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Foster pledge in NI carbon battle Foster pledge in NI carbon battle
(1 day later)
Environment Minister Arlene Foster said she is committed to leading the way in the battle to offset the Northern Ireland government's carbon footprint.Environment Minister Arlene Foster said she is committed to leading the way in the battle to offset the Northern Ireland government's carbon footprint.
She was speaking as environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth held an all-Ireland conference on climate change in County Armagh.She was speaking as environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth held an all-Ireland conference on climate change in County Armagh.
Mrs Foster said work was under way to reduce emissions and indigenous trees would be planted on government estates.Mrs Foster said work was under way to reduce emissions and indigenous trees would be planted on government estates.
But John Woods, FOTE, said insulating public buildings was a better way.But John Woods, FOTE, said insulating public buildings was a better way.
Environmental campaigners, policy makers, science specialists, church and faith groups and other commentators gathered at the weekend in Mullaghbawn to debate one of the biggest challenges facing the world.Environmental campaigners, policy makers, science specialists, church and faith groups and other commentators gathered at the weekend in Mullaghbawn to debate one of the biggest challenges facing the world.
Mrs Foster said: All of the departments of government are committed to being carbon neutral by 2015. Speaking on BBC NI's Sunday Sequence, Mrs Foster said: "All of the departments of government are committed to being carbon neutral by 2015.
'Way forward''Way forward'
"I very much hope that we can be the leader in that and beat that target."I very much hope that we can be the leader in that and beat that target.
"As well as that, there is a statutory duty coming in from Europe that we have to encourage biodiversity. Because of the planting of those trees, I hope we are encouraging biodiversity as well.""As well as that, there is a statutory duty coming in from Europe that we have to encourage biodiversity. Because of the planting of those trees, I hope we are encouraging biodiversity as well."
But Mr Woods said there were more effective ways forward.But Mr Woods said there were more effective ways forward.
"One way would be to insulate all the government estate, all public buildings in Northern Ireland to the highest possible standards, not just new buildings, but all existing buildings," he said."One way would be to insulate all the government estate, all public buildings in Northern Ireland to the highest possible standards, not just new buildings, but all existing buildings," he said.
"To do that and basically make those buildings carbon neutral is the way ahead, rather than to carry on emitting the carbon and try and soak it up by planting some trees in a slightly futile fashion.""To do that and basically make those buildings carbon neutral is the way ahead, rather than to carry on emitting the carbon and try and soak it up by planting some trees in a slightly futile fashion."