Climate change: Lack of executive 'hampering NI plan'
The lack of a Stormont executive is hampering progress on climate change adaptation in Northern Ireland, a report has found. The UK's Climate Change Committee (CCC) described planning in Northern Ireland as being "in its infancy" . There was very limited evidence of delivery and implementation, it added. The CCC added a lack of data prevented it assessing progress in 60% of adaptation outcomes in the NI Climate Change Adaptation Plan (NICCAP2) . Northern Ireland's executive has not met for more than a year as part of the Democratic Unionist Party's protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements. In its first adaptation progress report, the CCC, an independent body which advises government, said "credible policies and plans" are largely not in place yet. It added that several key policy milestones have been drafted or are being developed and have not yet been published as final versions, preventing their implementation. The committee's review was requested by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) as part of developing the next adaptation programme, which the CCC said must go further. The plan covers seven adaptation outcomes across five priority areas: Natural capital, infrastructure services, people and built environment, disruption to businesses and supply chains, and food security/global food production. Each area has an outcome objective, with natural capital having three. The committee found a lack of relevant data in each area it looked at. It also examined areas not included in NICCAP2, such as health, energy and buildings. It said the lack of data was a key barrier to assessing delivery and implementation, and that planning for climate change "remains at an early stage" in Northern Ireland. In a foreword to the document, the committee chair Baroness Brown said that there was "an opportunity, with the renewed focus on achieving net zero, to embed climate resilience into planning now and avoid locking in decisions that can result in irreversible changes, increased damages, or higher costs when larger and faster action is required later". In its last advice report, the committee warned that Northern Ireland will fall well short of its 2050 net zero emissions target without radical action. Northern Ireland's first climate change laws approved Tree planting 'must triple to hit environment aims' Race against time to save Morocco quake survivors US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit 'Everyone in this village is either dead or missing' At the scene of Morocco mosque collapsed by quake. Video At the scene of Morocco mosque collapsed by quake Inside the horror of Europe's biggest wildfire Inside a 'hijacked' South African building. Video Inside a 'hijacked' South African building How chronic pain feels for me. Video How chronic pain feels for me The rise and fall of a parenting influencer Guyana scrambles to make the most of oil wealth Florida's first hurricane-proof town The greatest spy novel ever written? Why is everyone crazy about Aperol? 2023 BBC.