The new chair of the UK Climate Change Committee, Nigel Topping, is in Northern Ireland on a two-day fact-finding visit, meeting farmers, business representatives, and politicians to discuss challenges and opportunities in reducing emissions. The committee is an independent body that advises the UK and devolved governments on emissions targets.

Topping said Northern Ireland needs "courage and leadership" from all sectors to catch up on tackling climate change. He noted that the region was the last part of the UK and Ireland to adopt climate change legislation with legally binding targets for reducing emissions.

He acknowledged that political instability has caused delays, with periods without ministers leading to a lack of policy development, which he said "doesn't help" investment decisions. However, he said there is "a real sense of collectively wanting to catch up" and avoid anyone being left behind in the transition to net zero.

Topping warned that failure to act would mean missing out on innovation opportunities, continuing to pay more for energy than necessary, and damaging children's health through poor air quality. He said people are already experiencing climate change firsthand through extreme weather events.

He described the situation as "a race between our kind of obstinate, greedy selves and our brilliant, innovative selves," and urged Northern Ireland to view the challenge as an opportunity to be agile and innovative as a small nation.

The visit is described as a fact-finding mission looking at challenges and opportunities across sectors, including renewable energy, waste management, and emissions reduction.