Northern Ireland is the only part of Europe that does not have climate change legislation.
7. To date, Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom and Ireland without specific Climate Change legislation setting out a pathway for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. [...] - Establish a system of Carbon Budgeting - Place a responsibility on local authorities to produce Climate Change Action Plans every 5 years 46. There is presently no specific Climate Change legislation in NI. However, as part of the 2020 New Decade, New Approach agreement, the NI Executive made a commitment to bring forward a Climate Change Act to give environmental targets a strong legal underpinning, as well as developing a new Energy Strategy and reviewing policies in light of the Paris Agreement. [...] 152. FSB welcome Climate Change legislation for NI and highlighted that a recent survey revealed that small local businesses desire policy certainty regarding their climate obligations. The important role that these enterprises can play with regards reducing emissions and facilitating green innovation was discussed and that there is an opportunity for business growth in the transition towards a green economy.