Biodiversity is a key aspect in ensuring a sustainable future for all citizens of this country. Our continued prosperity and that of future generations depends on a vibrant natural environment. Our built infrastructure and the economy rely on a happy and healthy natural infrastructure supporting it underneath. This is by no means the reality in Ireland today. We are in the grips of a full-fledged crisis when it comes to Ireland’s biodiversity. Our unique habitats are diminishing left and right, our landscape is less green, our waters are polluted and native species are becoming extinct. A report published today by the EPA highlights a widespread issue with household septic tanks, with 60% State-wide failing inspections. As well as being a public health risk, human waste and chemicals spur algae growth in streams and rivers, killing other plant, fish and insect life. We need stricter enforcement of compliance regulation. Just last week, the newest swimming area in the capital failed a pollution test and will remain off-limits for swimmers this summer. Half of the popular spots in the State have had warnings because of pollution, with the number of warnings issued doubling over the past year. The destruction of our natural resources is having real-life effects in the here and now. This is a direct result of the State’s ongoing failure to recognise the core importance of natural infrastructure to national well-being. For years now, we have neglected to protect our resources, failing to value them as life-sustaining and essential for our own health and the health of the planet we live on. We have pursued economic development with zero regard for the implications for wildlife preservation. We need to think seriously, on a policy level, about alternatives to our current model of business and agriculture, and putting just transition mechanisms in place today, not later. We need commitment and ambition from the Government so that life remains liveable for my children and their children. We cannot simply keep reporting on ongoing and continued devastation; we need action and investment. We are nowhere near reaching our targets under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, which is coming into effect now. We need an all-island approach. Partition means we have an inefficient and incoherent way of managing wildlife on our island. Planning for unity must prioritise co-ordination in this policy area. We need innovative solutions, such as rejuvenation of healthy hedgerows, forest regeneration projects and permaculture initiatives. There are inspiring grassroots and evidence-based ideas out there and these must be supported by the State. Bímis uaillmhianach chun ár dtimpeallacht a chosaint do na glúnta atá le teacht. Cuirimis an bhithéagsúlacht chun tosaigh sa phleanáil náisiúnta.

Sentiment score: -0.03