Senator Mal O’Hara, the leader of the Green Party NI, has criticised the Executive Parties as 'Climate Chancers' following the revelation that Sinn Fein Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald MLA has turned down £28 million in funding requests for climate action initiatives.

Senator O’Hara said: "I would hope that this news has shocked me, but unfortunately, it is what we have come to expect from these executive parties. They all spoke from one side of their mouths about commitment to climate and biodiversity in advance of the last election, but when they have the levers of power, they refuse to do anything radical or significant. Executive Ministers put in bids totalling only £28m when hundreds of millions are required to address the environmental mess that these executive parties have presided over.

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"Many of their supporters who care about the climate and biodiversity crises will be devastated by this lack of ambition, and Sinn Fein’s blocking of funding."

Senator O'Hara continued: "Northern Ireland is the twelfth worst place in the world for species loss. We emit the highest per capita emissions on these islands. Zero of our 495 rivers, lakes, and coastal plains meet a good standard. We have the largest illegal dump in Western Europe with no investigation into how it happened, despite the assembly agreeing to a Green proposal calling for a public enquiry. Northern Ireland’s environmental record is shameful."

"Is it any wonder with these climate chancers in charge?"