Andrew Muir
North Down · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. As Minister, I am grateful to the Chair of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee and to Members from all sides of the Chamber for their consideration of the Bill and their contributions to the debate, which have been valuable and useful.”
“I will write to you with regard to your query. <BR /> <BR />The other issue, as I said, is reporting pollution incidents so that they can be effectively investigated. There is a duty on everyone to do that promptly.”
“Aquaculture provides real economic opportunities, and the Bill will help ensure that those opportunities are realised responsibly without compromising the environment. Importantly, the Bill includes transitional provisions so that existing licences can continue seamlessly as aquaculture licences, with their conditions unchanged.”
“That is not about being punitive for its own sake; it is about ensuring that the legal framework reflects the true value of our natural resources and the importance of protecting them for future generations.”
“<BR /> <BR />On strengthening the regulation of inland waters, the Bill modernises long-standing powers under the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966, ensuring that they are fit for today's environmental and industry challenges. That matters because fisheries management today goes far beyond simply catching fish.”
“<BR /> <BR />A full regulatory impact assessment of the financial impact has been completed. It concluded that the Bill does not introduce significant new financial burdens and that any costs are outweighed by the long-term benefits.”
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“The very constrained funding that is available to the Executive and the agreed draft Budget for 2025-26 provide a very difficult proposed outcome for my Department. I am working with my officials on how much resource and capital departmental expenditure limit (DEL) funding can be allocated to Lough Neagh to continue to take forward that important work in the next financial year. <BR /> <BR />The implementation of the Lough Neagh action plan to address the blue-green algae issues requires significant investment across Departments. The issues in Lough Neagh have been decades in the making, and there are no quick fixes. A sufficient Budget allocation to that issue is important. I am seeking a meeting with the Finance Minister to discuss the draft Budget.”
“Subsequent to the Budget last year, in which we did not get a just transition fund for agriculture, my engagement with the Finance Minister has been successful, and she has allocated a draft amount of money for us to be able to create our own just transition fund for agriculture in Northern Ireland. I am working with officials on what that will be about. That is really key. It is a commitment around not only policy but funding. I, personally, am very committed not only to a just transition for farming but to one that goes more broadly, because it has to be fair and just for us to be able to bring people together on the road towards decarbonisation.”
“I heard the anger about the UK Government's decision on inheritance tax when I was at the Oxford Farming Conference last week. From that platform, I outlined my opposition to it again. I look forward to meeting the Ulster Farmers’ Union, the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Association (NIAPA) and the Finance Minister soon to discuss ways forward around that matter and the further representations that we can make to the UK Government, because I believe that the proposed changes to inheritance tax are wrong. <BR /> <BR />The agriculture sector will be represented as part of the just transition commission, but it will go further than that.”
“<BR /> <BR />The just transition commission will be an important body to support all Departments in ensuring that a net zero transition is fair and just. I am hopeful that the commission will be in place during 2025.”
“Following the completion of the consultation, the feedback will be analysed, and the draft regulations will be updated. My officials will ensure that the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, which the Member ably chairs, is updated at each step of process. I shall then seek approval from my Executive colleagues on the final draft regulations that will establish the commission. The regulations will then go through the draft affirmative legislative process, which includes laying the regulations in this place for debate and approval. Once the regulations are made and in operation, a recruitment competition will be launched to appoint members to the commission. That will be done in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Northern Ireland's guidelines.”
“A public consultation on the establishment of the just transition commission was launched on 11 November 2024. It has been extended to 17 January 2025. I encourage people to make any responses to it that they feel are necessary. <BR /> <BR />The consultation focuses on the proposals to establish the commission, including the legislation that will set out the type of public body that the commission should be; its composition, role and legislative functions; the proposed sectors to be represented on it; its reporting arrangements; and its secretariat and the support that it requires. As part of the consultation, my officials have met representatives of various groups from the mandated sectors that are to be represented on the commission to seek their views.”
“The Member raises an important issue, and I am aware of it. Dog fouling was one of the issues that Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay men to be elected in the United States, campaigned on.”
