Edwin Poots has made a surprise U-turn on his opposition to reducing Northern Ireland’s carbon emissions to net-zero.
But the Green Party has warned the amendment to his own Climate Bill should include all greenhouse gases.
Northern Ireland currently has two Climate Change Bill going through the Assembly.
The first, which is supported by a cross party coalition led by Green Party NI leader Clare Bailey, aims for net-zero by 2045.
Minister Poots’ Bill, which was submitted second but will go before MLAs first on February 1, included an emissions reduction of just 82%.
The Agriculture and Environment Minister has long argued against a 100% reduction on 1990’s baseline levels because of the impact on the agri food sector.
In an amendment tabled on his own Bill he has changed that to 100% by 2050 for carbon dioxide.
It read: “The Northern Ireland departments must ensure that the net Northern Ireland emissions account for carbon dioxide for the year 2050 is at least 100% lower than the baseline for carbon dioxide.”
Some believe this to be an attempt to split the targets for different greenhouse gases.
Even if the carbon reduction change is accepted there has been no amendment in relation to even more harmful greenhouse, methane.
So even if Northern Ireland reaches net-zero on carbon - this will not be net-zero overall - because methane reduction targets will remain at 82% if the Bill is passed.
DAERA has been contacted for comment.
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