Plans have been agreed for an 18-month programme of work to tackle the climate crisis in Belfast.

Local councillors will look to develop a climate plan which will establish targets for decarbonisation and review how Belfast City Council can protect its assets and transition to a low carbon economy within a generation.

Alderman Brian Kingston, chair of Belfast City Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, said: "It's no secret that Belfast has some ground to make up when it comes to preparing for climate change and having a mitigation plan in place. Council is showing leadership by considering its own role, and the impact our decisions can have on the city's climate resilience.

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"Climate change has reached a point where we need to make urgent and concerted efforts to understand and prepare for its impact – both through research and considering good practice from other cities."

The Council is taking forward both an adaptation and mitigation plan in tandem.

The plan will be developed in three phases: research and data collection; setting targets and priorities, and agreeing actions for implementation.

The first phase of the plan is expected to be complete by June 2020.

(CM/MH)