First stage for TUV leader Jim Allister's Functioning of Government Bill
Question time for First Minister Arlene Foster
Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots faces assembly questions
First question time for Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey
Economy Minister Diane Dodds to answer MLAs' questions
DUP motion calls for autism training in schools
Debate on Sinn Féin motion about climate emergency
Image source, ReutersLong, relentless day in the assembly chamber... it's been flat out since midday so we're away for a lie down.
Join us tomorrow at 14:00 for coverage of the Justice Committee - until then it's goodbye from us up here on Stormont hill!
So, the results on the vote on the first amendment:
The original motion is therefore amended and is subsequently approved by MLAs on an oral vote.
Sinn Féin's Declan McAleer winds for the motion, telling the assembly that farmers are "at the very coalface of the climate.
He says they face climate change all the time, they're aware of the challenges and can play a "big part in the solution as well".
He then takes a quick gallop through the points made by each of the contributors to the debate.
Image source, NI AssemblyDeputy Speaker Roy Beggs then calls the vote on the first amendment - if it's passed he won't call the second amendment, which was put forward by the DUP.
There's an oral vote with a lot of shouting - time for the house to divide.
MLAs we haven't seen for several hours pop out of the woodwork - including most - possibly all of the executive ministers.
Green Party leader Clare Bailey wants to see the Stormont executive bring forward a climate act, adding: "We need our communities protected - we need them resilient in the face of changes to come."
She tells MLAs that "we have the evidence" but are "fast running out of time".
Image source, Getty Images"We do do delay very well here so let's take a moment to decide whether we will have a new approach for a new decade and we will begin to deliver."
The South Belfast representative calls on MLAs to support the motion and the first amendment.
The DUP's Gary Middleton winds on his party's amendment and like his party colleagues who have spoken in the debate he calls for an "evidence-based approach" to addressing climate change.
Image source, NI AssemblyHe says a climate change act will need to pay attention to the unique challenges faced by Northern Ireland - for instance, nearly 30% of greenhouse gas emissions are from agriculture while the UK figure is 10%
Mr Middleton says he agrees with the environment minister that any legislation should not be rushed.
Environment Minister Edwin Poots has his turn to respond to the "climate emergency" debate and tells the assembly he doesn't want to "rush into schemes that will make matters worse".
He says any proposals for addressing climate change have to be "realistic", adding: "We cannot just close down business and industry, stop people travelling or hike up energy costs.
"Never mind the impact on the way we live, this wouldn't work to reduce global CO2 emissions."
Image source, NI AssemblyBut he adds: "That doesn't mean we can just sit back and do nothing."
He says he's writing to the Committee on Climate Change - an independent public body that advises how to tackle climate change - to ask about how Northern Ireland can reduce its emissions.
He says that when he receives its advice he'll take them to the executive.
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll isn't happy that he didn't get time to speak in the debate.
The West Belfast politician tells Deputy Speaker Roy Beggs that "all too often" the voices of the smaller parties in the chamber weren't heard during the previous assembly mandate.
Image source, NI Assembly"It's a shame that today the voice of my party and those who vote for us weren't heard today."
He asks Mr Beggs and the speaker's office to consider how the smaller parties can be included more often in assembly debates.
DUP East Londonderry MLA Maurice Bradley says there needs to be "a long, hard look" at what replaces the RHI scheme.
One small step to addressing climate change would be the planting of a tree for each person in Northern Ireland in 2021, he says, adding that he believes reafforestation could raise tree cover from 8% to 20%.
Image source, Getty ImagesSinn Féin's Catherine Kelly says young people like Greta Thunberg have woken up policymakers around the world.
"We have an undeniable and irrefutable moral responsibility to young people to pass on to them a safe climate future - in their name we act today," adds the West Tyrone MLA.
Jim Allister takes a dig at the proposal for the assembly to declare a climate emergency, describing it as "turbo-charged virtue signalling".
The TUV leader wonders what declaring a climate emergency actually means: "We're going to switch off the lights and bring in the candles?"
