Climate Crisis

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:15 pm on 25 March 2025.

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Photo of Andrew Muir Andrew Muir Alliance 2:15, 25 March 2025

Investing in dealing with climate change is important. I was at an exhibition this morning by Trócaire, which showed the consequences of climate change for the most vulnerable in society. Those who have contributed least to climate change feel the consequences of it most. There is a moral obligation to look beyond Northern Ireland when dealing with climate change, and it is important that we do that.

I understand that we have to invest in decarbonising our economy. Many businesses are doing that. I meet them daily, and they are on that journey. Some people need to understand that, if we want our economy to grow sustainably, we need to be on the road to net zero. I am committed to doing that. What some people seem to forget — rather conveniently, frankly — is that it was my predecessor, the DUP Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, who introduced that legislation, and the Assembly voted unanimously for it. What I am doing is implementing the will of the Assembly as expressed in 2022.