Foster urges increased action on climate change

Everyone in Northern Ireland needs to play a greater part in tackling climate change.

That was the message from Environment Minister, Arlene Foster as she launched Northern Ireland’s first ever State of the Environment Report, ‘Our Environment, Our Heritage, Our Future.’

The report brings together for the first time detailed information on Northern Ireland’s environment.

Welcoming the report, Minister Arlene Foster said: “There is much to celebrate in Northern Ireland’s environment. Our air quality has improved significantly over the past decade. The proportion of household waste being recycled has increased in recent years. For its size, Northern Ireland has one of the most geologically diverse areas anywhere in the world, and it has an unusually rich variety of different animal species.”

The State of the Environment Report presents a set of 30 indicators on the condition of the environment across air, water and land for both the natural and built heritage, using a 2005 baseline. The report has been prepared by the Environment and Heritage Service, an Executive Agency of the Department of the Environment.

The Minister explained that real progress is being made on environmental issues. She said: “Understanding and explaining how, why and what damage we inflict on our environment is essential in establishing the causes and finding solutions. The report sets out a clear baseline which is fundamental in measuring impacts and progress towards enhancing the environment. The report represents a key and positive step towards integrating environmental considerations into all our policies and actions.

“Experience shows the complex issues involved need application and thinking which is not constrained by traditional work boundaries. Each of us must play our part if we are to meet the increasing challenges of climate change and provide a healthy and sustainable society for all.”

Amongst the findings of the report, considerable challenges are identified for Northern Ireland’s rivers and lakes arising from excessive nutrient levels, and for natural habitats and species as aspects such as lowland meadows and hedgerows have declined. The report also identifies a number of gaps where our knowledge is incomplete, such as records for historic buildings.

The report notes that actions are in hand to address many of these issues, for example through measures on climate change, and new River Basin Management Plans to tackle water pollution. Dealing with waste, environmental crime and a modern approach to regulation all have a part to play. Future programmes of surveying and monitoring will enable us to measure our progress in protecting and enhancing our environment and natural resources, an important priority within the Programme for Government.

Notes to Editors:

1. The full report and separate non-technical summary report are available at the Environment and Heritage Service website. Additional copies of the report can be obtained from SOE Report Team, Environment and Heritage Service Strategy Unit, Klondyke Building, Cromac Avenue, Gasworks Business park, Lower Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 2JA (028 9056 9500), or by emailing SOE@doeni.gov.uk
2. The report is technical in nature, and will be of interest to policy makers, professionals, researchers and those with a working interest in the environment.
3. The indicators are derived mainly from data from within DOE, with input from other government departments, particularly DARD and its agencies.
4. For media enquiries please contact DOE Press Office 028 9054 0014 or, out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.