Green Party Leader Mal O'Hara said "Late, limited ambition and refusal to take on big Agri-food obscures the positives in this plan. The Climate Action Plan should have been laid before the Assembly in 2023. That the Executive are consulting now on their plan for the years 2023-2027 shows how deprioritised Climate Action is to them. Agriculture (30.8%) and Transport (21.5%) account for over half of our emissions but the radical action required in those sectors appears to be sorely lacking."
Mal continued "The Minister has chosen to ignore the Independent Climate Change Committee (ICCC) which suggested radical action in agriculture and herd reduction. We have seen the damage that industrialised farming is doing to our water, air and soil quality. Lough Neagh is the case in point with over 60% of phosphorus pollution into the lough coming from agriculture. We need to return to small and local farms that feed us, restore nature and are the lifeblood of rural communities. Not mass slaughter houses for the export market so that Big Agri-food make a tidy profit. The ambition on Transport is similarly stunted. More vague commitments on getting people to use their cars less but we can’t do that unless we properly fund public transport and give people other options. There is no mention of rail in the plan when the Executive should be prioritising the recommendations of the All-Island Rail Review.”
Mr O’Hara finished by saying “Reducing emissions can have so many benefits if done right. Thousands of green jobs and skilled apprenticeships to give the next generation hope. Cheaper energy bills for all in well insulated buildings. Vibrant rural communities that restore nature, reverse species loss and attract tourism. Well paid transport jobs on cheap, reliable and efficient public transport. That could be the vision if the Minister and Executive were brave enough.”
ENDS
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