Last year the NI Assembly passed its first Climate Change Act, and now the NI Assembly and government departments must create an ambitious Climate Action Plan to implement the legislation.
The Northern Ireland Climate Action Plan will set out the policies and programmes necessary to deliver net zero by 2050 in Northern Ireland. RSPB NI has laid out 4 key tests that must be met as government prepares to publish its first Climate Action Plan for Northern Ireland later this year.
The policies and programmes in the CAP should:
Net Zero by 2050
The Northern Ireland Climate Action Plan will set out the policies and programmes necessary to ensure we play our part in global efforts to tackle climate change. While this is a step in the right direction, there is a risk that that nature may take a back seat in order for the department to meet their climate targets.
John Martin, Head of Policy and Advocacy at RSPB NI - “Even though we remain without a functioning Assembly, government departments still have a duty to implement the landmark Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. that was passed by the Assembly last year.
“The legislation lays out very clear targets that must be met and undue delay will only make it harder to reach net zero.., a target that can’t be missed for the sake of all of our futures.”
Therefore, we must ensure that the first Climate Action Plan is signed off by the end of 2023. We cannot afford to delay in the midst of a nature and climate emergency.
Getting it Right!
It is vital that we tackle the nature and climate crises in tandem and make the most of the multiple benefits from doing so.
In Northern Ireland:
We need to realise the intrinsic link between the destruction of the natural world and climate catastrophe. Recent research from the RSPB illustrated that the areas of the UK currently sequestering most carbon, are places richest in nature. Yet many of these areas are in a poor or degrading state, undermining their ability to act as effective carbon sinks. We must now harness the power of nature by investing in nature-based solutions, such as peatland restoration, appropriate tree planting, salt marsh restoration and improving the condition of natural carbon stores at sea.
The pictures below show clearly how woodlands can be rich or poor in nature:
The island of Ireland was once a land of woods and forests. The small island once had forest cover of around 80 percent, but today has one of the lowest rates in Europe, just 11 percent. In Northern Ireland, these stats are even worse, with just 8% cover, and that 8% is largely taken up by non-native, non-nature friendly forestry plantations.
Generally speaking, tree planting is good, however; it’s about the species, where it’s planted, and what it’s planted for, that clinches the situation!
Native, species rich woodland by Melanie Coates
Protecting native woodland while planting new native, mixed varieties of trees, provides space for nature, and sequesters carbon.
Sitka spruce plantation by Melanie Coates
This forest may grow quicker than native woodland, however, it does not support UK and Irish native species and trees like the one’s pictured above, are grown purely to be cut down.
The pictures below showcase how farming can be both good and bad for nature:
In Northern Ireland, farming has caused widespread habitat loss, it also currently attributes towards a third of annual emissions, however farming doesn’t have to be the problem, it can in fact be the solution!
Butterfly among a regenerative cereal crop by Mark McCormick
Farming in a regenerative, agroecological way not only benefits farmers, improving soil health, but it also supports nature and sequesters carbon.
A combine harvesting barley by Patrick Cashman
Producing monocultural foods by ploughing and using harmful chemicals, leads to soil infertility, species loss and carbon loss.
We need renewable energy to get to net zero, but in the wrong places it can harm nature:
Wind turbine by Dakota Reid
In 2022, over half the electricity used in Northern Ireland came from local renewable sources. Decarbonising energy is a vital part of efforts to reach net zero. In order to phase out fossil fuels, the deployment of renewable technology must keep rising – in the right places.
We need to ensure that action on climate change does not increase the threat to nature. We need more renewables, but in the wrong places they can cause harm to our declining species. For example, our precious seabirds which may be threatened by offshore wind. That is why we are calling for the deployment of renewable energy in harmony with nature.
In offshore wind energy, Northern Ireland needs to champion a plan-led approach that avoids the areas that are most sensitive for our marine species. All proposals need to be accompanied by robust environmental assessment and good data, and funding also needs to be put towards restoring our marine habitats in order to take action on both the nature and climate emergencies.
Making your voice heard...
Campaigners continue to demand ambition climate action in Northern Ireland. On Friday 7th April RSPB NI Youth Campaigners joined Fridays for Future Ireland to advocate for climate action in harmony with nature. Playing the sounds of ten species facing extinction across the island of Ireland, we let nature speak for itself.
Help us campaign for a Climate Action Plan that delivers for nature.
Find out more here Nature Positive NI