The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) will be holding public consultations over the coming months in relation to the draft Climate Action Plan 2023-2027.
DAERA launched the consultation initiative back in June 2025, encouraging everyone to participate, saying “your views matter”.
Northern Ireland has stated its aim to achieve a target of net zero greenhouse gas emission by 2050 under the Climate Change Act, which was first passed in 2022.
The draft Climate Action Plan sets out policies and proposals which aim to achieve these targets.
The first consultation was held online last month (July 2), with the following consultations spread across Northern Ireland in the coming months:
- Belfast – Belfast City Hall, Banqueting Hall, August 20, 10:00a.m-12:00p.m;
- Cookstown – Burnavon Arts & Cultural Centre, August 27, 10:00a.m-12:00p.m;
- Craigavon – Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre, September 2, 10:00a.m-12:00p.m;
- Enniskillen – Central Hall, South West College (Erne Campus), September 4, 2:00p.m-4:00p.m;
- Ballymena – The Braid Arts Centre, September 9, 10:00a.m-12:00p.m;
- Newry – Canal Court Hotel, September 16, 10:00a.m-12:00p.m;
- Ballynahinch – Millbrook Lodge Hotel, September 17, 10:00a.m-12:00p.m;
- Omagh – Strule Arts Centre, September 23, 2:00p.m-4:00p.m;
- Derry/Londonderry – The Great Hall, Ulster University, Magee Campus, September 25, 2:00p.m-4:00p.m;
- Coleraine – Northern Regional College, Innovation Centre, October 1, 2:00p.m-4.00p.m;
- Online – October 2, 7:00p.m-8:00p.m
DAERA has said it will be working with all other departments to carry out significant stakeholder engagement during the 16 weeks of this consultation to meet with, receive feedback, and hear the opinions of a wide range of stakeholders.
DAERA also reminded the public that they can also respond to the consultation through the online survey on the DAERA website.
This consultation provides the public with an opportunity to tell the department what they think of the policies and proposals that have been identified in the proposal, and share any comments or suggestions that they might have.
DAERA said the draft plan will then be revised to reflect the views of the public gathered from this consultation, before a final plan is agreed.
Climate action plan
DAERA have said the main focus of this particular draft Climate Action Plan is on meeting the first carbon budget, which was agreed upon in December 2024 in a bid to meet targets by 2030, 2040, and 2050.
There are 52 policies outlined in this draft that aim to reduce emissions, spanning across nine sectors, including: agriculture; land use and forestry; fisheries; waste management; public buildings; residential buildings; transport; energy production and supply; and business and industrial processes.
Target/Budget
Emission reduction required
2030 Target
A 48% emissions reduction by 2030 against the baseline
2040 Target
A 77% emissions reduction by 2040 against the baseline
2050 Target
A 100% emissions reduction by 2050 against the baseline
Carbon Budget 1 (2023-2027)
33% average annual reduction compared to the baseline
Carbon Budget 2 (2028-2032)
48% average annual reduction compared to the baseline
Carbon Budget 3 (2033-2037)
62% average annual reduction compared to the baseline
The baseline above refers to 1990 emissions levels.
DAERA said its analysis shows that if all the policies and proposals are implemented at the pace and scale detailed in the plan, the first carbon budget 2023-2027 can be met.