Image source, ReutersHe tells MLAs they are "working ourselves up into a frenzy" by believing "this puny assembly" can "stop natural forces of nature".
"We're all getting on the bandwagon of Greta this and Greta that," he says, in reference to the Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg.
DUP MLA Paul Frew (below) criticises the decision of former Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley "whereby they stripped the tariffs of the RHI scheme that brought great hardship to the recipients".
He says that poultry farmers are facing a dilemma the like of which they have never seen before.
Image source, NI AssemblySinn Féin's Philip McGuigan says this is "a potentially historic day for the assembly" and if the MLAs pass the motion they will collectively have pledged to tackle the "climate emergency".
"Today is the time to talk about action, real meaningful and practical climate action," he says.
It's also maiden-speech time for the new Alliance Party MLA Andrew Muir, who - in what is surely a first in the Norther Ireland Assembly - sports a striking bow-tie in his party's gold colour.
He pays tribute to his predecesor Stephen Farry, who was elected to the House of Commons in the December general election, and there are warm word too for the former North Down MP Lady Hermon.
Image source, NI AssemblyTurning to the climate motion, he says he can't support the second amendment, brought by the DUP's William Irwin.
Mr Muir says an independent environmental protection agency must be urgently established and have "real teeth and real freedom to pursue its agenda with vigour".
Another maiden speech - this time from Ulster Unionist John Stewart.
He talks about his memories of visiting the "big house" on the hill as a schoolboy and telling his teacher how he would love take his place in the chamber "for real one day, representing the people of East Antrim".
His constituency, he claims, is the "centre of the universe"!
Image source, NI AssemblyTurning to the debate, he says climate change is an issue all MLAs can agree on.
"None of us in this chamber are climate scientists - the only sensible thing for us to do in understanding the science behind climate change is follow the advice of the overwhelming scientific experts."
Making his first ever speech in the assembly chamber, the SDLP's Pat Catney reflects on the three years of inaction at Stormont.
"This is my maiden speech 1,168 days since the people of Lagan Valley elected me," he says.
Image source, NI Assembly"It sounds strange when you say a maiden speech at the age I am," he says, as laughter resounds around the chamber.
Mr Catney says the "climate emergency" motion is an "incredibly important" one and calls on MLAs to support it and the first amendment.
As well as being an MLA, the DUP's William Irwin is a farmer in his Newry and Armagh constituency.
He says he's committed to being a "custodian of the countryside" and takes "great care of the environment".
He's proposing an amendment - the wording of which is below:
Quote MessageLeave out all after 'years' and insert: 'notes that the New Decade New Approach paper was tabled by HM Government, in conjunction, where relevant, with the Government of the Republic of Ireland and contained within Appendix 2, a possible outline of a Programme for Government which listed a number of potential measures on the subject of climate change but which have not been agreed as a final Programme of Government by the parties within the Executive; and calls on the Executive to use an evidence based approach, to balance the demands of our growing population whilst ensuring the protection of our natural resources for future generations, as they work to construct a final Programme for Government.'
Amendment two, William Irwin, DUP
Image source, PA MediaHe tells MLAs he wants to see "everyone play their part" in fighting climate change.
Consumerism is "driving global industrialisation", he adds, and he points a finger at countries such as China for their "high reliance on coal and fossil fuels".
Image source, NI AssemblyWearing a striking Extinction Rebellion t-shirt, Rachel Woods of the Green Party moves the first amendment:
Quote MessageLeave out all after 'crisis' and insert: 'declares a climate emergency; and calls on the Executive to fulfil the climate action and environmental commitments agreed in the New Decade, New Approach agreement by commencing, as a matter of urgency, a review of the Executive’s strategies to reduce carbon emissions in respect of the Paris Accord and the need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures by 2100 and to ensure that targets are met; and further calls upon the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to begin immediately work to establish an Independent Environmental Protection Agency based on models of best practice, that will be appointed within 12 months.'
Amendment one, Rachel Woods, Green Party
Ms Woods says: "We have very little time to act on the twin crises of climate disruption and biodiversity loss."
