Campaigners want ‘Green New Deal’ for Northern Ireland

A new campaign in Northern Ireland is urging a joined up approach to tackle the effects of the recession and climate change.

The Green New Deal, a coalition of businesses, farmers, trade unions, charities, and environmental campaigners, wants the government to invest in renewable energy to secure Northern Ireland’s energy supply, combat global warming, and create thousands of jobs.

Plans put forward by the group include refurbishing tens of thousands of homes every year to install renewable energy micro-generators and insulation; making public and commercial buildings more energy efficient; and localising the supply of electricity and heat using renewable micro-generation.

According to the campaign, the plans would create a ‘carbon army’ of 24,000 jobs at an estimated cost of £900 million per year.

Funding streams suggested include combining public and private investments, and seeking funds from the European Union.

“In common with the rest of the world Northern Ireland is in the grip of a serious recession,” said a statement from the Green New Deal.

“Job losses are mounting and many businesses are suffering. There is a squeeze on the public finances as revenue falls and the outcome of the Government’s fiscal stimulus and quantitative easing is unknown.”

Northern Ireland currently imports 99% of its energy, the coalition said, while the country spends around 10% of its income on fuel bills.

“If fuel prices continue to rise as predicted, Northern Ireland’s economy is at risk of failure,” said Nigel Smyth, director of CBI Northern Ireland.

“A programme of insulating homes and other buildings, and developing renewable energy, would provide a much needed boost to the construction industry and create a golden opportunity for our fledgling sustainable industries sector,” Smyth added.

John Woods, Northern Ireland director of Friends of the Earth, said: “We want the Northern Ireland Executive to adopt the Green New Deal as their ‘big idea’ for tackling recession, rising energy prices and climate change.”

Members of the Green New Deal coalition include the CBI, the Energy Savings Trust, Friends of the Earth, the Sustainable Development Commission, the Ulster Farmers’ Union, and the NI Federation of Housing Associations.