“I do not have those statistics to hand, but my Department supports councils on the issue. In addition to overseeing the robust legislation that covers the fixed penalty notices that councils issue for dog-fouling offences, my Department is committed to reducing and preventing them. DAERA supports educational and promotional campaigns that are aimed at achieving behavioural change. Our environment fund directly supports Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful to deliver a number of programmes, including Eco-Schools, Live Here Love Here and its Adopt a Spot project, all of which promote a sense of civic pride and encourage individual environmental responsibility. I will write to the Member with the information, if we have it. It may not be available, however, because that information is collected by councils.”
“My Department does not provide financial support to councils to address dog fouling. It is, however, responsible for the legislation that grants councils the powers and the flexibility, subject to upper and lower limits, to set fixed penalty notices for dog-fouling offences. <BR /> <BR />In December 2022, following requests from key stakeholders and members of the public to take stronger action over dog-fouling offences, my officials amended the legislation to increase the maximum penalty available to councils for such offences from £80 to £200, and some councils have since increased their fixed penalties.”
“We are also looking at bringing in the mandatory microchipping of cats, and we are looking at the licensing of rescue and rehoming organisations in particular. We are also looking at introducing CCTV in slaughterhouses. Those are just some of the things that we are discussing, and we will be meeting the police and councils this week. <BR /> <BR />I conscious of the fact that we have a restricted mandate, but we can focus our resources and work together to get the outcomes that we seek. I found the engagement with the stakeholders to be really good. We can continue to get their perspective on what can work. Most importantly, we need to make sure that the legislation that we make will tackle the issues. That is why we are going to continue to engage and consult on the issues.”
“We are finalising our plans. Before Christmas, I had really good engagement with relevant animal welfare stakeholders. That engagement took place not just in Clare House but with the all-party group on animal welfare, which my colleague to my left, John Blair, ably chairs. We were able to discuss some of the measures that we are looking to take forward, one of which is Lucy's law, which is a ban on the third-party sale of pups and kittens. <BR /> <BR />Other measures that we want to take forward include the comprehensive expert-led review of dog-breeding licensing, as I outlined, and a ban on aversive training devices. I do not agree with the use of shock collars. They should be banned.”
“It is for each council to provide its services. Councils have the ability to raise revenue through rates. I understand the financial pressures that each council faces. My Department faces similar pressures, particularly in light of the draft Budget settlement for next year. We can, however, work together, particularly on the legislation that I am looking to introduce, which will hopefully address some of the concerns that a number of Members have raised in the Chamber. We will be commissioning an expert-led review of dog-breeding establishments, for example. I have heard a lot of concerns about such establishments, and I have listened to them. Introducing legislation will hopefully make life a wee bit easier for councils and assist them in their duties.”
“I thank the Member for her supplementary question. As I said, I am meeting the councils this week. It is important that we collaborate on the issue. An outcome from the Member's question is that we encourage people to report concerns about animal welfare to their council, because it is important that issues be reported in order to allow for follow-up action to be taken. We are meeting later this week, and we will see what further work we can do by working together on the issue, because we can achieve a lot more collectively.”
“The enforcement of non-farmed animal welfare remains the statutory responsibility of each council. Councils are best placed to determine how that function should be discharged and the level of resource that is required to meet the specific requirements of their regions. <BR /> <BR />My Department has no remit to dictate how councils fulfil that requirement and to do so would undermine their legal and operational authority. Nevertheless, my Department has established structures to liaise with local councils on non-farmed animal welfare policy and legislation. Councils, for example, are represented on my Department’s multi-agency enforcement working group alongside the police. I also intend to meet the councils later this week to discuss animal welfare priorities for the remainder of the mandate and listen to their views.”
“I am firmly committed to a just transition and I am taking action in that regard. That is why we are look to set up a just transition commission in Northern Ireland, which, perhaps, will be one of the first to be set up under statute. Beyond that, I was glad to be able to secure an agreement with the Finance Minister to set up a just transition fund for agriculture within the draft Budget. That is an example of my commitment to a just transition, and I encourage people to respond to the consultation on the just transition commission, because the road to net zero has to be about a just and fair journey. That is what I am passionately committed to.”
