Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme

The Climate Change Act 2008 requires Northern Ireland Government Departments to prepare an Adaptation Programme which responds to the climate change risks and opportunities for Northern Ireland (NI) as identified in the most recent UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA). The Act requires that the Adaptation Programme should be laid before the NI Assembly as soon as reasonably practicable after the laying before Parliament of the CCRA, which must be reviewed every five years.

Under the Climate Change Act 2008, the Climate Change Committee was established to advise the UK and Devolved Administration Governments on emissions targets and to report to Parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

The Northern Ireland Assembly passed its first ever climate change legislation in March 2022. The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 received Royal Assent on 6 June 2022 and sets out the legal framework for tackling climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions for decades to come in Northern Ireland. This will help to reduce global warming. The Climate Change Act legally requires that all Northern Ireland Departments contribute to delivering its targets, carbon budgets and climate action plans. Strong collaboration is needed to achieve this.

For further information on the UK Climate Change Committee:
https://www.theccc.org.uk/

A copy of the UK Climate Change Act 2008 is available at:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/27/contents

The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 is available at:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2022/31/enacted

The Paris Agreement on Climate Change

In 2015, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Paris Agreement, 197 countries including the UK committed to limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5°C. The Agreement provides an enhanced transparency global framework for action on the causes of climate change (mitigation action). The Agreement also aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change, through appropriate financial flows, new technology and enhanced capacity-building frameworks.

For further information on the Paris Agreement please see:
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement

Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme

As detailed above, under the UK Climate Change Act 2008 there is a legal requirement for Northern Ireland Departments to prepare an Adaptation Programme in response to the latest UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA), which is reviewed and laid before UK Parliament every five years.

Publication of the CCRA3 in June 2021 delivered on the UK government’s statutory requirement under the Climate Change Act 2008, to publish and lay before Parliament a UK-wide CCRA.

• CCRA3

The CCRA3 was informed by an Independent Assessment (CCRA-IA) from the Adaptation Committee of the Climate Change Committee, which was commissioned by the UK government and Devolved Administrations. The report contained national summaries for each of the UK administrations including a summary with climate change risks and opportunities specific to Northern Ireland.

• CCRA3-IA - NI Summary  

In response to the CCRA3, Northern Ireland’s third Climate Change Adaptation Programme (NICCAP3) was published on 19^th March 2026 covering the period up to 2029.

Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme (NICCAP3) 

NICCAP3 recognises the important role partnership and collaborative working plays in building a climate resilient Northern Ireland and so also includes actions from Councils, Non-Government Organisations, Academia and other key stakeholders.

In this way, NICCAP3 outlines the policies, proposals and actions from across all NI Government Departments and a range of external stakeholders to reflect a whole society response to the risks and opportunities relevant to Northern Ireland as identified in the CCRA3.

It sets the policies, strategies, and delivery plan actions by which NICCAP3 will deliver on its key outcome objectives and so achieve its vision for a well-adapted Northern Ireland: 

‘By working with partners across all aspects of Northern Ireland’s environment, economy, health and communities we will take action to build upon and strengthen our resilience to our changing climate as we work towards creating a Northern Ireland that is not only well adapted to current and future climate risks, but also equipped to thrive; protecting our environment, economy, health and communities for both current and future generations.’

In recognition of the dynamic nature of climate change and adaptation requirements, NICCAP3 will undergo a mid-programme review to allow for its Delivery Plan to be updated with developments to current actions as well as addition of new actions.

In addition to requirements for the CCC to provide independent assessments of climate risk under the Climate Change Act 2008, a new legal requirement has been introduced for the CCC under the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, to provide an assessment of NICCAP3, and subsequent programmes.

Ahead of this legal requirement coming into force and to inform the development of NICCAP3, DAERA requested an assessment of NICCAP2 which was published by the CCC on the 20^th April 2023. The CCC’s independent assessment of NICCAP2 can be accessed at the following link:

• Adapting to climate change – Progress in Northern Ireland - Climate Change Committee

To conduct their assessment of NICCAP3 under the Climate Change Act (NI) 2022, the CCC will use their adaptation monitoring framework which contextualises climate risk in the UK around 13 thematic areas. Therefore NICCAP3 has been aligned to these thematic areas, grouped under the following 5 key areas:

1. Natural Capital
2. UK Food Security
3. Infrastructure Services
4. People and the Built Environment
5. Disruption to Businesses & Supply Chains

On 9 June 2025, DAERA launched a public consultation seeking views on NICCAP3. The consultation was conducted over 8 weeks closing on 4 August 2025. Further information can be found at:

Public Consultation on the draft Third Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme (NICCAP3)

The Summary of the responses to the was published on 30 October 2025. Further information can be found at:

Summary of the responses to the Consultation on the draft third Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Plan (NICCAP3)

Previous Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programmes now superseded:

• First Northern Ireland climate change adaptation programme (NICCAP1) 2014-2019

Climate Northern Ireland

Climate Northern Ireland is an inter-sectoral network devoted to increasing understanding of climate change impacts and risks within Northern Ireland and promoting the adaptation actions necessary to address these.

Climate Northern Ireland is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) through the Carrier Bag Levy to help fulfil its obligations to address climate change.

Further information about Climate Northern Ireland can be found at the following link. The website also contains a range of useful resources:

• Climate Northern Ireland website

If you would like further information on climate change responsibilities in Northern Ireland, it can be requested by contacting: Climate Change Legislation and Policy Division

Useful links:

UK Government - Climate Change Risk Assessments

• CCRA1 - UK climate change risk assessment: Government report 2012 - GOV.UK
• CCRA2 - UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017 - GOV.UK
• CCRA3 - UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2022 - GOV.UK

Climate Change Committee - Climate Change Risk Assessment Independent Assessments

• CCRA2-IA – NI Summary - UK-CCRA-2017-Northern-Ireland-National-Summary.pdf
• CCRA3-IA – NI Summary - Summary for Northern Ireland (CCRA3-IA) - UK Climate Risk

Climate Change Committee Reports on Climate Change Adaptation in Northern Ireland

• CCC Review of NICCAP2 - Adapting to climate change – Progress in Northern Ireland