RSPB NI has today, Monday, 5 February 2024, welcomed that the Northern Ireland Assembly has returned to Stormont and is again ready for business.
Joanne Sherwood, Director of RSPB NI said:
“RSPB NI welcomes the return of the Northern Ireland Assembly and we are looking forward to working in partnership with all MLAs to ensure that strategies to tackle the nature and climate emergency are embedded in programmes of work.
“Several important environmental strategies, policy changes and decisions have been significantly delayed, putting Northern Ireland’s nature and climate at risk and also causing a failure to comply with the law.
“We are calling for immediate action to meet the public expectation that the Assembly will act to protect nature and climate for present and future generations.”
RSPB NI has outlined what action it would like to see in the first 100 days of the new Assembly.
Some of the priorities RSPB NI would like to see include:
Bringing forward a Nature Restoration Bill to establish targets in law for nature’s restoration
Northern Ireland’s first climate action plan
Bring a focus on the role of farming and its impact in saving nature.
Joanne Sherwood added:
“We know that people right across Northern Ireland are facing increased costs of living and our health service is under pressure, however the NI Executive will only achieve long-term economic success if we prioritise nature across all our policies.
“This includes prioritising actions to tackle the nature and climate crisis, halting the decline in nature and ensuring a healthy nature-rich environment for everyone.
“A healthy, nature-rich environment is essential to underpinning our economy, our society and our very existence.”
Within the first 100 days of the new Assembly, RSPB NI would like to see:
The publication of Northern Ireland's first Environmental Improvement Plan - the Environment Strategy, and an action plan, funding and timetable for delivery
Publish the overdue Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy
Launch consultations on: 1) NI’s first Climate Action Plan 2) A Just Transition Commission and 3) The establishment of NI’s first Climate Commissioner
Finalise the establishment of two marine Special Protection Areas in East Coast and Carlingford Lough due to be expanded since 2015
Publish the Peatland Strategy and establish a Peatland Restoration Fund
Publicly consult on the new Draft Seabird Conservation Strategy
Bring forward proposals for a new Agriculture Act that prioritises public money for public goods
Expediate the rollout and funding for the Farming with Nature scheme
Commit to the introduction of an Independent Environmental Protection Agency
Bring forward proposals for a Nature Restoration Bill which would establish targets in law for nature’s restoration