Northern Ireland's second Climate Change Bill has come under scrutiny for the targets it has put forward.

The Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) Committee has undertaken a call-for-evidence to inform its scrutiny of the Bill.

The Bill, which has been developed separately to the first Climate Change Bill, was brought forward by Minister for AERA Edwin Poots, MLA. 

The two Bills have significant differences, one of which is the journey to net zero. Bill No 2 proposes the less ambitious target of 2050 for 'an equitable contribution' by Northern Ireland to net zero carbon emissions, versus the first Bill's aim of achieving net zero by 2045.

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Bill No 2 includes somewhat more modest emissions targets, as well as provision for these targets to be modified only following significant scientific or policy developments around climate change in the UK or internationally. 

While Bill No 1 seeks to establish an independent Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner and Northern Ireland Climate Office, this second Bill focuses on DAERA proposing regulations with the advice of the UK Climate Change Committee. 

The Royal Society of Ulster Architects is calling on its members to take part in a briefing session with Nick Henry, Assembly Clerk for the AERA Committee, regarding the Bill.

The briefing session will provide an opportunity for members to contribute to RSUA's response and to raise questions or concerns.

The online briefing session will take place from 3pm to 4pm on Tuesday 14 September 2021.

Full details of the Climate Change (No 2) Bill can be found here and responses can be made via this online survey until 30 September 2021.