She points out two UN bodies state the world has 12 years to arrest carbon emissions and a million species could "are at risk of annihilation".
Conor Macauley
BBC News NI environment correspondent
As a motion for debate this is a wide one.
Climate change and biodiversity loss are each huge issues to be addressed.
Legislating for Northern Ireland-specific carbon targets and an environmental body to replace EU oversight will need careful handling.
Image source, PacemakerPoliticians will want to strike a balance between the economy and the environment.
Declaring a climate emergency can be an important indicator of the Stormont executive’s intent.
But it’s the policies that will deliver change and how that transition is managed that will be closely watched.
And with just two years left in this assembly term, time is short.
Image source, Getty ImagesOne more bit of business to deal with in the assembly today so MLAs vote to extend the sitting, allowing it to run until 21:00 if need be.
And so begins the debate on a Sinn Féin motion on the "climate emergency". Caoimhe Archibald proposes the motion below:
Quote MessageThat this Assembly recognises that we are facing climate breakdown and a biodiversity crisis which are impacting here and now, and will affect all aspects of our lives in coming years; declares a climate emergency; and calls upon the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Minister for the Economy to implement urgently the commitments as agreed in the New Decade, New Approach agreement to include reviewing the Executive’s strategies to reduce carbon emissions in respect of the Paris Accord and the need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures by 2100; developing a new energy strategy which will set ambitious targets and actions for a fair and just transition to a zero carbon society; bringing forward a climate change act to give environmental targets a strong legal underpinning; establishing an Independent Environmental Protection Agency to oversee this work and ensure targets are met; developing an economic strategy which will support clean and inclusive growth and create jobs as part of a green new deal; creating a plan to eliminate plastic pollution; and closing down the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme and replacing it with a scheme that cuts carbon emissions effectively.
Motion: Climate Emergency, Caoimhe Archibald, Sinn Féin
Rising to speak about her motion, the East Londonderry MLA says there's an increasing amount of "extreme weather events, which are causing greater human and ecological damage around the world".
Ms Archibald says there "no margin for error" and any failure to recognise the environmental issues facing the world will have "profound" implications.
She says MLAs "must move now with urgency" to legislate to reduce emissions, with "unprecedented government action" required.
Sinn Féin's Catherine Kelly (below) uses her maiden speech in the assembly to call on MLAs to support Rachel Woods' amendment.
DUP MLA William Humphrey tells the assembly there's been a 62% increase in the number of school-aged children diagnosed with autism in the past five years.
Image source, NI AssemblyHe says early intervention is vital and calls on MLAs to back the motion.
The DUP motion as amended by the Green Party's Rachel Woods is unanimously passed.
It's coming up to wind-up time for the debate and Alliance Party MLA Chris Lyttle - who put his name to the amendment proposed by Green Party MLA Rachel Woods - is next to speak.
Mr Lyttle, an East Belfast MLA, uses his time to read a letter he received from a parent of a child with autism.
Image source, NI AssemblyThe letter reads: "My son was diagnosed with autism in June of P6 and a number of his teachers were unable to recognise indicators earlier.
"He was constantly punished for behaviour beyond his control... it was a dreadful year that could have been easier if people were trainer, equipped and supported to respond."
Robbie Meredith
BBC News NI education correspondent
The proportion of autistic pupils in Northern Ireland's schools has almost trebled over the past decade.
One in every 30 children in Northern Ireland has a diagnosis of autism or Asperger's syndrome.
Some will attend special schools but the majority go to mainstream schools.
Many parents and principals complain that it is sometimes difficult to get adequate support for them.
Image source, Getty ImagesIn more serious cases, children can miss extended time at school through multiple suspensions or even struggle to find an appropriate school place.
The support charity Autism NI and some teaching unions say that providing mandatory training in autism for all teachers could be a significant step in making all school staff aware of how best to help autistic pupils.
Some parents have questions over what form the training would take and how detailed it would be.
The Department of Education also said last year that the move would be premature but the new Education Minister Peter Weir may take a different view.