DAERA Minister has reiterated the crucial
role that science will play in addressing our climate and
environmental challenges and in doing so help support sustainable
agriculture and thriving rural communities.
Speaking at the Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water
Annual Symposium at Queen's University Belfast, Minister Muir
said: “Today, the evidence is clear: our climate is
changing, our biodiversity is under threat, and our water
resources are facing unprecedented pressures. To ensure our
economy grows sustainably, we need a healthy environment. We do
not have a choice; we must address these interconnected
challenges. I absolutely believe that with the help of
collaborative and transformative science it is possible to
address them. Science will be front and centre in helping us
deliver on our economic, social and environmental
ambitions.
“Our climate and environmental challenges do not respect
borders, and neither can our solutions - this is why the
Co-Centre approach, looking at climate challenges on a
North-South, East-West basis, is so vital.
“This Co-Centre Programme is a really good example of a
joint strategic partnership between Ireland, Northern Ireland and
Great Britain supported by its funding from Research Ireland,
UKRI and DAERA and brings together expertise from across these
islands to tackle the issues facing us with a joined-up,
scaled-up and innovative approach.”
Professor Mark Emmerson, Co-Director of the Co-Centre for Climate
+ Biodiversity + Water said: “Our annual symposium shines a
spotlight on how we are harnessing our collective resources to
tackle challenges around land use and policy, including
sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods, the impacts of new
products and processes on our planetary life support systems and
the implementation of known solutions.
“Having the opportunity to collaborate with our researchers,
industry leaders and policy partners across Ireland, Northern
Ireland and Great Britian will be instrumental in exploring
solutions and providing scientific evidence to inform policy and
legislation that address the most pressing common challenges of
climate change, biodiversity decline and water degradation.”
Notes to editors:
- This Co-Centre, co-funded by DAERA along with Research
Ireland and the UK Research Institutes, is a virtual centre of
research, addressing the three connected issues of climate
change, biodiversity loss and declining water quality in Northern
Ireland, Ireland and Great Britain.
- The 6-year Co-Centre programme includes 14 research
institutions and is receiving over £8 million in funding from
DAERA, indicating the importance DAERA attaches to addressing
these problems.