“It is a bit like a marathon: the first 10K is a bit easier than the last, but it is important that we do the first 10K. Collectively, we must take action. My Department and I cannot do it alone: we all need to do take action collectively. I am confident that we can do that in Northern Ireland if we put our shoulders to the wheel. <BR /> <BR />I am massively positive on this. I brought the green growth strategy to the Executive, and I continue to engage with my Executive colleagues to get agreement on it because it is about the benefits associated with decarbonisation, such as good green jobs, with which, hopefully, everyone is on board.”
“Thank you, Sinéad, for your question. In this place, we lost a lot of pace in taking action on climate change as a result of the collapse of the Assembly. We lost two years to that, and, before that, we lost years because of stop-go government. That is why we need to have reform of these institutions. <BR /> <BR />Since taking up office, I have been working hard on this. I worked hard to get Executive agreement on the carbon budgets, and I was glad to get support in the Assembly to be able to do that. That was just before Christmas, and very quickly thereafter I met officials to go through the content of the CAP. That is being finalised, which is important and detailed work. I will bring it to the Executive for consultation once that work is complete. I am quite confident about the content and interventions in the first CAP.”
“It does not need to be like this, and it is really important that we invest in taking action, whether in climate change mitigation or adaption. That is why I am taking forward this work on climate change: I believe in it. We have a moral responsibility, not just to the people of Northern Ireland but to those way beyond it, to address those issues, which affect people across the globe.”
“I thank the Member for his important question. That news is very concerning, but, sadly, it is not surprising. It is yet another example of a global tipping point. Climate change is expected to become more severe and more frequent as global warming increases, which will have real impacts on lives and livelihoods. Tragically, we are seeing that today. My thoughts are with all the people affected in California, especially those who have lost loved ones and those who have been forced to flee their homes. <BR /> <BR />Whilst that might be on our TV screens, it is real to us in Northern Ireland because each of one of us, whether individually as citizens or as participants in government, needs to take action on climate change and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.”
“The legislation came into operation on 12 December 2024, which was a positive moment. Officials are in the process of finalising the draft climate action plan document for consultation. <BR /> <BR />Given the cross-cutting nature of the climate action plan, the draft will need to be approved by the Executive prior to its publication for consultation. I aim to bring the draft climate action plan to Executive colleagues as soon as possible to seek their approval to publish the plan for a 16-week statutory consultation. I am fully committed to delivering a climate action plan that is transformational, evidence-based, informed by stakeholders and in line with my commitment to a just transition.”
“The climate action plan will set out Northern Ireland’s approach to meeting the carbon budget for 2023-27. It will also establish a pathway towards the interim targets for 2030 and 2040 and the overall net zero by 2050 target. Ambitious policies and proposals will be required to put us on the path to net zero; our current policies, as they stand, will not be sufficient. <BR /> <BR />My Department has been leading on the development of our first climate action plan with input from all Departments. Extensive work has been undertaken to ensure that we have a credible plan that is supported by robust science and evidence, which is important. Significant progress has been made. Last month, the first three carbon budgets for 2023-27 and the interim 2030 and 2040 emissions targets were set.”
“I am keen that we do that. I will visit Belfast city centre with the Lord Mayor and the Minister for Communities to look at dilapidation, because it is important that we have a joined-up approach. I have continued liaison with the Finance Minister. We all have different powers, but we can use them collectively to deal with areas in our towns and cities where we want to see regeneration. That is a practical example of our cooperation immediately before passage of the legislation. It also says something about my commitment to working with local government and across Departments.”
“At the outset of my response, I declare that I am a member of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society (UAHS). I have an appreciation of our built heritage and listed buildings. The responsibility sits primarily in the Department for Communities. One of the benefits of the enhancement of councils' powers is that, when they exercise the associated functions, they will consider interventions in the round because some elements of the listing buildings protections in planning legislation also sit with councils. Councils already have powers, such as the urgent works notices, so this will be an additional power. It is an important point. I would like Northern Ireland's built heritage to be valued a lot more, because it gives tourists something to see and allows us to celebrate our history.”
“Dilapidation affects towns and cities. Once dilapidation develops in an area, it makes people less inclined to invest there. The legislation will give councils the power to tackle dilapidation in their areas, particularly in respect of financial bodies if the owner of a property cannot be found. The Bill will bring our legislative powers up to date. We have worked closely with the councils to give them the necessary tools in the legislation.”
