To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, following the Assembly calling for climate change legislation that includes binding carbon reduction targets within a three month timeframe, for an update on a climate change act.

I am currently finalising a discussion document consultation on a future Northern Ireland Climate Change Bill which I will publish in the next number of weeks. A Climate Change Bill for Northern Ireland must be given proper thought and consultation, to ensure that:

the measures which we take are appropriate and will deliver benefits, and;

we allow business time to adjust to a new way of working and where necessary provide financial support.

I have written to the independent expert UK Committee on Climate Change (CCC) for advice on what would be our equitable contribution to the UK’s net zero emissions target. I want to consider this information to ensure our emissions reduction targets are credible and evidence based. Unfortunately the CCC are not in a position to respond to my request until after they have provided advice on the UK’s sixth carbon budget, which will be published in December 2020.

I will consider the responses from the discussion document consultation on a future Northern Ireland Climate Change Bill, along with the advice provided from the CCC. I will then present my findings to the Northern Ireland Executive to agree a way forward.