Green Party NI Leader, Clare Bailey MLA, has called for a Climate Change Bill to be introduced in Northern Ireland.

She made the call following the Environment Minister's Question Time claim that his Department is "scoping options" for a Climate Change Bill.

She said: "The Environment Minister continues to put a Climate Change Bill on the long finger.

-- Advertisement --

"Meanwhile, climate breakdown and the ecological crisis wait for no-one.

"Whether it's devastating flooding happening locally, forest fires raging in the Americas or melting polar ice caps – worst case climate scenarios have become the reality and we need to take responsibility.

"There's no more time for excuses, for procrastination, no time for yet more scoping exercises.

"Northern Ireland is falling behind other parts of these islands on emissions reductions. We learned only last week that our lake water quality is in significant decline.

"It will come as little surprise that we are the only devolved region without specific climate change legislation."