Ulster Unionist Environment Spokesperson, Danny Kinahan MLA, has accused the Stormont Executive of showing ‘total complacency’ in tackling the climate change crisis. He made his comments after another week of budget debates in the Assembly in which the Department’s failed to prioritise the issue.

He said “Climate change is already having a tangible impact on Northern Ireland; air temperatures are rising and winters are getting wetter. Of course these side effects are only minor compared to what is happening in other parts of the world.  By taking relatively small decisions the Executive could grasp the significant opportunities offered by industries such as renewable energy and a more localised food market. The Green New Deal which originally received cross Party support, and detailed the possibility of creating 20,000 jobs within a new low–carbon economy, has been put on the back foot whilst the main parties seem more concerned about strengthening their own individual positions of power.”

Mr Kinahan added that his party would support the introduction of Northern Ireland specific Climate Change Bill in the Assembly which would reflect the targets that NI has already signed up to as part of UK climate legislation.

Read the press release in full here.