Kimmins opens conversation on Climate Change, Flood Risk and Development at round table event
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins opened a Climate Change, Flood Risk and Development Round Table event today.
The event, organised by the Department of Infrastructure, was attended by around 100 delegates from a variety of organisations including developers, planners, public sector, environment and engineers.
Minister Kimmins said: “Weather may frequently be used as ‘small talk’ but as we have all experienced in recent years, its impact is far from small.
“Recent changing weather patterns are bringing warmer temperatures, heavier rainfall and, as a result, an increase in flooding and flood risk.
“At the start of this year Storm Éowyn brought our first red warning here in the North and I witnessed at firsthand the devastating impact flooding can have on communities during the Autumn flooding in South Down in 2023.
“Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with affected communities right across the North. Their stories, their resilience, and their ongoing challenges have left a lasting impression, which underscores the urgent need for action and support.
“We cannot control the weather – but we can take appropriate actions to mitigate the problems our changing climate can cause.
“We must all think about how we can best respond where viable, to changing weather patterns in a practical and innovative way, which is why Adapting to Climate is one of my department’s seven Foundations for A Better future.”
Met Office Climate Scientist, Victoria Ramsey, who presented at the event said: “It is clear from our observations that our climate is changing, and this is true for Northern Ireland too.
“We’re seeing increasing temperatures, autumn and winter seasons have become wetter and we’re seeing an increase in disruptive weather. This trend is projected to continue, with hotter drier summers and milder wetter winters.
“Extremes will also change, with more intense rainfall bringing the risk of flash flooding while summer maximum temperatures are projected to increase too.
“There are two strands to responding to climate change, we need to mitigate against the worst impacts by reducing the emissions of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere and we need to adapt to ensure we’re protected from the changes that have already happened and to what we can expect in the future because of our historical emissions.”
Minister Kimmins added: “While we continue to look at innovative ways to protect our existing infrastructure, we also have to ensure that new developments are built to cope with the demands of our climate.
“Nature-based solutions can help manage rainwater more naturally to reduce flood risk and pollution so we need to look at how these can be incorporated into new developments.
“Bringing together around 100 stakeholders from the water and flood risk management sector today provided an opportunity to have these vital, strategic conversations that will help inform and shape the actions we take to help mitigate the risk to our communities now and for future generations.
“I look forward to hearing the feedback from these conversations as we seek to find new ways to live with our changing climate.”
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Clean The Quoile Group Highlights River Blockage
Comment by Jim Masson, editor.
The Clean the Quoile Facebook page continues its campaign to see the river brought back to a decent, pristine condition. There are many factors affecting the River Quoile, particularly lower down from Inch Abbey.
In a post, the Facebook page said: “Downstream of the Belfast Road tunnels today [ ie on the downstream side of the bridge] – this unnatural, eutrophic sludge is closing the river here year by year – the removal of this pollution is long overdue!! Urgent action required !!”
I agree with Clean the Quoile. More needs to be done to solve these issues. We need answers to questions. Below are a few.
Basically, the argument appears to centre on pollution and indeed climate change and the ability of infrastructure to cope with the demands and changes. We can maybe control one and address the other.
- The River Quoile needs a transparent local action plan. Does it have one or is bureaucracy in the way as too many departments have diverse environmental responsibilities eg DAERA, Rivers Agency NIEA etc. But to go one better, why not go the whole hog and create an independent Environmentral Agency with teeth. And it begs the question, has the goverernmental infrastructure kept pace with the changes taking place ? The DAERA Minister is just completing a consultation so you views are welcome.
- Is there any ongoing monitoring of the old Inch waste dump to make sure that dangerous contaminates are not leaking into the river adding to the pollution ? Does this reflect an issue as to why the departments say dredging is ‘out of the question’?
- Why is there a significant growth in the sludge levels and indeed weed growing just downstream from the outfall at the WWtW in Downpatrick ? Are solid particulates finding their way into that section of the river specifically ? And Why ?
- Why is there no fish rises or activity immediately downstream from the outfall assuming the discharge is safe – a sign of a healthy river ?
- Are there any other unmonitored discharges going into the River Quole ?
- What is causing the changes in the profile of the fish population ? The historic rudd population is declining anglers say, roach are hybridising, and trout have appeared prolificly from no-where !
- And what are the dangers of a Lough Neagh styled agal bloom ? The river is pretty putrid and slow moving.
- How really effective is the monitoring of the upland hills around Ballynahinch where the farmers use phosphates and nitrates and slurry on their fields to promote grass and plant growth in a more intensive system.Are there measures in place to mitigate any plotential floods this coming winter considered there was a mini-flood in Downpatrick’s Church Street last week following a torrential downpour of rain ?
- And the last question which may be also significant, is how will the various farming and political lobbies impact on government and political parties if they demanded cuts is fertiliser usuage ? Are these demands then politically sensitive as no-no areas for political parties (especially before elections) ?
Technically, someone might say, “you’re a journalist, find the answers!” And they are probably correct ? But you have to ask the right questions to start to get the right answers !
To be honest, if someone were to pay me a respectable civil service salary I just might follow through on that.
But the cynical side if me says that maybe government is in conservative mode and doesn’t want to change that quickly and bureaucracy will bumble on. I hope I’m wrong.
