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

A brief overview of the content of the parts within this consultation and its supporting appendices and annexes is provided as follows:

Part 1 provides information on the legislative context for NICCAP3 and details on the consultation itself including how to respond as well as a short introduction to the two main responses to climate change:

•              Mitigation

Climate change mitigation refers to actions or activities that limit emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from entering the atmosphere and/or reduce their levels in the atmosphere.

•              Adaptation

Climate adaptation means taking action to prepare for and adjust to the current and projected impacts of climate change.

Part 2 covers NICCAP3 itself including how DAERA has chosen to structure it and why. It provides detail on each of the Key Areas within NICCAP3 which cover the sectorial thematic areas of Natural Capital; Food Security; Infrastructure Services; People and the Built Environment; and Disruption to Business & Supply Chains. This chapter also provides details on the statutory and best practice impact assessments which were carried out on the draft NICCAP3.

Part 3 provides details on the next steps, following the close of the consultation, including information on the confidentiality of responses to the consultation, as well as on Data Protection and Freedom of Information consideration.

The Appendices contain a series of Key Area booklets, which break the overall NICCAP3 parts and chapters into sectoral areas. These have been designed to allow for consultees to focus on areas of the NICCAP3 consultation of particular interest. Links to each of these booklets will be found at the home page for each Key Area.

The Annexes contain the draft NICCAP3, the link for which can be found above, and the Impact Assessment screening templates that have been carried out. Links to the Impact Assessment screening templates can be found in the relevant section of this questionnaire.

How to Respond to this Consultation

The full draft NICCAP3 is available as Annex I – Draft Third Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme (NICCAP3)  and includes detail on climate adaptation policy and action both within Government and across wider society. It also includes an assessment of progress made in the previous Adaptation Programme as required by the 2008 Act.

We recognise that the full draft NICCAP3 is a substantial document covering a wide range of sectors, not all of which will be of interest to every reader. While you are welcome to respond to all areas of the NICCAP3 consultation, in anticipation that you may only wish to respond to some areas of interest, we have prepared a series of Appendices to this consultation document which break the draft NICCAP3 into 5 key areas of sectoral impact as follows:

• Appendix I – Natural Capital
• Appendix II – Food Security
• Appendix III – Infrastructure Services
• Appendix IV – People and the Built Environment
• Appendix V – Disruption to Businesses and Supply Chains

These provide information on the climate impacts on each key area, as well as the policies, plans, and proposals which relate to them, and will assist you in responding to the relevant questions from 8 to 48 depending on your specific area(s) of interest.

In addition to responding to your key area(s) of interest, we would please ask that some non-theme specific questions are responded to by all. The information required for these questions is contained within this consultation document for questions 1 to 7, and in the annexes containing the draft impact assessments for which question 49 relates.

We would be grateful if responses could be provided for all the questions within a key area.

An overview of the questions, where the supporting information may be found, and the level of requested engagement in responding is detailed below:

Questions 1 to 7 – Response requested from all

Information is contained within this consultation document and, if required, also the draft NICCAP3 at Annex I.

The information to respond to the following Optional Key Areas can be found in the full draft NICCAP3 document found at Annex I, also in the Appendices indicated below.

Questions 8 to 14 – Optional Key Area

Appendix I – Natural Capital

1. Nature
2. Working Lands & Seas

Questions 15 to 19 – Optional Key Area

Appendix II – Food Security

1. UK Food Security

Questions 20 to 30 – Optional Key Area

Appendix III – Infrastructure Services

1. Water Supply
2. Energy
3. Telecommunications & ICT
4. Transport

Questions 31 to 41 – Optional Key Area

Appendix IV – People and the Built Environment

1. Towns & Cities
2. Health
3. Buildings
4. Community Preparedness & Response

Questions 42 to 48 – Optional Key Area

Appendix V – Disruption to Businesses and Supply Chains

1. Business
2. Finance

Question 49 – Response requested from all

Information within Annexes II - VI, which relate to the NICCAP3 Impact Screening Assessments.