The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland – Leading Change

Environment

At the start of the 21st Century many countries across the world are facing up to the global threat of unsustainable development. This has resulted in changing natural habitats, overexploitation of resources, climate change and increased pollution. If current trends continue, damage to our environment will accelerate. Action must be taken to ensure development is sustainable by considering the environmental and social impacts. Alliance supports regional, national, European and international efforts to protect the environment.

Northern Ireland is a region with the highest ecological footprint in the UK. In per capita terms, Northern Ireland's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions figures are considerably higher than the UK average. Average emissions per person are 12.4 tonnes in Northern Ireland, which is higher than the UK average of 10.4 tonnes. It is clear that we are not only living beyond our means but also disadvantaging others outside our borders.

Alliance believes that a quality local and global environment is integral to a good quality of life. There is much that can be done in Northern Ireland to protect our local environment, and to contribute to wider efforts to protect the environment generally. All sections of society, including the public and private sector, civic society and local communities, producers and consumers, have important roles to play.

Alliance priorities are to-

• Make sustainable development an overarching theme in central, regional and local government. Protecting the environment and developing our economy are not mutually exclusive but interdependent.
• Create a Green Economy Task Force. This body would make local businesses aware of the true economic and environmental costs of their actions, to illustrate the potential savings from more efficient use of resources and the minimisation of waste, and to show the potential of new markets for environmentally friendly products.
• Ensure that we play our part in meeting climate change targets in Northern Ireland. We must develop mitigation and adaptation measures in tackling climate change. A Northern Ireland Climate Change Bill is needed as a foundation to transform Northern Ireland into a low carbon economy.
• Introduce and support the growth of renewable energy and micro-generation at guaranteed fair prices for energy consumers. We will encourage people to invest in energy efficiency measures. Higher energy efficiency leads to money savings for households and businesses.
• Establish an independent Environment Protection Agency. This should be an independent body that will have the power to enforce environmental legislation and not be a part of the Department of Environment. This is essential to sustaining and improving quality of life for all the people in Northern Ireland.
• Fully implement legislation and directives to ensure the maximum opportunities to protect our natural environment and biodiversity. Alliance is committed to the implementation of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy to achieve the 2016 target of halting biodiversity loss, and protecting the marine environment through a Northern Ireland Marine Bill.
• Redefining the purpose of the planning system to make sustainable development fundamental to planning. Alliance favours balanced development that creates new investment, prosperity and homes, while respecting both the environment and our built heritage.
• Support waste management strategies that stresses waste reduction, reuse, and recycling to minimise landfill dumping. Northern Ireland is considerably behind both the rest of the UK and most of our partners in Europe in the amount of waste that is recycled. The failure to meet Landfill Directive targets could lead to heavy infraction fines for Northern Ireland and will put additional costs onto the District Rate.

POLICY PAPER

The Green Road to Recovery (PDF)