When you think of life after the pandemic, how does it look? Do you want to see more birds and bees in our towns and countryside? How about greener energy powering our cars and homes? Or the Government committing to legal targets to halt the warming our of planet?
You don’t need to imagine this future - a green recovery can help make it happen.
A green recovery is Northern Ireland’s chance to rebuild our economy, and tackle the nature and climate crises too – creating a lasting recovery. But despite the importance of restoring nature, Northern Ireland is the only country in the UK without dedicated green recovery funding. The good news is, it’s not too late to turn this around!
This month, the Finance Minister is making big spending plans that will shape Northern Ireland’s future after Covid-19. We need lots voices speaking up for nature to make sure he gets it right and funds a better future where people and nature can thrive.
That’s why RSPB NI is asking everyone to email the Minister for a Green Recovery Fund. It might seem daunting but writing to a member of the NI Executive is a powerful way of making your voice heard. To make things easier, we’ve drafted an email that you can send right away or personalise, so it only takes two minutes of your time.
Throughout history, some of the biggest changes have been brought about by passionate people taking action. If enough of us contact the Minister, we have a real chance of making a Green Recovery a reality for Northern Ireland. Act now.
But it’s not just RSPB NI who are calling on the Government to fund a Green Recovery. Renowned economist Dr Matthew Agarwala of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge believes a green economy is the best economic strategy we have right now. Not only does restoring nature through a green recovery actually improve the operating space for our entire economy, but once nature is back on track, it has the self-regenerative capacity to keep itself going.
For Dakota Reid, Queens University Belfast student and environmental activist, a green recovery is more than an economic commitment to a sustainable future. It’s a chance to secure a safer future for today’s young people by tackling the climate and nature crises here and now. In our new video, we catch-up with Dr Agarwala, Dakota and RSPB NI’s Dr Jonny Bell to explore how a green recovery can revive our world and help us build the Northern Ireland we all want and need.
We can't afford to miss this opportunity! Watch now then please join us in asking the Finance Minister to fund a Green Recovery.