Committee Calls for Evidence and Views on Climate Change Bill
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 20 May 2021
Reference: 04/20/21
The Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) Committee is today calling on people and organisations across all relevant sectors to give their views on the new Climate Change Bill that is currently before the Assembly.
The Climate Change Bill, proposed as a Private Member’s Bill by Clare Bailey MLA, recently passed to the AERA Committee to be examined in greater depth. Over the coming months, the Committee will gather evidence from experts and stakeholders before returning its views on the Bill to the Assembly for further consideration.
Speaking after today’s launch of the ‘Call for Evidence and Views’, Committee Chairperson, Declan McAleer MLA said: “We all agree that climate change is one of most important challenges we face and it is vital that we take all necessary measures to address it. This new Bill sets out a framework for climate change adaptation and mitigation that will influence policy across all sectors of our society.”
Some of the provisions of the proposed Bill include a target for reducing greenhouse gases to net zero by 2045, a new role of Climate Change Commissioner and a requirement that the Northern Ireland Executive will develop Climate Action Plans every five years to help reach this target.
Mr McAleer continued, “The target of net zero greenhouse gases by 2045 will be one of the most debated aspects of this Bill and I know that farmers and many of those in the agricultural sector are concerned that this will impact negatively on their livelihoods.
“It is for this reason that we are looking for a wide and diverse range of views to help inform our considerations on this important Bill. We want to ensure that the final Bill takes account of all viewpoints and is balanced, fair and fit for purpose.”
Mr McAleer concluded: “Climate change impacts all of us, it is crucial that we seek to understand how we can work together to build a considered, sustainable and collaborative approach towards tackling it now and in the future.”
The ‘Call for Evidence and Views’ can be accessed on the Assembly Committee webpage, and will be open for eight weeks, closing on Thursday 15 July 2021.
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
- The Committee ‘Call for Evidence and Views’ can be accessed via http://nia1.me/climatebill
- The ‘Call for Evidence and Views’ will be open from Thursday 20 May –Thursday 15 July 2021.
Committee Membership:
Mr Declan McAleer MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Philip McGuigan MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Clare Bailey MLA
Mrs Rosemary Barton MLA
Mr John Blair MLA
Mr Maurice Bradley MLA
Mr Harry Harvey MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Mr Patsy McGlone MLA
For media enquiries, please contact:
Sinead Murphy
Deputy Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Tel: 029 90 52 5938
Mob: 07899 864368