DAERA Minister Andrew Muir 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.
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“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.”
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