“As soon as we get sign-off from the Departmental Solicitor's Office (DSO) and all the legal sign-offs, I will bring it to the Executive and then the Assembly. It has taken a bit longer than I anticipated, but I hope that the Bill will come here very soon so that we can scrutinise the legislation and see the benefits for communities of the Assembly passing it.”
“I shall seek Executive approval for the introduction of the dilapidation Bill once the process of confirming that the Bill is within the legislative competence of the Assembly is completed. The proposed Bill will provide councils with a modern and fit-for-purpose regime, including a clear toolkit of powers to tackle dilapidated buildings and neglected sites, including a series of notices, offences, penalties and appeals. Powers would be similar to those available to local authorities in other parts of the UK, where low-level dilapidation can be dealt with at a much earlier stage.”
“<BR /> <BR />Unfortunately, any unexempted XL bully that is found may be seized by dog wardens, and the council responsible for enforcement will decide the best course of action. Owners of seized dogs may have to go through a court process to allow them to retain ownership of the dog. My Department provides comprehensive guidance on the legislation to councils and continues to work intensively with the Northern Ireland Dog Advisory Group, which represents council dog wardens, to ensure that the legislation is effectively enforced.”
“First, I record my thanks, especially to animal welfare stakeholders and to print and broadcast media, for the effort that they undertook last month to raise awareness of the pending deadline, which was demonstrated by the level of sign-up for the exemption process. I thank people for that. <BR /> <BR />The deadline was set in legislation, and the date has, unfortunately, passed. It is no longer possible to apply for an exemption, regardless of the circumstances. Owners had a period of almost five months, the longest window provided for in the UK, to submit their application. My Department, in conjunction with councils, carried out extensive communications and had direct contact with known XL bully dog owners to ensure that they were aware of the legal requirements and the consequences of missing the deadline.”
“On the issue in Lisburn and Castlereagh that the Member referenced, under the legislation, any dog considered to be a restricted breed and in council care can be returned to its owners only if the courts determine that it is suitable for exemption. Until there is confirmation of the dog's breed, which, as the Member understands, the council has agreed to reassess when the dog is more mature, the council is not in a position to release it. Pit bulls have been a restricted breed since 1991, and the exemption process for the breed also entered into force in 1991. It is illegal to breed, sell, gift, exchange or abandon a restricted breed dog. I emphasise that the reasons for restricting pit bulls — to protect public safety — still pertain.”
“The Member has been steadfast in raising the issue with me. I understand that that is due to safety concerns. The legislation that I brought in, which was secondary legislation, was what was available to me under primary legislation in Northern Ireland. I will keep it under review for the same reason as the Member raises the matter, which is the concerns about it. More broadly, we want to raise better awareness of good dog ownership. I am working with stakeholders on how we can do that.”
“XL bully legislation has already been implemented in England, Wales and Scotland. When I decided to introduce legislation in Northern Ireland, I did so in that context and to protect public safety. The legislation introduced here is broadly similar to the legislation introduced in the rest of the UK, although Northern Ireland will not implement a deregistration process. The Republic of Ireland has also made it illegal to breed, sell or import XL bully dogs since 1 October 2024. The deadline for exemption applications is 1 February 2025. A while ago, I met the relevant Minister, Heather Humphreys, to discuss the issues and the need for continued cross-border collaboration on them, of which a significant amount already occurs.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. People must remember that it is an offence not to license their dog. Although dog licensing is a council matter, my Department is working with stakeholders on key priorities on licensing and encouraging compliance, as the income funds for the essential dog warden service in councils are assisted by the dog licence fee. Later this week, I will meet councils. We will discuss further how we can encourage greater uptake of dog licensing. On the specific issue, we must go with the figures that we have for the number of dogs that are licensed. It is important that we encourage people to license their dogs.”
“Complete, final data on the number of dogs for which an exemption certificate has been granted will not be known until all applications have been processed, so the final number of certificates approved may vary slightly. <BR /> <BR />It is encouraging that the overwhelming majority of owners have embraced the need for responsible dog ownership and taken the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the legislation. My Department continues to liaise with all councils regularly to provide appropriate support and guidance.”
