Legislation has been approved by MLAs at Stormont which allows DAERA to establish a new Just Transition Commission.

The new commission will be an independent advisory public body and is expected to have 16 members, to include three from agriculture and two from environmental groups. Its main roles include oversight of climate action plans developed by government departments and providing advice to ensure policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are fair.

During a debate at Stormont on Monday, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said the responses from a public consultation showed there was strong support for the new body and that it is being established in direct response to the Climate Change Act agreed in 2022.

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However, the DUP and TUV voted against the legislation, with former DAERA minister Michelle McIlveen arguing that the 2050 net zero target in the 2022 Act is “unachievable and unjustified at a time of profound upheaval for businesses and households”.

The legislation was passed by 54 votes to 20.

“Following Assembly approval, I am committed to establishing the Commission without delay with a public appointments process soon to commence,” confirmed Minister Muir.