Northern Ireland joins Liberal leaders calling for action on climate change

7.40.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 8th Oct 2007

Alliance Youth Chair Cllr Ian James Parsley

Alliance Youth Chair Cllr Ian James Parsley joined 40 young Liberal leaders from across Europe to deliver a resolution on action to combat climate change through early preventative action, without restricting economic growth or free trade.

Speaking after a meeting with Danish environment minister Connie Hedegaardin Copenhagen, Cllr Parsley stated: "It is clear that there remain significant contradictions in the scientific evidence on climate change. We agreed, however, that preventative action can bring only positive effects,even if global warming does not occur as dramatically as some suggest. A cleaner, less polluted environment will lead to a healthier society.

"We also noted that tackling climate change need not come at a great cost to taxpayers or to business. On the contrary, a healthier environment would generally be a better one in which to create wealth, and to tackle the other huge problems in the developing world such as malnutrition and HIV/Aids.

"We want to move on from 'targets' to 'actions'. Targets are too often missed, and it is too easy to blame everyone else. Instead, we need worldwide agreement on action to tackle climate change, through improving emission trading schemes, investing in research, and promoting greener public procurement.

"This in fact ties in with an Alliance Party policy motion passed this year calling for Northern Ireland to take the lead in these areas.

"The main outcome of the meeting was an agreement that the end goal of a greener society is a positive one, and should be presented as such. It is not a matter of restricting people, but rather enabling people to live a safer and healthier life both in the short and long-term."

ENDS