Debate contribution: Green Growth: Removal of Barriers

Debate contribution by Ms Kate Nicholl on 17 September 2024.

MLA

Ms Kate Nicholl

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 4537450

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Feel free to intervene if there are any points I miss. The motion that we tabled today and the ongoing work of Minister Muir to develop a green growth strategy recognises that tackling the climate and nature emergency goes hand in hand with economic transformation and social justice. They are not at odds with each other; rather, they enable one another. My colleague David Honeyford made it clear that a green new deal is our future, and that is why we cannot support the DUP amendment. Having a deal is so important. Phillip Brett talked about the all-party commitment to the £150 million fund, while Gary Middleton said that a greener economy is better for people and the environment, so there has been agreement on the importance of green growth, and that is really positive. There is a common narrative in the media about how much it will cost to meet our legally binding net zero targets, but that represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the challenges and opportunities that are at stake. It is so important that we consider the costs of not reaching net zero. We can already see the impacts of climate change all around us, which are hitting the most vulnerable in particular. My colleague John Blair talked about that. Without a serious plan to future-proof our infrastructure and communities against the potentially devastating impacts of the climate crisis, those impacts will only worsen. Gary Middleton talked about the role of the public sector — Deborah reiterated that — and praised the work of Translink in that space. I agree. Tackling the climate crisis and transitioning to carbon neutrality hold the key to unlocking significant job opportunities across the industries of the future. We urgently need to decarbonise our economy and, by doing so, unlock a fairer and more resilient economy filled with clean and affordable renewable energy and well-paid green jobs. Phillip Brett mentioned the areas in which we are leading and said that we should talk about that more: I completely agree. Nicola Brogan highlighted the innovative work being done in various sectors, including hydrogen. Anyone who has visited businesses such as Artemis Technologies knows that there is a lot to be excited about and to sell. I welcome the Infrastructure Minister's presence at the debate, his response and his commitment to working with colleagues on delivery. As the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, previously outlined, economic growth and environmental protection are intertwined and interconnected: a healthy Northern Ireland is a prosperous Northern Ireland. The Minister's plans for a green growth strategy will provide a framework for tackling the climate and nature crisis in a way that enhances economic opportunities across society. The Department for Infrastructure is engaging with other Departments. Patsy McGlone mentioned that there may be a requirement for policy change, and that will be looked at. I particularly welcome Phillip Brett's enthusiasm and excitement about the upcoming green growth strategy. I hope that that is an indication that the strategy will not take as long as the environmental improvement plan did to make it on to the Executive agenda. Justin McNulty's point on ambition and delivery is taken, and I am confident that the Minister will not be found wanting there. To enable transformation, we can no longer tinker at the edges of the planning system. It came up time and time again in the debate that fundamental reform is needed if we are to deliver the green transformation that our communities and our economy require and deserve. David and a number of other Members mentioned that, when talking to the energy industry and experts, that comes up as a real issue. David also talked about instability being an issue, and that is so true: lack of reform in the public sector is a big problem. John Stewart made a really important point about people having to pull the plug on major projects because of bureaucracy. He rightly said that that is lamentable. He talked about reports that highlight planning delays and the impact of the silo mentality. In its 2024 report on planning reform, the NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated that mechanisms for prioritising renewable energy projects will be vital if we are to meet our decarbonisation targets. If we are to make significant progress towards the target of 80% of energy consumption from renewable sources by 2030, our planning system has to be geared towards that end, while safeguarding our environment and delivering new green jobs across our communities. Cathal Boylan, who, I know, is passionate about planning — we have had conversations about it — outlined the reviews that have been done and said that the Programme for Government contained commitments. The Minister went into detail on that. Andy McMurray talked about the 30-week planning target. Wind farms can take three years, though. There is an issue with staffing in planning. It is a skills issue that we really need to address. Deborah touched on how the Planning Appeals Commission is not fully equipped to deal with all the applications and agreed that there is a particular issue with wind.

We need to work together to deliver. Strategies alone will not be enough; we need to deliver. John Blair, who is arguably the biggest environmentalist in the Alliance Party, talked about the consequences of inaction and how they are already being felt. The biggest barrier to green growth is the political will, and radical change is critical. He told us that we have a historic opportunity and that we are talking about the birthright of our children and of "future generations".

The climate crisis has the potential to devastate — it already does. The answer to the challenge cannot be to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that the impacts will never reach us. It is too late for that. We have to learn to adapt and overcome. We must address the climate crisis head-on and in an inclusive manner that brings communities with us, delivers greater prosperity and protects our environment for generations to come.

1,015 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:12 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification