Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail any steps being taken to support greater public awareness around the continuing impacts of climate change.
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: Addressing climate change remains a priority, and my Department is advancing a range of initiatives to increase public awareness of its impacts across Northern Ireland.
These include the development of a draft Northern Ireland Climate Change Public Engagement Strategy and a Climate Change Communications and Engagement Plan, which aim through research and evidence to understand and increase public awareness, engagement and participation in climate action, enhance understanding of climate change impacts, and promote the actions required to support the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient society.
There is also the support of the Climate Ready programme, which provides free climate awareness training and resources for schools and community groups, helping to build knowledge and understanding of climate change and its effects at a local level.
My Department is promoting awareness of climate resilience, biodiversity and environmental sustainability through the Blue Carbon Action Plan, the Marine Protected Areas Strategy and the Marine Environment and Fisheries Fund, which supports the fishing and seafood sectors. In addition, work through the Northern Ireland Coastal Forum is helping to improve understanding of the impacts of climate change on our coastline and inform future policy development. Additionally, the development of Fisheries Management Plans, informed by public consultations, will take account of climate change, biodiversity pressures and warming seas to support the long-term sustainability of fish stocks.
CAFRE is working to increase awareness of climate change across the agri-food sector and to share research on measures that can improve resilience and sustainability. My Department is also backing initiatives such as Farming with Nature and the Carbon Calculator, which help farmers understand and respond to climate and biodiversity challenges while maintaining productive farm businesses. These programmes provide practical tools and guidance to support emissions reduction, environmental improvement and the long-term sustainability of the sector.
Together, these initiatives aim to improve understanding of climate change, encourage behavioural change and support a more resilient, sustainable society.
ENDS
