Debate contribution: Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill: Legislative Consent Motion

Debate contribution by Mr Daniel McCrossan on 12 January 2026.

MLA

Mr Daniel McCrossan

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

12 January 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill: Legislative Consent Motion

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5311972

Read the official Assembly record

Text

This is an important motion. The SDLP supports it because biodiversity loss is one of the most pressing global challenges that we face. Climate change, habitat degradation and ecosystem collapse already have serious consequences for food security, climate stability and livelihoods. The oceans play a vital role in regulating our climate and sustaining life, yet much of the high seas remains inadequately protected. While Northern Ireland does not border the high seas, we are not insulated from what happens there. We are part of the maritime island economy and a shared global environmental system. Damage to marine ecosystems affects fish stocks, climate patterns and environmental resilience, all of which have real consequences for our communities. The Bill gives effect to an international agreement that introduces practical and necessary measures, including maritime protected areas, environmental impact assessments for activities on the high seas and fair arrangements for accessing and sharing the benefits of marine genetic resources. The provisions are grounded in scientific evidence and respond to long-standing weaknesses in global marine governance. The SDLP has always supported environmental protection that is based on cooperation, science and, of course, fairness. This legislation is not about stopping activity for the sake of it; it is about ensuring that activity takes place within clear, credible rules that are protect ecosystems while providing certainty for research and responsible development. We also support the legislative consent motion because it reflects the importance of Northern Ireland playing its part in meeting international environmental obligations. Extending the provisions here ensures consistency across the UK and demonstrates our commitment to collective global action on environmental protection. Crucially, the SDLP rejects the false choice between environmental protection and economic development. Strong environmental standards, when properly designed and applied, enable development to proceed responsibly. Weak or inconsistent standards undermine confidence, increase conflict and store up greater costs for the future. The Bill establishes international frameworks that allow development to take place within defined limits. The approach is entirely consistent with our approach here at home. Development should happen, but it must be done properly, with mitigation, oversight and accountability built in from the outset. There is an important issue of fairness at the heart of the legislation, and marine genetic resources that may have significant scientific and medical value should not become the preserve of a small number of powerful interests. The Bill promotes fair and equitable sharing of benefits, ensuring that scientific progress serves the common good. The environmental crisis is not only ecological; it is social and economic. Biodiversity loss disproportionately affects those least responsible for it. International cooperation is essential if we are to avoid repeating patterns of exploitation in shared global commons such as the oceans. The SDLP also welcomes the emphasis on environmental impact assessments. Evidence-based decision-making is absolutely essential. Assessing impacts before damage occurs is always preferable to attempting to repair harm after the fact, particularly in fragile marine ecosystems. Environmental standards must be applied consistently and credibly and should never be used selectively or opportunistically. The SDLP supports environmental protection because it strengthens decision-making and public confidence, not because it provides a convenient veto. For Northern Ireland, endorsing the legislative consent motion is about recognising an environmental responsibility that does not stop at our borders and that our actions contribute to a wider global effort to protect shared resources. For those reasons, we are content to support the motion.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:17 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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