To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the implementation of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

Mr Muir

I have delivered progress across a number of areas. Regulations that place climate change reporting duties on specified public bodies came into operation on 3 May 2024. Regulations that set in law Northern Ireland's first three carbon budgets for the periods 2023-27, 2028-2032 and 2033-37 and a new emissions reduction target for 2040 were approved by the Assembly on 10 December last year and set the statutory framework for our pathway to net zero. A 10-week public consultation on the establishment of a just transition commission closed on 20 January 2025. My Department is analysing the feedback received, and the findings from the consultation will be used to inform the content of the final regulations that will establish the commission. Once the regulations are in place to establish the commission in law, a recruitment competition to appoint members to the commission will be undertaken via a public appointments process. Now that our first carbon budget has been set, I will bring forward as soon as possible a draft of Northern Ireland's first climate action plan to Executive colleagues and seek their agreement to publish the plan for a 16-week statutory public consultation. I am fully committed to delivering a climate action plan that is transformational, evidence-based, informed by stakeholders and in line with my commitment to a just transition. The requirement to establish a Northern Ireland climate commissioner sits under the Executive Office. The regulations to establish that body have been approved by the First Minister and deputy First Minister, and a draft has been laid before the Assembly. A positive vote in the Assembly will be required to approve the regulations. The Business Committee will, hopefully, schedule the debate and a vote on the matter in due course.

Mr Muir

The Northern Ireland climate commissioner will be a key part of a world-leading climate advice structure here in Northern Ireland and will work alongside the just transition commission, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP). The Northern Ireland climate commissioner will ensure that issues specific to Northern Ireland are fully considered when charting our transition to net zero. We recognise that the science that we rely on in relation to climate change is constantly evolving, and the climate commissioner will have a key role to play in amplifying the key messages to ensure that new approaches and policies reflect best practice globally. The Northern Ireland climate commissioner will be a vital champion for positive climate action here by closely monitoring our delivery and making recommendations so that we can maintain momentum towards net zero.

Mr Buckley

Minister, your Department's lack of action on critical issues affecting the Northern Ireland farming community is nothing short of disgraceful. While you push ahead with costly net zero measures, you fail to address a TB crisis that is affecting farming families, and you fail to get to grips with an ammonia strategy that is strangling Northern Ireland agriculture. How do you justify the continuation of those issues whilst real challenges go unhindered? Will you finally put Northern Ireland's farming families first when considering how your Department deals with the real crisis that they face?

Mr Muir

The Member raises a number of issues. What I am doing is taking forward the will of the Assembly. The Assembly voted unanimously at Final Stage in 2022 for the climate change legislation. I am also realising the opportunities from decarbonisation. What I do not do is negate the other challenges in our society, particularly those for farming. I have spoken quite a lot about TB and the actions that we are taking to address it. On ammonia, there is significant ongoing engagement with stakeholders. What I am doing is based upon science and evidence and the need to stay on the right side of the law. It is important that I do that. These are difficult issues, and I will continue to lead on them.