Climate Change Commitment 31 May 2012
Minister Attwood gives commitment to legislation on climate change
Environment Minister
Alex Attwood has said that he will do all he can to bring forward climate
change legislation for Northern Ireland.
Speaking at a seminar
organised by his Department to discuss the case for such legislation, Mr
Attwood said that climate change was one of the greatest challenges facing us
today.
The Minister said: Climate
change is not just a narrow environmental issue but unless we can find an
accommodation, it also threatens our economy and society and even our very
existence.
I have said before
that I would like to follow the approach taken in Scotland where ambitious
greenhouse gas reduction targets are included in legislation. Such legislation
in Northern Ireland will bring greater certainty that reductions in emissions
can be delivered.
The Ministers
comments follow a report of the Committee on Climate Change in November 2011
which advised him that legislation could assist Northern Ireland in delivering
emission reductions.
Stating that Northern
Ireland can be a world leader in carbon reduction,Mr Attwood said: Ireland
is promoted throughout the world as a green land where people care dearly for
the environment. If we wish to maintain this, we must take action now to get
off the hook of fossil fuel and onto clean, green growth.
Climate change
legislation will not only help safeguard this reputation but will also
contribute to the recovery of our economy. It is crucial that we all work
together to make the transition to a low carbon economy for Northern Ireland;
legislation on climate change will be very positive step in the right
direction.
The Minister will
bring forward his plans for legislation to the Executive in the autumn.