“It is now illegal for a person to own an XL bully-type dog without a valid exemption certificate. Any person who is in breach of the law could be subject to prosecution. As the Member will be aware, I introduced those measures in response to public safety concerns and to bring Northern Ireland into parity with the rest of the UK, where similar measures have already been implemented. The Republic of Ireland has made it illegal to breed, sell or import XL bully dogs since 1 October 2024. <BR /> <BR />The deadline to apply for an exemption certificate passed on 31 December 2024. Councils have informed me that, as of today, for the 698 licensed XL bully dogs in Northern Ireland, there have been 673 applications for an exemption certificate, which is 96% of the known population.”
“Does the Member agree that it is important to learn lessons from 2016? When I am out and about in Northern Ireland, I speak to farmers and fishermen who come up to me, privately, after events, and say, "We were lied to, but what we want you to do is focus on practical solutions and be honest with the people of Northern Ireland".”
“Whilst the previous DUP leader said that he could live with 40,000 jobs being lost as a result of Brexit, I cannot. I am not in the job to play politics with people's jobs and livelihoods. It is for the sake of our agri-food sector and for all the other reasons that I have outlined that I will vote yes later and will encourage others to do likewise. For those who are determined to strike up old, worn Brexit tunes that fell out of the charts a long time ago, I will, in closing, quote another Spice Girls song:”
“<BR /> <BR />Let us consider what would happen if we voted today to walk away from the Windsor framework and articles 5 to 10, plunged people and businesses in Northern Ireland into another long period of uncertainty and chaos and turned our backs on years of negotiations and agreements that were reached without any viable solution. That would be a disaster, particularly for our agri-food sector, and many of you know that. Our dairy industry would be devastated. Many representatives of the food industry in Northern Ireland put on record their clear and serious concerns about what would have happened if Liz Truss had succeeded in scrapping the protocol in 2022. One stated:”
“Pardon the pun, but that proved that jaw-jaw is much better than stand-off and stalemate. <BR /> <BR />With the needs of farmers in mind, I have been pushing for the better promotion of available workarounds in order to secure plant-protection products. I am also urging UK-EU alignment on a range of matters, including the emissions trading scheme and the carbon border adjustment mechanism, as well as a joint approach to the welfare of cats and dogs. That is just a taster of the areas into which I am putting delivery and solutions ahead of drama and deadlock. As I said, the Windsor framework is not perfect — it is far from it — but those who want to withdraw us from it ought to be honest about the consequences, because we would be in a different place today if they had thought more about the fallout of Brexit when they mis-sold it in 2016.”
“Since I took up office in February, I have carried out substantial work in that manner, without fanfare or drama. I have been to Brussels twice, engaging and building alliances that are to the benefit of Northern Ireland at the highest levels in the European Parliament, the Commission and with permanent representatives. My engagement with the UK's Minister for the Constitution and EU Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, has been significant. I will continue to make representations to the UK Government on addressing veterinary medicines. I notice that positive progress is now being made. It is not concluded, but negotiations and engagement are where we should go. I successfully made the case for negotiated derogation and a resolution of issues on dental amalgams.”
“Perhaps we need a reset of the reset. <BR /> <BR />I reassure Members that, as a Minister, I remain true to the commitment that I gave at my first Question Time, when I stated that my approach would be very different from what had gone before. It is important to implement the law and to focus on solutions, not to deliberately enlarge problems. As I said:”
“How else can you provide the certainty needed for businesses to thrive and attract investment? That is why I remain firmly committed to full, timely and faithful implementation of the Windsor framework. It is key. <BR /> <BR />I understand that implementation is not without its challenges, especially — I speak as an MLA but also in the context of my dealings outside this place with the UK Government — the issues thrown up by the Windsor framework implementation regulations. There are challenges there. I put on record that I will continue to seek a positive, productive and, importantly, respectful working relationship with the UK Government. However, it takes two to tango. Recent attitudes of the UK Government are disappointing and rather adrift of the reset in relations that the Prime Minister promised.”
