Latest releases
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13 releases
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Armstrong: Minister refusing to face reality on climate targets
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA responds to DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's Croke Park climate speech, calling for Northern Ireland's climate targets to be reviewed and revised, citing Climate Change Committee advice on an 82% reduction and Scotland's move to…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA Minister Andrew Muir Environment Ireland Conference climate action speech Original release: Armstrong: Minister refusing to face reality on climate targets (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Just Transition Commission must be led by those who live and work in our industries not just talk about them
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA urges DAERA to fill the three agriculture seats on the new Just Transition Commission with people who understand farming and food production, not just academics and advocates. He says food and energy security must shape its terms of reference.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA appointments to the Just Transition Commission Original release: Just Transition Commission must be led by those who live and work in our industries not just talk about them (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein Net Zero U-Turn must be matched by action - Erskine
Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says Sinn Fein's apparent U-turn on net zero must be backed by action from the First Minister. She says the DUP repeatedly sought economic cost analysis of climate targets, which Sinn Fein, Alliance, the SDLP and UUP opposed.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Sinn Fein apparent U-turn on net zero policies Original release: Sinn Fein Net Zero U-Turn must be matched by action - Erskine (opens in a new tab)
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Revise, don’t retreat Butler calls for realism on climate targets
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA urges a revision of the 2023-2027 Climate Action Plan targets rather than the DUP's proposed full withdrawal, citing energy and infrastructure failures and Stormont shutdowns. He says farmers must be central to any future plan and previews a UUP…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DUP motion calling for withdrawal of draft Climate Action Plan 2023-2027 Original release: Revise, don’t retreat Butler calls for realism on climate targets (opens in a new tab)
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Flexibility Isn’t Weakness, It’s Wisdom: Butler Backs Locally-Informed Climate Planning
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA welcomes the European Commission's more flexible 2040 climate target and calls for a co-designed Rural Climate and Energy Roadmap for Northern Ireland, with cross-departmental leadership and support for anaerobic digestion.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: European Commission 2040 climate target of 90% emissions reduction Original release: Flexibility Isn’t Weakness, It’s Wisdom: Butler Backs Locally-Informed Climate Planning (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party leader responds to NI exec's climate action plan
Green Party Leader Mal O'Hara says the Executive's climate action plan is late and lacks ambition, particularly on agriculture and transport, and urges the Minister to act on ICCC recommendations and the All-Island Rail Review.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA draft Climate Action Plan consultation Original release: Green Party leader responds to NI exec's climate action plan (opens in a new tab)
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Climate Action Plan proposals show Muir has learned nothing from NAP…
DUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Michelle McIlveen MLA criticises DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's draft Climate Action Plan consultation, warning of a £1 billion cost to 2027 and of livestock reductions of 81,000 beef and 25,000 dairy cattle, and urges farmers to respond.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA draft Climate Action Plan consultation Original release: Climate Action Plan proposals show Muir has learned nothing from NAP… (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers must not pay the price for addressing environmental challenges in securing a sustainable future – Butler
Ulster Unionist spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA says farmers must not bear the cost of climate action, calling for codesigned measures after recent changes to create a Climate Commissioner office raised concerns. He says the changes should not pit environmental goals against agriculture.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Assembly vote to create a Climate Commissioner role Original release: Farmers must not pay the price for addressing environmental challenges in securing a sustainable future – Butler (opens in a new tab)
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Just Transition Commission consultation launch is a vital step forward, says Blair.
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes the launch of a consultation on establishing a Just Transition Commission for Northern Ireland, which he says is a step forward on climate change. He urges the public to take part and says the agriculture sector needs a fair transition.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Just Transition Commission consultation launch by DAERA Original release: Just Transition Commission consultation launch is a vital step forward, says Blair. (opens in a new tab)
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Elliott explains that the complex interaction between farming and climate change requires addressing
UUP agriculture spokesperson Tom Elliott MLA says farming's role in climate change needs addressing, arguing farmers are partners rather than scapegoats. He points to carbon sequestration, renewable energy on farms and the sector's economic importance, and calls for incentives and collaboration.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Elliott explains that the complex interaction between farming and climate change requires addressing (opens in a new tab)
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New DAERA Minister, Andrew Muir says he's committed to delivering across full remit of Department for good of everyone in NI
Alliance's Andrew Muir MLA, the new DAERA Minister, says he will deliver across the department's full remit, prioritising Lough Neagh's recovery, longer-term carbon targets and bovine TB, while working with farming and fishing communities.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Andrew Muir appointed Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Original release: New DAERA Minister, Andrew Muir says he's committed to delivering across full remit of Department for good of everyone in NI (opens in a new tab)
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Lack of dedicated retrofitting programme for solid fuel households a risk to public health – Darren O’Rourke TD
Sinn Féin climate spokesperson Darren O'Rourke TD urges the government to revise its National Retrofit Plan with specific targets for solid-fuel-heated homes, citing a cross-border study linking air pollution to up to 1,000 early deaths yearly. He proposes €50m for a dedicated retrofit scheme.
Environment and climate Health Issue: Cross-border air pollution and mortality assessment on solid fuel burning Original release: Lack of dedicated retrofitting programme for solid fuel households a risk to public health – Darren O’Rourke TD (opens in a new tab)
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Cop27- Still Fiddling While The World Burns
People Before Profit, via its Ecosocialist Alliance, issues a statement ahead of COP27 in Egypt, arguing that economic recession, war and fossil fuel expansion worsen climate breakdown and that only ending capitalism can deliver real climate solutions. It also criticises conditions at the Sharm…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: COP27 climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt Original release: Cop27- Still Fiddling While The World Burns (opens in a new tab)