To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) for his assessment of the UN IPCC scientific evidence on petroleum; and (ii) whether he will consider petroleum policy licensing options based on this research.

The Sixth Assessment Report from the UN IPCC indicates that considerable work still needs to be done to reduce our carbon emissions and meet climate targets. The UN IPCC research, as well as other international research and independent NI-specific research on the impacts of petroleum licensing, is being used to inform consideration of policy options for the future of petroleum licensing in Northern Ireland. I hope to be in a position to present policy options to the Executive later in the year.