SDLPY Chair Cllr Matthew McDermott was part of an SDLP delegation that met with Irish Environment Minister, John Gormley TD to discuss North South arrangements, Climate Change and the SDLPY campaign “The Countdown is on” regarding international climate talks in Copenhagen.

The delegation included Chair of Assembly Environment Committee Dolores Kelly MLA, Chair of the Assembly Enterprise Trade and Investment Committee Alban Maguinness MLA and Chair of SDLPY Cllr Matthew McDermott.  

After the meeting Cllr McDermott said, ‘ The SDLP pushed the Minister to press the DUP and SF to have Climate Change included on the agenda of North South meetings. As it is not on the agenda it can’t be discussed at these meetings, which is an absurd situation.

‘ The go slow approach of the two ruling parties is unacceptable; if we don’t act on climate change now, future generations face disaster in so many ways.

Regarding the SDLPY campaign Cllr McDermott said, ‘ Climate Change is the most important issue facing my generation and the agreement being sought in Copenhagen in December is crucial. I outlined to the Minister that SDLPY will be rolling out a campaign throughout November, visiting our schools and seeking signatures to an online petition from our students, of all ages.

‘ These are the people that generally don’t have a vote but want a voice. The petition will be calling for a 40% cut in emissions by 2025 and an assistance fund for developing countries to adopt. It will be delivered to the Irish and British governments before they embark for Copenhagen.

This week, European regulators will start setting new efficiency standards for fridges, TVs, and other products. Strong rules could massively cut Europe’s climate pollution. By using Green technology in new household applicances we can reduce our energy bills and reduce the environmental impact.

Please take a moment to watch the Talking Fridge, then sign the petition which will be delivered to EU negotiators on Thursday.

SDLP Youth has supported calls for Minister for the Environment Sammy Wilson to resign, after the Assembly’s Environment committee passed a vote of No Confidence in the Minister, proposed by SDLP MLA Tommy Gallagher.

Peter Armstrong, Chair of SDLP Youth said: “We welcome the decision by the Environment Committee that Sammy Wilson must go. The Committee is responsible for scrutinising the work of the Minister and they have correctly recognised that he is failing in his job. Sammy Wilson has always been well known for his views on climate change, and should never have been made Minister in the first place.

“As Minister, he has made many mistakes, including the rejection of an Independent Environmental Protection Agency.

“Now, the Minister fails to recognise the over-whelming scientific evidence, the views of the government, his Department’s policy, public opinion or also the views in his own party. Man made climate change is extremely evident in our world, and we can all increase energy efficiency, help the environment and save ourselves money.”

“It’s now the responsibility of the DUP to find another Minister who is representative of public opinion and the scientific facts, and willing to do something about it so that N Ireland can play it’s part in minimising the effects of climate change.”

UU Jordanstown: Hundreds of PC's Wasting Energy

As part of the SDLP’s Sustainability agenda, SDLP societies at Queen’s and University of Ulster have requested that the universities in Northern Ireland carry out an environmental audit as a matter of urgency to establish how much Universities are contributing to wasted energy.

While the SDLP’s University groups do appreciate that some Universities have moved in the right direction the group feels that University’s can move much further, much faster and go greener quicker.

Commenting on the request SDLP Youth Chairman Peter Armstrong said, “The SDLP has long been committed to delivering a sustainable environment as part of our manifesto pledges.

“Through this campaign we aim to ensure that universities are cutting waste, by taking some actions as simple as not leaving hundreds of unused computers on standby, and that they are contributing fully to environmental protection. As economic development advanced in recent years, our efforts to improve our standards of living and enhance our education have had an adverse impact of the environment.

“We are now consuming more resources than ever and causing pollution through waste products. Now it is all our responsibility to do everything we can to protect our environment and as we strive to save the planet we will also save pounds in our pocket.”

“It’s not enough for government to lecture people about the need to recycle- they need to be thinking of creative ways to actually make it happen,” SDLP Youth Chairman Gary McKeown has stated.

“For example, the government should lead the way on the recycling front by making it compulsory for all civil service offices to recycle,” said Mr McKeown.

“A large proportion of the people working in the north are employed by the government, be it directly through the civil service or indirectly through public bodies. These workplaces produce an inordinate amount of waste each year including paper, cardboard boxes and food wrappers.

“The problem is that even if government employees are green-minded, there is often little they can do about the ridiculous amount of rubbish from their workplaces which ends up in landfill as their employers fail to provide recycling facilities.

“If we are serious about improving the environment, then the lead must be taken from the top. The government should make it compulsory for all state offices and facilities to recycle their waste and encourage employees to think green. This would permeate down through society and create greater awareness of the need to recycle by getting people into the habit of putting their office waste, newspapers, empty tins and glass bottles into the recycling bin rather than the rubbish bin.”

Mr McKeown concluded: “Most people like the idea of recycling in theory, but often think it’s too much bother finding somewhere to get it done. If the government made recycling facilities more readily available, whether in the workplace or at home, it would make it so much easier for people to contribute towards helping the environment.”