Debate contribution: Green Growth: Removal of Barriers

Debate contribution by Mr John Blair on 17 September 2024.

MLA

Mr John Blair

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

17 September 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Green Growth: Removal of Barriers

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4537391

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I am speaking today as the Alliance spokesperson on agriculture, environment and rural affairs, with a particular emphasis on the environment. As the motion suggests, I wish to acknowledge the work of the Environment Minister in bringing forward the green growth strategy. When discussing its significance recently, the Minister correctly stated:

"Economic growth and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive but intertwined."

To use a very real example, the crisis in Lough Neagh and other waterways across Northern Ireland clearly highlights the impact of climate change and prompts us to find the right balance between expanding the economy and safeguarding the environment. Indeed, the sporadic nature of government, and subsequently governance, in Northern Ireland over the past decade has only made delivering green growth initiatives more difficult. We can no longer brush the environmental crisis under the carpet for future consideration, as the consequences of our inaction now are being felt and will only continue to escalate. Radical change is not just sensible but critical. To be frank, the biggest barriers to green growth in Northern Ireland are a lack of political will and resistance to change. Those barriers have materialised — I say so respectfully — with the DUP's proposed amendment to the motion; in particular, its removal of the reference to reform and its failure to deal specifically with the interdepartmental aspects of a green new deal, in particular, and why that was included in the original motion. In history, times of crisis and great upheaval have led to remarkable change. For example, the creation of a welfare state and the NHS after World War II brought about radical and previously unimaginable changes that remain crucial to our lives generations later. Now, we have a similar historic opportunity for change: the chance to develop a long-term strategy to address the climate challenge by balancing climate action with the environment and the economy to benefit everyone in society. I have said many times that, from every sector to every person, we each have a role to play. If anyone believes that we can address the climate emergency, improve the natural environment and advance the circular economy without huge effort, they are seriously mistaken. It is easy to find examples of obstacles that we have faced to date, such as the Executive's delay in publishing 'The Lough Neagh Report' and its action plan or the pending peatlands and ammonia strategies. Furthermore, it is notable that, in March, just one month into office, the Environment Minister introduced an environmental improvement plan to the Executive, but it has not yet secured Executive approval. As that is a legal requirement, the Department now faces a legal challenge, potentially diverting funds that could, ultimately, be used to address the climate crisis to that specific issue. If we are to seriously deliver on the three pillars of the green growth strategy — climate action, environmental improvements and green jobs — we need that interdepartmental approach. Various government strategies and plans must be coordinated and integrated to support the goals that are outlined in the green growth strategy. We must see tackling the climate emergency not as inter-sector condemnation or competition, but as an opportunity to build the future that we want, including preserving our planet for future generations and obtaining economic and social transformation. Action must take place across all levels of government. Alliance remains committed to championing environmental issues by ensuring that focused action comes at every level of government to introduce a green new deal in each council area. However, government and industry are not the sole drivers of climate action and green growth, and nor should they be. Collective societal action through businesses, young people, and the voluntary and community sector is also absolutely vital. The DUP amendment calls for:

"an affordable and sustainable transition for businesses and households".

Let us be clear: any upfront costs represent investment in an improved society for future generations, bringing real benefits and opportunities to everyone's daily lives. Similarly, while Ministers will understandably cite budgetary pressures right now, the cost of delaying action will lead to greater budgetary pressures in the future. There is no point in holding back and waiting for an affordable pathway, because agreement around that point will simply never come. Climate and economic experts are clear that we need a green recovery with huge investment and urgent radical changes to our economy.

Northern Ireland will be left behind as other economies across the globe make the necessary investments in decarbonisation and broader climate action if we do not take action now. I commend the motion, but I cannot support the amendment.

769 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:11 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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