North Down Green Party Councillors have welcomed Ards and North Down Borough Council's new Sustainability Policy receiving full Council's approval.

North Down Green Party NI group leader, Cllr Barry McKee said, 'The Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 further to a Green Party NI motion to recognise the situation that we are facing, and whilst this new policy has taken some time to formulate, I welcome its passage this evening. We are in a code red for humanity and actions need to be immediate and decisive at all levels of government and society. This is a welcome first step with Council recognising its statutory duty on sustainability, adapting to climate change and biodiversity. We need to also implement a just transition, as we move away from fossil fuel reliance in every aspect of the Council's work going forward. This will include looking at building regulations, looking at insulation, at retrofitting projects to protect residents who are literally heating the street and experiencing fuel poverty, especially in this midst of this energy crisis."

Cllr Stephen Dunlop, Bangor Central Councillor said, 'We have a great opportunity here to embed sustainable practice, to promote a circular economy which will save resources and finances in the future, to adapt the way in which procurement is sought, and to take responsibility as a public body in doing what we can as a Council. Imagine if Ards and North Down Borough was the most sustainable?! It would have great benefit not only to our local communities, but those who come to experience what we have to offer, especially with our new city status, and the regeneration of Bangor town centre."

Cllr Lauren Kendall stated that, 'This policy, if resourced and acted on properly will have great benefits to every person in Ards and North Down. We really need to value and protect our amazing area, protecting our environment and recognising the crisis that we are facing. The Green Party NI MLAs in the last mandate brought a Climate Bill, and successfully amended the Climate Change Act which is about to receive Royal Assent. We now have to act, and I look forward to scrutinising and working with the Council to ensure that we can the best we can be."

ENDS