Muir sets out pathway to Net Zero at Belfast’s RE[act] Festival for a Sustainable Belfast

DAERA Minister, Andrew Muir has outlined the pathway for Northern Ireland to transition to a net zero economy and highlighted the need for ambitious action to tackle climate change.

Speaking at Belfast's 2024 Re[Act] Festival, which aligns with COP29 in Azerbaijan and Belfast's homegrown Year of Culture, the Minister said: " I welcome the PMs announcement in COP29 that the UK is stepping up and showing global ambition.

It's important that NI is part of that journey. There's a positive story to tell from here as many people in different sectors are stepping up and taking the interventions we need to take to decarbonise our society.

"This will not only help to deliver significant investment as well as more stable energy bills, energy independence and a new generation of green jobs but also help us meet the moral obligation for us to take action on this.

"It is not lost on me that over 200 people lost their lives, in recent floods in Spain. That's why I would concur completely with the PMs assessment that this is the issue of our time, this is the issue for our generation.

"I will continue to engage with UK Government to support UK wide climate ambitions and make the case for additional funding for Northern Ireland so that we can achieve a fair and just transition to Net Zero, benefitting from all of the opportunities that presents along the way.

"One of the key legislative requirements arising from our Climate Change Act is the establishment of a Just Transition Commission.

"I am delighted therefore to have been able to inform the Assembly earlier this week that I have launched a public consultation on its establishment.

"The commission is designed to ensure the transition to a net zero society is fair and that no-one is left behind or disproportionately affected," the Minister added.

Reaffirming the need for transformative change, the Minister said; "It's clear that the damaging impacts of climate change are here in Northern Ireland, and not just elsewhere. We must play our part in the work that is being discussed at COP29 in Azerbaijan this week. In Northern Ireland we are in a strong position to make rapid progress."

Focussing on the significance of the theme of this years' Re[Act] festival "People; Place; and Planet", the Minister said; "'Planet' is one of the three key missions of the draft Programme for Government, demonstrating that the importance of taking climate action, of a just and fair transition, reducing emissions and supporting Green Growth is being recognised at the top level of NI Government Policy."

"This will help drive the transformative change needed to meet our net zero obligations and provide confidence and clarity around how we will do this in a fair and balanced way. There is no doubt that people want to take a more sustainable path for Northern Ireland.

"One of the key legislative requirements arising from our Climate Change Act is the establishment of a Just Transition Commission.

"I am delighted therefore that I was able to announce earlier this week to the Assembly that I have today launched a public consultation on its establishment."

"The commission is designed to ensure the transition to a net zero society is fair and that no-one is left behind or disproportionately affected."

Emphasising the need to work together in a planned and structured way the Minister highlighted the key requirements of the Climate Change (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 and gave an update on the development of our carbon budgets, the climate action plan, and the work which is being progressed to address the overriding issue of ensuring fairness as we transition from a fossil fuel-based economy.

The Minister reaffirmed that we must take a whole society and economy approach to addressing both our emissions and ensuring that we adapt our systems and infrastructure to improve our resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Notes to editors:

1. More information on the Festival is at RE[act] Festival | Festival for a Sustainable Belfast
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3. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or via email to [email protected].
4. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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