NI Climate Commissioner Required To Tackle Climate Change - Alliance

Alliance MLAs, Danny Donnelly and John Blair have emphasised the need for a Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner to address and tackle climate change.

The requirement is a key commitment from the Climate Change Act passed during the last Assembly mandate.

They MLAs made the comments following a meeting with Executive Office officials on the progress of the Act.

The party's spokesperson for Climate Change and Energy, Mr Donnelly said: "The passage of the Climate Change Act two years ago was a vital first step in tackling the imminent threat posed by climate change to Northern Ireland, and a good example of what can and needs to be done in a functioning Assembly.

"But more work needs to be done in the current Assembly as soon as it is restored. One requirement of the Act is the establishment of an independent office known as the Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner, to oversee and report on the operation of the Act. This requires a First Minister and deputy First Minister to bring this legislation to the Assembly, something which should be done urgently.


"We have seen the role of Commissioners being used effectively in recent years, with the Commissioners for Older People or Children and Young People being just two examples of the proactive role that Commissioners can provide. The creation of the Climate Commissioner is essential to fulfilling our obligations under the Act, and identifying any future challenges and opportunities as we move towards the objective of net zero by 2050."

Alliance spokesperson for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Blair has said that it's important that an Executive and Assembly is put in place to complete the process of adding a Climate Commissioner to the Climate Change Act and "ensure a Climate Commissioner can be appointed soon".

In a statement Mr Blair said:

"Northern Ireland faces many environmental challenges, with Lough Neagh being one of the most substantial we have seen recently. A Climate Commissioner can show leadership on these issues, and promote the importance of tackling climate change both within the Assembly and Executive and to the wider public. We urgently need an Executive in place to ensure we can deliver on this and our other climate commitments."