Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I apologise as I had to slip away earlier for a few minutes. I asked a few questions. Ms Clancy mentioned people would be concerned about the field near their post office or the particular area of woodland that is near them. We have talked about it in the context of planning, which is where a very negative narrative has come across around those who are talking about ecosystems, plants and animals being against climate when it strikes me that a more positive and proactive engagement is possible. For lots of people, the link between biodiversity and climate is strong and we see it with the youth forums. For many who seem to be concerned with the local environment, it is the point at which they become concerned about the environment generally. I worry there is sometimes a kind of divide-and-conquer conversation where the mushroom industry will be listened to unequivocally on one side but when it comes to the environmental side, an artificial tension is being created between those who are concerned about nature, in a sense, and those who are concerned about climate when we know they are deeply linked and it is a dual crisis.

As well as improving the narratives we have around planning and those who engage in it, are there other things we could do to build that connection for people at a local level from those who are concerned around nature, and maybe even specific nature, and linking that to a sense of ownership and engagement around climate action in a positive way? I am interested in ideas in that area. Also on that, we have a forestry strategy on the one side but what about tree strategies? At local level, some places have tree strategies and others do not. What if the tree strategies were to be joined up and we had a real strategy for nature in urban areas that was a little more joined up? I mean urban areas in the widest sense, including towns and villages as well as cities. If the witnesses have thoughts on those two points, I am interested in hearing them.