He acknowledged that politics in Northern Ireland is complex and that instability impacts investment decisions and people's choices. However, he noted that Northern Ireland is a small nation that can be agile and innovative in addressing challenges such as increasing renewable energy, improving waste management, and reducing emissions.
The new chair of the Climate Change Committee is spending two days in Northern Ireland on a fact-finding mission to assess efforts to tackle climate change.
The Climate Change Committee is an independent body that advises the UK and devolved governments on emissions targets. Northern Ireland was the last part of these islands to adopt climate change legislation, which brought in legally-binding targets for reducing emissions.
The chair stated that courage and leadership are needed to ensure Northern Ireland catches up on tackling climate change. He added that it will take real courage and leadership from all sectors of society to make sure the just transition process remains a conversation rather than disappearing into polarised views.