Our vision is of ... a healthy environment

If everyone in the world consumed natural resources and generated carbon emissions at the rate we do in Northern Ireland, we’d need three planet Earths to support us. While climate change is a global issue the Department of the Environment’s State of Environment (2008) report confirms that climate change is having an impact here. “Climate change is occurring at an increasingly measurable scale. Air temperature is rising and the number of hot days is increasing; the proportion of rainfall in summer is decreasing, while winters are getting wetter.”

99% of our energy needs are met by imported fossil fuels and this threatens our energy security.  Yet we are not fully developing our vast local renewable energy resources from wind, tidal power and biomass.

Half of Northern Ireland’s wildlife, around 4,000 species, lives in the sea, yet less than 4% of it has any form of protection.  1,000,000 marine animals are killed annually around our coasts. Our rivers and lakes to suffer the impacts of pollution from agricultural, domestic and industrial sources, and in 2009 over 70% of our rivers and lakes still failed to meet the ‘good ecological status’ water quality standard required by the EU by 2015 under the Water Framework Directive. Littering costs Northern Ireland £100,000 a day.

Emissions from road transport represent 28.2% of Northern Ireland’s total Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2008 an increase of 39.5% since 1990 - cars were responsible for 54% of the CO2 emissions and HGVs contributed 36%.  Yet the indicative budgets for the next four years show that government intends to spend a total of £3,095 million on roads and only £725 million on public transport.

In order to realise our vision of a Northern Ireland with sustainable communities, a healthy environment, vibrant seas and energy security, politicians and political parties should:

• Introduce a Northern Ireland Climate Change Act with a legally binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.
• Commit to establishing an independent environmental protection agency within three years.
• Develop a long-term (ie 40 year) Energy Strategy which sets clear targets to reduce our over-dependence on fossil fuels and increase energy production from renewables, and matches the EU Renewable Energy Directive targets of 15% of energy generated from renewable sources by 2020.
• Introduce a Northern Ireland Marine Act and establish an independent marine management organisation. Put in place legislation which integrates all sectors of marine activity so that there is minimum disruption and damage to marine wildlife. Ensure adequate resources are in place to support the full implementation of the Water Framework Directive.
• Ensure 50% of transport spending is allocated to public transport and/or sustainable forms of transport.