects of climate change, improving our environment and increasing biodiversity can really help the communities that are most disadvantaged. Improved good relations and working together on the shared climate challenge can increase cohesion and resilience and bring communities together. We need to deal with the division in our society. It affects our environment. It is one of the climate change issues. There are key opportunities for change. I declare that I am on the board of governors of Rathmore Primary School. There are things that we can do, as MLAs and Ministers, to address division in our society. We can promote, encourage and facilitate integrated education. We can deliver shared housing. It should be a collective endeavour.

Mr Buckley

How does the Minister propose to break down barriers and address division between him and the farming community in Northern Ireland? At a recent public meeting attended by thousands of farmers, the loudest cheer of the night was when they said, "Tell the Minister to get the boot off the farmer". What will the Minister do to reduce regulation and stop swamping farmers with bureaucracy in order to ensure that they have a viable farming future for generations to come?

Mr Muir

I am working hard to deliver for farmers in Northern Ireland. I am proud of that. I have delivered key successes in the draft Budget. We are the only region of the UK to get ring-fenced funding for agriculture, agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development not just for the next financial year but for future years. Other regions of the UK have not achieved that. I have achieved a just transition fund for agriculture. Being able to put that in place and support farmers is absolutely key. That is what I am doing. I am also being honest. The Member mentioned reducing regulation: have you seen the situation in Lough Neagh, Mr Buckley? [Interruption.]

Yes. I stand here in this role to serve all constituents in Northern Ireland fairly. That is what I am doing, and that is what leadership is about.