The new draft Programme for Government has set three missions – People, Planet and Prosperity, but it’s commitment to climate change and renewable energy can best be described a vague.

We are disappointed that climate change is not one of the Executive’s nine priority areas for action.  Nowhere in the 88-page document is there even a mention of the legal obligation to achieve 80% renewable electricity generation by 2030.

The Programme sets the welcome ambition to ‘become self-sufficient in affordable renewable energy’ and also ‘a net exporter of renewables’.  These will require a whole government approach to achieve, working in collaboration with industry.  We have seen the UK Government establish a taskforce to achieve its renewable targets, Northern Ireland now needs to do the same.

As the Programme itself highlights, investment in renewables has stalled in recent years.  This has been caused by a lack of market support, planning delays and a grid that’s not-fit-for-purpose.

While we welcome the commitment to ‘Improve the Planning System’ we would like to see specific and measurable targets.  RenewableNI has long been highlighting how the extended timeframes and uncertainty is putting off investment in Northern Ireland.

Unless the Programme for Government sets clear action to address climate change, and a pathway to achieving 80% by 2030, the green growth potential will be missed.

Tomorrow, RenewableNI is launching a new report Renewable Rewards that shows the environmental and financial savings to date, and looking ahead to 2030.

RenewableNI will be responding to the Programme for Government consultation, and including details from this report.