This is a truly momentous time, given that we had not one, but two, Climate Change Bills making their way through the legislative process for well over a year.

The first was the Private Members’ Bill, led by Clare Bailey (Green Party) with cross-party support, and called for a net-zero by 2045 greenhouse gas emissions target. The second was the DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) Bill, led by Edwin Poots (DUP), which called for an 82% greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050.  There were a number of other key differences between the Bills, such as provision for an independent Climate Commissioner, need for climate action plans and Just Transition clauses.

In the summer of 2021, the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) Committee duly completed calls for evidence for both Bills, and both Bills then moved through to Consideration Stage, whereupon Ministers may propose amendments (partly based on the AERA Committee’s reports and evidence gathering) which are then debated and voted upon.

At Consideration Stage, the Executive led Bill – the DAERA one - took precedence over the Private Members’ Bill, with amendments and debates scheduled.  80 amendments were considered, with a prolonged debate over the key one: the overarching emissions reduction target.  Significant campaigning over the past two years for an ambitious net-zero target finally paid off with the amendment for a net-zero by 2050 target being successfully voted through.

However, legitimate concerns had been raised repeatedly by the agricultural sector regarding the potential impact of such a target on their industry – this particularly focused on the methane component of the emissions reduction target as agriculture remains the largest emitter of methane in Northern Ireland.  Methane is a potent greenhouse gas but is short-lived, so reductions in methane emissions are very impactful in terms of their potential to reduce global warming.  However, there remain significant challenges in reducing methane emissions from agriculture in Northern Ireland quickly.  Feed additives, methane capture and changing livestock management may help, but solutions are still in their infancy, so pathways to drastic methane reduction are not yet clear.  

In response to these concerns, Edwin Poots tabled a further amendment which was considered at the next set of debates under ‘Further Consideration’ – to limit methane emissions reductions to 46% by 2050.  This is thought to be more achievable by the agricultural sector without such drastic impacts on farming families. However, this means other sectors and emissions of all other greenhouse gases will need to step up, and action will need to be far-reaching. With this in mind, a further amendment was passed, pushing a target for 80% of energy to be from renewable sources by 2030- this surpasses the new Energy Strategy’s target agreed in December of 70% by 2050.

A number of other notable amendments were also successful, including, crucially, the insertion of Just Transition clauses, including a Just Transition Fund to support the agricultural sector; provision for an independent Climate Commissioner; a commitment to developing a Climate Action Plan within two years of the Bill becoming law; reporting requirements for public bodies for both mitigation and adaptation action and – a big one for us – the inclusion of ‘Nature-based projects’ – recognising and prioritising nature-based solutions to climate change.

This includes protecting and restoring habitats that can lock away carbon - such as peatlands, woodlands and coastal habitats like saltmarsh, seagrass and shellfish reefs - but also helping frame soil carbon management and less well-known nature-based solutions.  Crucially nature’s role is recognised not only in balancing carbon emissions but also in helping us adapt to the impacts of climate change such as increased flood, erosion and wildfire risk.

With these amendments, and the passing of the ‘Final Consideration’ legislative stage, the DAERA Climate Change Bill has become a lot closer in its content to the Private Members’ Bill – and given the short time left for the passage of legislation before the Assembly dissolved on 28 March, it was agreed by Ministers that the Private Members’ Bill would not progress further.

The real work, however, will begin once the Bill becomes law. Just as the UK’s Climate Change Act sets carbon budgets and pathways to meet these, we will need to do the same- work out the detail across all sectors, use the best available science, and then find resources to incentivise the undoubtedly transformational change needed.  We hope that the forthcoming elections and the new Executive will prioritise climate action: this remains humanity’s biggest challenge and it affects every aspect of life. 

We look forward to being part of this net-zero journey, working in partnership with others and finding innovative and ambitious solutions that will collectively tackle climate change as the single biggest threat to nature.  We are under no illusions that this won’t be a challenging journey, for example balancing demands for space for renewable energy, food production and the need to restore and protect habitats that are vital assets in reducing emissions, but it is high time Northern Ireland embarked on our net-zero future.