Article on NI Climate Action Plan, by Joanne Sherwood, Director RSPB NI.
Northern Ireland is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. It’s the 12th worst performing country for biodiversity on the global list. It was also the last part of the UK and Ireland to pass its own climate change legislation. That’s why last year’s decision by the Northern Ireland Assembly to pass our first Climate Change Act was so significant. But changing the law was only the start. Now, the hard work begins to implement the changes that the Act demands.
In the next few months Northern Ireland’s first Climate Action Plan, covering 2023 to 2027, will be released for public consultation. Our new law states that the Climate Action Plans must set out policies and programmes to put Northern Ireland on course to reach net zero by 2050.
But with the Assembly not sitting, there’s a risk that the Climate Action Plan will suffer from a lack of ambition which would go entirely against the spirit of what is now the law. Now is the time for decision makers to step up, regardless of whether the Assembly is functioning or not. The nature and climate emergency is a threat to our communities, our economy, our environment and our future.
RSPB NI has laid out 4 key tests that we believe the policies and programmes in the Climate Action Plan must meet:
1. Ensure that Northern Ireland remains on course to meet net zero by 2050, and realise the economic opportunities of investing in nature and climate.
2. Embed nature-based solutions at the heart of climate action (fulfilling clause 34 of the Climate Change Act (NI) 2022)
3. Support a just transition to nature & climate friendly farming.
4. Ensure renewables are delivered in a nature positive way on and offshore.
While the new Climate Action Plan will be a step in the right direction, RSPB NI wants a Climate Action Plan that doesn’t create the unintended consequence of encouraging developments that damage our fragile natural environment.
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Posted On: 17/05/2023