A three-pronged plan for green growth, which aims to make NI farming a global leader in the production of high-quality food from sustainable systems, has been set out by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots.
The plan is still at the concept stage, and over the next year the aim is to create a strategy which will form the basis for government policy in future years.
“We want to build our economy in a sustainable way; we want to ensure that growth happens in a sustainable way,” the minister told MLAs this week.
The first element of the plan is a green growth strategy to be formulated by the Stormont Executive alongside business, environment and community/voluntary-based sectors. A consultation is to be done this autumn, with a document to be finalised by next spring.
The second element will look at what needs to be delivered. Speaking in the Assembly chamber on Tuesday, the Minister referred to “key foundation programmes” and used the example of the recently announced “Forests for our Future” programme as the type of initiative that will come forward.
He talked about the need to significantly increase hedges and peatlands to sequester carbon and improve biodiversity, rewarding businesses for environmental outcomes, and programmes to increase renewable energy. DAERA permanent secretary Dr Denis McMahon has been tasked with leading on the development work.
The third element of the green plan is development of proposals to address the various recommendations in the New Decade; New Approach document, which formed the basis for the restoration of Stormont Executive earlier this year.
It includes a commitment to introduce a Climate Change Act to legally underpin new environmental targets, and establish an independent environmental protection agency to ensure these targets are met.
“That will be no small task, given the scope of the potential impacts,” acknowledged the minister this week.
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A three-pronged plan for green growth, which aims to make NI farming a global leader in the production of high-quality food from sustainable systems, has been set out by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots.
The plan is still at the concept stage, and over the next year the aim is to create a strategy which will form the basis for government policy in future years.
“We want to build our economy in a sustainable way; we want to ensure that growth happens in a sustainable way,” the minister told MLAs this week.
The first element of the plan is a green growth strategy to be formulated by the Stormont Executive alongside business, environment and community/voluntary-based sectors. A consultation is to be done this autumn, with a document to be finalised by next spring.
The second element will look at what needs to be delivered. Speaking in the Assembly chamber on Tuesday, the Minister referred to “key foundation programmes” and used the example of the recently announced “Forests for our Future” programme as the type of initiative that will come forward.
He talked about the need to significantly increase hedges and peatlands to sequester carbon and improve biodiversity, rewarding businesses for environmental outcomes, and programmes to increase renewable energy. DAERA permanent secretary Dr Denis McMahon has been tasked with leading on the development work.
The third element of the green plan is development of proposals to address the various recommendations in the New Decade; New Approach document, which formed the basis for the restoration of Stormont Executive earlier this year.
It includes a commitment to introduce a Climate Change Act to legally underpin new environmental targets, and establish an independent environmental protection agency to ensure these targets are met.
“That will be no small task, given the scope of the potential impacts,” acknowledged the minister this week.
Read more
New target to plant 9,000ha in trees
Environmental opportunity for NI agriculture
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