The new chair of the Climate Change Committee is spending two days in Northern Ireland on a fact-finding mission and has urged local decision-makers to show "courage and leadership" in confronting climate change.
Fact-finding visit
The visit is intended to gather on-the-ground evidence about progress and barriers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate impacts in Northern Ireland. The committee, which advises governments across the UK on climate policy, has conducted similar visits to assess how national targets are being translated into local action.
Call for leadership
During the visit the committee chair stressed that tackling climate change requires sustained political commitment and clear strategy. The chair's remarks emphasised the need for long-term planning and decisive policy choices to deliver emissions reductions and strengthen resilience to extreme weather and other climate risks.
Context and implications
Northern Ireland operates within a devolved governance framework that shapes how climate policies are developed and implemented locally. The committee's engagement is part of broader scrutiny of how the UK and its constituent administrations meet statutory climate targets and manage the transition to a low-carbon economy.
The two-day mission is expected to inform the committee's wider advisory work, highlighting areas where local circumstances may require tailored policy responses and where political leadership could accelerate progress toward the UK's climate objectives.