Durkan: Climate bill "marks the beginning of a real effort to fight back"

SDLP Foyle MLA, Mark H Durkan, has welcomed the passing of the North’s first dedicated climate change legislation.

Mr Durkan, who himself was a former Environment Minister, said it was deeply regrettable it had taken to 2022 to get the legislation in place, but that it could act as a starting point for the North to tackle the climate crisis.

He called for renewed focus on the issue, now that legislation was finally in place.

“Until today the North was the only part of these islands without its own dedicated climate crisis legislation and targets,” said Mr Durkan

“We have been playing catch up for far too long as a result of some of our parties’ refusal to accept reality, but now that this bill has been passed we have a launching pad to begin our fight against this issue which threatens our very way of life.

“Anyone who thinks that this legislation is ‘job done’ is very much mistaken.

“Tackling the climate crisis is going to impact every part of our lives going forward and we must ensure we deliver the changes necessary to meet our targets and our agriculture sector is properly supported through a just transition as we attempt to move towards a carbon neutral society.

“I was glad to support this important legislation today and it will make a real difference going forward. I’d like to thank all of our local climate activists and groups, without their efforts we would never have got here.

“We are lucky to have so many community groups who are already working tirelessly to pursue a green agenda.

“It is long past time that we wake up to the threat posed by the climate crisis and I believe this bill marks the beginning of a real effort to fight back and adapt our way of life.”

Also welcoming the Climate Change legislation was Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Ciara Ferguson.

She added: “The passing of this Bill is as welcome as it is overdue. For far too long the north has been the only part of these islands, indeed one of the only parts of Europe, without climate change legislation.

“I'm particularly pleased that through a series of amendments we have delivered ambitious, fair and deliverable climate change legislation, that protects farmers, workers and families.

“This is a Bill rooted on the principle of a fair transition to a net-zero society.

“The Bill includes a specific Just Transition Fund for Agriculture to support farmers in making necessary changes over the coming decades.

“The Bill also includes independent, expert oversight in the form of a Climate Commissioner and a Just Transition Commission.

“Climate change will present numerous challenges and opportunities in the coming decades but today is a vital and historic step in tackling the Climate Change crisis, not just for ourselves but for the future.”