To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs when his Department intends to launch a public consultation on the carbon budgets, as required by the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

My Officials have commenced work to set the first three 5-year carbon budgets for Northern Ireland. They have formally written to, and have met with, the UK Climate Change Committee to seek advice on the first three carbon budgets and this engagement process is ongoing.

In line with the requirements of the Act, my Department will carry out a public consultation of not less than 16 weeks on the proposed carbon budgets. I aim to be in a position to consult on the first three carbon budgets over the second quarter of 2023.