The Green Party has backed the calls of business leaders, trade unionists, farmers, voluntary bodies and environmentalists for a Green New Deal for Northern Ireland.

Steven Agnew who was the party’s candidate in the European elections stated;

“I campaigned for a Green New Deal because I knew that it would be good for the economy, good for workers and good for the environment.  Now that so many bodies have come together to back this idea it has shown that this is the right way forward and now the onus is on the Assembly to show leadership and put these ideas into action.”

The Green New Deal proposes to create thousands of jobs through investment in energy efficiency and sustainable technologies which will help move Northern Ireland away from its dependence on imported fossil fuels and into a low carbon economy.

Mr Agnew added;

“We need to stimulate the economy and we will not do that by pumping money into the failed industries of the past.  We must look forward to a new economy, a fairer economy, and a greener economy.  I have no doubt that investing in technologies such as renewable energy is the only way out of our current economic and environmental difficulties.

When groups as diverse as the Chambre of Commerce, the Irish Congrees of Trade Unions, the Ulster Farmers Union, and Friends of the Earth all come together with a united message, the Executive and the Assembly should sit up and listen.”
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