Stormont climate change bill ‘not realistic’ – DUP MLA

NORTHERN Ireland-specific climate change legislation entered Stormont for the first time on Monday.

The legislation has been brought forward by Climate Coalition NI, a group of environmentalists and academics. The Private Members’ Bill was tabled by Green Party leader, Claire Bailey.

The bill has been supported by the vast majority of parties in the NI Assembly, with the notable omission of the DUP.

Agriculture Minister, Edwin Poots, is expected to table a separate bill from the Department, which is less aggressive with its carbon emissions targets.

DUP West Tyrone MLA Tom Buchanan said Monday’s Climate Bill was ‘not realistic or achievable’,  while the departmental legislation brought forward by his party colleague would have less of an impact on the farming and business communities.

“The DUP hasn’t supported the bill as we believe the departmental bill is much more realistic than what is proposed in the Private Members’ Bill,” said Mr Buchanan.

“There is no point bringing forward a bill when the targets will not be met.”

He added, “This is going to have an effect on the farming community and for businesses generally, so the legislation needs to be able to be incorporated into businesses easily. The departmental bill has more realistic time frames and a broader approach.”

The DUP MLA added that his party’s stance was based on expert advice provided to the Climate Change Committee at Stormont.

Monday’s legislation is setting a target of making Northern Ireland carbon neutral by 2045. The departmental bill is expected to propose an 82 per-cent drop in carbon emissions by 2050.

The North is the only region of the UK which does not have specific legislation in place to tackle climate change. The British government has promised to reduce its net emissions to zero by 2050.

Local Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA, Declan McAleer, said that there was a responsibility on the British government to support farmers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to meet climate change targets.

Mr McAleer continued, “At long last this region is moving towards our own Climate Change Act in accordance with the 2015 Paris Agreement and the New Decade New Approach commitments. It is regrettable that we are the only part of these islands that has not got a Climate Change Act.

“I believe this sends out a wrong and misleading message about our commitment to sustainable agriculture practises, when in fact this region has a world beating record of safe, traceable, sustainable and environmentally friendly food production.”