Alliance MLA John Blair has called for further funding to tackle the climate crisis. Mr Blair made the call after the latest meeting of the DAERA committee, adding the DAERA allocation in the Draft Budget document for 2021-22 is not enough to tackle the climate crisis, adding that ahead of COP26 we need to provide more funding and […]
Today’s Budget from the Chancellor is a missed opportunity to invest properly in a green-led economic recovery, Alliance MP Stephen Farry has said. Dr Farry said the scale of Rishi Sunak’s interventions also fell short of what is required to address the scale of the health and economic challenges coming out of the pandemic. “There […]
Investing in peatland restoration is critical if we are serious about a green recovery, Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair has said. Chancellor Rishi Sunak last year announced a fund of £640 million to plant more than 40 million trees and restore 35,000 hectares of peatland in England, with the Scottish and Welsh Governments also […]
Alliance MLA John Blair has expressed serious concerns after the UK government again delayed the long-awaited Environment Bill – legislation needed to redraw vital regulations following the UK’s departure from the EU. Claiming the move amounts to nothing more than “dithering”, John said the delay will prevent crucial action to protect the environment, restore nature […]
Belfast High Sheriff, Councillor Michael Long has welcomed news that local residents will be able to play their part in making the One Million Trees campaign for the city a success. The campaign was launched officially in November after a proposal by Councillor Brian Heading and Councillor Long and will see one million trees planted […]
Lisburn and Castlereagh Alliance Councillors have secured a commitment from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency that further investigation into an odour problem linked to Mullaghglass Landfill site on the outskirts of Lisburn will now take place. Councillors Sorcha Eastwood, David Honeyford and Stephen Martin held the meeting recently in their latest drive to find a […]
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA has said it is disappointing a consultation into an Executive Climate Change Bill aims to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 instead of 2030 but added the Bill as a whole is a vital move. Environment Minister Edwin Poots has launched the consultation, which will see the […]
Building regulations in Northern Ireland need to be updated to ensure we meet future environmental standards, Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has said. The Strangford MLA had asked Finance Minister Conor Murphy when building regulations would be reviewed, updated and published to ensure all new builds will meet zero carbon targets. In his reply, the Minister […]
Alliance Councillor Eóin Tennyson has said it is now incumbent on the Department of Infrastructure to use their powers of enforcement or discontinuance to address the erection of a wind turbine on the site of a scheduled monument at Knock Iveagh, and to meet any costs associated with this process. He was speaking after a […]
The impending end of the Brexit transition period shows the pressing need for an independent environmental protection agency for Northern Ireland, Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA has said. The South Antrim MLA was speaking after Environment Minister Edwin Poots updated the Assembly on the latest North-South Ministerial Council meeting, focusing on environmental matters. The […]