Ulster Unionist Environment Spokesperson, Sandra Overend MLA, has welcomed the international agreement announced at the climate change conference in Paris. The Mid Ulster MLA has now renewed her calls on the Northern Ireland Executive to improve its poor record on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Sandra Overend said:

“The debate regarding the cause of climate change has now largely been concluded. The scientific evidence overwhelmingly verifies the impacts of our changing climate are accelerating, and that they’re largely driven by greenhouse gas emissions as a result of human activity. It will be to mankind’s peril if we ignore that.

“The agreement reached at Paris is welcome and I hope that it marks a turning point for the international community.

“However in order to live up to its global responsibilities Northern Ireland needs to do much more than what it is achieving at present. The Executive has a target to reduce emissions by 35% on 1990 levels by 2025, however the latest projections are that it is going to miss that.

“In information recently obtained by the Ulster Unionist Party it was revealed that the Executive has for several years either been stagnating or going backwards on reducing emissions. In 2011 the Executive had reduced emissions by 17.2% compared to the 1990 baseline, however in 2012 that actually fallen to 16.1% and in 2013, the most recent year for which figures are available, it remained on only 16.1%.

“Whilst some individual Departments and Ministers have taken major steps to reduce emissions, and in particular former Regional Development Minster Danny Kennedy who greatly increased the support and use of sustainable transport, overall the Executive has failed to live up to its commitments.

“Indeed the recent Jonathan Bell debacle regarding his poor handling and early cessation of the NI Renewable Obligation (NIRO) in April 2016 is likely to only further reduce the level of renewable energy generated. Whilst the Executive still claims to be committed to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, its actions suggest otherwise. 

“The economic costs of failing to tackle climate change are enormous. Drier summers and wetter winters are already beginning to have an impact on Northern Ireland and therefore it is essential that the Executive and UK Government play a major part in the global efforts to cut emissions.”