Image credit: Andy Hay (rspb–images.com)
14th December 2020
Nature Matters NI warns of post–Brexit environmental governance gap
As UK and EU negotiators continue last ditch efforts to agree a future trade deal, Nature Matters fears that a gap in how we look after the environment will hamper local ambitions after the Brexit transition period.
Government departments in Northern Ireland have been working hard to transpose EU legislation into the NI statute to ensure the same level of environmental standards and compliance remain once the transition period ends December 31 2020. However, concern remains relating to gaps in environmental governance, future agriculture policy, fisheries and cross border cooperation, all of which were previously managed in cooperation with the EU.
John Martin, Nature Matters Project Manager said: “With the end of the transition period clear on the horizon, significant threats to Northern Ireland’s environment remain. Some progress has been made by the UK and NI governments in delivering environmental objectives. The Agriculture and Fisheries Acts have passed in Westminster and there is also an Environment Bill due, all of which have provisions for Northern Ireland. However, the absence of primary legislation for agriculture, fisheries and the environment in the Northern Ireland Assembly leaves a significant environmental governance gap for Northern Ireland come December 31 2020. This is a matter of grave concern.”
From the outset of Brexit negotiations, Nature Matters NI has been clear on the environmental needs for Northern Ireland:
- Primary legislation on sustainable agriculture for Northern Ireland focusing on the concept of ‘public money for public goods’ such as protecting nature, delivering clean water and climate change adaptation
- Maintaining existing environmental legislation and significantly improving environmental governance through primary legislation in an environment bill
- Primary legislation on sustainable fisheries that supports commercial fish stocks and helps recover the wider marine environment
- Maintenance of funding streams to help society to restore nature and climate
- Continued cross border cooperation between North and South and the island of Ireland to be viewed as a single biogeographic unit
Environmental challenges remain as critical as ever and the public want decisive action on climate, nature loss, air and water quality. It will now be up to the NI Assembly to decide how to progress these vital pieces of legislation. As world economies begin to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic and the UK navigates its position outside of the EU, Nature Matters NI believes there has never been a better time to set Northern Ireland on a sustainable footing to help meet the challenges of the climate and nature crisis.
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Nature Matters NI response to Northern Ireland Future Agricultural Policy Framework
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Nature Matters NI Brexit Position Statements
“Ambitious NI Agriculture policy needed” – Nature Matters NI
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“25 Year Plan needed for Northern Ireland’s environment”
EU Committee told North–South co–operation “vital” post–Brexit
