DAERA Minister welcomes Met Office experts to present evidence on climate change
Date published:
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has today welcomed an event organised with the Met Office on the science and evidence behind climate change.
Leading experts from the Met Office were in Stormont to highlight the importance of deploying science and evidence to understand and respond to climate change and its impacts globally and in Northern Ireland.
At the event jointly hosted by DAERA in Parliament Buildings, the Met Office presented the latest data and analysis on projected climate trends, including the anticipated local impacts of a warming climate on infrastructure, public health and the natural environment.
Minister Muir told those who attended the event: “Today is about evidence – independent scientific evidence on how our climate is changing. Climate change is not a distant challenge it is already having real and measurable impacts across Northern Ireland.
“The Met Office’s world-leading expertise helps us to understand future climate scenarios and the risks we face, from increased flooding and more frequent extreme weather events to rising temperatures and sea levels.
“It is vital that we continue to base our decisions on the best available evidence so that we can protect our communities, support our economy and safeguard our natural environment for future generations.
“There is a clear and urgent need to act. The scientific evidence presented today reinforces the importance of progressing the actions within our Third Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme to build our resilience, publishing our first Climate Action Plan and advancing wider climate policies.”
Attendees heard about the specific challenges facing Northern Ireland’s agriculture sector, with changing weather patterns, prolonged wet periods and increasing temperatures expected to have significant implications for our agri-food sector.
The Minister added: “Addressing climate change requires collective effort. With Government, businesses, communities and individuals all having a vital role to play in building resilience and delivering a sustainable future for Northern Ireland.”
Professor Jason Lowe OBE, Met Office Principal Fellow Applied & Climate Science, said: “The role of the Met Office is to provide the very best climate intelligence through world leading science, enabling decision makers, business and individuals to make evidence-based decisions in response to the challenges of our changing climate.
“The evidence is clear that our climate is changing, and we know that reducing our greenhouse gas emissions will help prevent the very worst impacts of climate change. However, it is also critical to adapt to the changes we’re going to see, and an evidence-based approach to assessing the risks will help ensure the most effective action is taken.”
The session included a question-and-answer panel, providing participants with the opportunity to engage directly with experts and explore the evidence in greater depth.
The event forms part of ongoing work by DAERA to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change and support informed, evidence-based action across all sectors.
Notes to editors:
- Photo caption: DAERA Minister Andrew Muir is pictured attending a Met Office climate change event at Parliament Buildings. Pictured (left to right) with Minister Muir is DAERA Permanent Secretary Katrina Godfrey, Met Office representatives Tom Crocker and Jason Lowe, DAERA Deputy Secretary Jane Corderoy and DAERA Official Claire Cockerill.
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