RSUA this month expressed concern that the projected emissions from buildings between 2023 and 2027, as outlined in the NI Executive’s draft Climate Action Plan (CAP), indicate an overall increase of 0.3 MtCO₂e, with no reductions expected from the public or residential buildings sectors.
In response to the recent consultation on the draft CAP issued by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, RSUA stated that these projections leave us unclear as to why several quantified policies are not expected to contribute to progress on climate action.
This uncertainty is particularly concerning given that the CAP is intended as a programme for the next four years to help Northern Ireland achieve the statutory 33% average carbon emissions reduction target (compared with 1990 levels) by 2027 and, ultimately, Net Zero by 2050.
RSUA’s response
More broadly, RSUA’s response was informed by our own Climate Action Paper (2023), as well as by dialogue with members of the RSUA Climate Emergency Committee. Special thanks are due to committee members Maeve Gorman, Ben James, Donal MacRandal and Emer O’Neill, all of whom provided valuable comments.
In keeping with the structure of the draft CAP itself, RSUA responded in turn to the relevant policies and proposals set out for each of the programme’s key sectors.
Among the other comments made by RSUA were the following:
Energy production and supply
- RSUA welcomed the revival of the NI Executive’s proposal to establish a One Stop Shop to support consumers but seeks clarity on what measures will ensure its delivery this time, noting that the Department for Economy had previously promised a detailed action plan in 2022 but deferred its introduction in 2023.
Residential buildings
- We stressed that the Plan should give equal strategic weight to improving building fabric as to introducing new heating technologies, supported by additional policies in the draft CAP that specifically prioritise measures such as insulation, airtightness and glazing.
- RSUA highlighted the urgent need for greater clarity on the timeline and specific requirements for each remaining phase of the proposed uplifts to Building Regulations, particularly Part F (Conservation of Fuel and Power).
Public buildings
- We recommended that the NI Executive publish by 2027 a clear plan to cut energy use and emissions from public buildings, supported by interim targets towards a net zero government estate by 2030 and a requirement for all new public sector projects to include a net zero carbon brief.
Transport
- We reiterated that promoting sustainable travel requires making private car use significantly less attractive – an emphasis currently missing from the draft CAP. This could be achieved if the NI Executive committed to prioritising pedestrians in town and city centres, reducing parking provision and increasing parking costs.
Delivery
- We noted that, despite the £718 million capital investment required to deliver the CAP, there is currently no dedicated or ringfenced funding for the Plan as a whole, meaning many actions may not progress by 2027. Projected investment should therefore be underpinned by guaranteed funding to ensure delivery.
Our full consultation response can be viewed here.
If you have any questions or comments about our response to the draft CAP, please contact Curtis Large, RSUA Policy and Public Affairs Officer, at curtis@rsua.org.uk