“No one has ever said that the Windsor framework is perfect, but it reflects the best possible outcome in the context of a hard Brexit negotiated by the previous UK Government. We should also not forget that many of our colleagues in the rest of the UK, such as Scotland, would jump at the chance to have the dual market access afforded to us by the Windsor framework. <BR /> <BR />To grasp the opportunity for Northern Ireland, we must move forward with stability and certainty. Nonsense such as the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill put forward by Liz Truss and others was not the answer to many of the problems. When you make international agreements, you need to stick to them. You must act in good faith; otherwise, how can you expect the EU to agree an agri-food and drink agreement when it relies on mutual trust?”
“It would, however, make a big difference, and I will continue to push for a comprehensive deal to be concluded without delay. <BR /> <BR />As a party, Alliance has always been clear that Brexit would pose considerable challenges for Northern Ireland. The direction pursued by the Tories and driven by Brexit purists has massively exacerbated those challenges. I make no secret of the fact that I am passionately pro-European. I believe in the EU and the principles on which it is founded. I want the benefits of being part of the world's largest trading bloc, as did Northern Ireland when we voted alongside Scotland to remain as part of the EU. Regrettably, we were removed, and the rest is history. <BR /> <BR />Let me be clear.”
“I will continue in a spirit of brevity, and, hopefully, others will follow. <BR /> <BR />We all know the issues relating to an agri-food and drink agreement, and that is why the UK needs to face up to those and be able to progress the matter at pace, because the people of Northern Ireland, the UK and the EU will benefit from it. That is why the planned UK-EU summit in spring next year must be the moment when we change the tune and the negotiations get serious. Until an agri-food and drink agreement is in place, many aspects of the Windsor framework will remain; indeed, even the most ambitious deal would not negate all the aspects of the Windsor framework. Significant aspects will always be needed, such as those relating to the single electricity market.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I do appreciate the "endearment".”
“And so it continues, on repeat. If we really, really want to get with the EU on an agri-food and drink agreement, then, as the Spice Girls would say, we need to get our act together "and make it fast" and then "we could be just fine". The reality is that the EU and the 27 member states have many other matters on which to focus. The planned UK-EU summit in spring next year must be the moment when we change the tune and the negotiations get serious.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. In doing so, I know that a number of the issues raised inside and outside the Chamber today and previously will soon, hopefully, be addressed by an ambitious and comprehensive UK-EU SPS veterinary agreement, which I now refer to as an "agri-food and drink agreement", which Alliance has long and consistently argued for. I cannot stress enough that the sooner we have such an agreement in place, the better it will be for Northern Ireland, the rest of the UK and, indeed, the European Union. <BR /> <BR />It is therefore disappointing that we do not seem to have quickly moved on from what seems to be mere mood music. We are stuck in what I would describe as the Spice Girls problem. "What is the Spice Girls problem?", some of you may ask. Well, as the hit song, "Wannabe" goes:”
“Many businesses in Northern Ireland are getting on the road towards net zero and decarbonisation. Many have signed up to Business in the Community's climate action pledge: companies such as ABP Food Group, Almac, Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Danske Bank, Encirc, the Galgorm Group, GRAHAM, the Henry Group, Hughes Insurance, Northern Ireland Water, Translink and Wrightbus. Let us join them on that path. Let us show leadership and move towards net zero.”
“We in the UK have advantages, particularly when it comes to skills, but we should not just be in the race. Rather, we should be looking to win it. A just transition requires an active Government, and being active is what I am doing today. The Taoiseach, Simon Harris, said at the British-Irish Council meeting that climate change is a scientific reality. A just transition is not just about growing our economy but about raising living standards in a just way. <BR /> <BR />The First Minister of Scotland spoke about the need to give policy certainty and the importance of not leaving anyone behind. I do not seek to leave anyone behind. I seek to give leadership on the issue, and I seek to follow the leadership that many other people are demonstrating.”
“Mention was made of the threat to jobs and livelihoods. That threat is real if we do not take action to address climate change, and, today, I am giving the Assembly an opportunity to move forward. People in Northern Ireland, especially farmers, need leadership, and I am giving that in spades. They do not need people who are in denial about issues, and I am very much not in denial. I am very realistic about climate change. <BR /> <BR />Most importantly, the Prime Minister of the UK said very clearly to the British-Irish Council that climate change is for real and that there will be devastating consequences if we do not act on achieving net zero. We have the single biggest opportunity of our time. It is a global race, and many are getting in the race.”