All-Island environmental governance post Brexit? Mobilising key actors in Ireland and Northern Ireland
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Hist, Anthrop, Philos & Politics
Abstract
The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland belong to a single biogeographic unit and face shared environmental challenges. The importance of cross-border cooperation on the island of Ireland for nature and biodiversity was acknowledged in a recent mapping exercise conducted jointly by the UK and EU (UK. Department for Exiting the European Union, 2018). Many of NI's nature reserves have been developed in collaboration with the EU and a number of Natura 2000 sites in NI straddle the border, adjoining sites in Ireland.
However, the United Kingdom left the EU on the 31st January 2020 with a transition period in place where EU rules and regulations would continue to apply to the UK. This transition period is due to end on the 31st December 2020. Part of the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement ratified in 2020 included the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland which sets out a new legal framework (irrespective of a potential future trade relationship) between both parts of the island. It has direct implications for the environment (listing areas of EU environmental rules which Northern Ireland will need to continue to comply with) as well as indirect implications, such as (a) how it would work alongside the 1998 Good Friday Agreement (GFA) and future relationship and (b) how environmental groups and priorities can be featured in the institutions it sets out.
Additionally, at odds with common perceptions of a 'green' Ireland, both jurisdictions have long been environmental laggards. The repeated failures of both governments mean environmental governance on the island is even more dependent on the actions of non-governmental actors, from businesses, to third sector organisations and research organisations, mobilising in uncertain times. Mobilising a variety of Irish voices in these debates (via consultation, etc.) is critical to (a) learn from the previous economic crisis and how it stifled environmental action and (b) develop a European Green Deal which can also work beyond the borders of the EU, so both sides of the island can rebuild greener. This echoes the new draft Irish Programme for Government calling for a 'shared Ireland', seeking to 'develop an all-island strategy to tackle climate breakdown and the biodiversity crisis'.(Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green Party, 2020) and at the EU level, where a European Green Deal is a priority of the new Von der Leyen Commission, a priority which has been reiterated in the face of covid19 and its impact on European economies.
This project aims at mobilising key actors across the island of Ireland to improve environmental governance (both cross-border and all-Island) after Brexit and in times of coronavirus. It will amplify innovation and progress, creating new links and reinforcing pre-existing relationships between research communities and practitioners across the island. The project will carry out a number of tasks: firstly it will map past cooperation cross-border to better understand what forms of cooperation have been established, what they achieved and how they are being challenged by the present dual disruptions. It will then analyse our new present to foster mobilisation, understanding and use of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. Finally, it will sketch the way forward towards a Green Deal on the island of Ireland.
We will deliver on these objectives by (a) pursuing interdisciplinary work, bringing together a gender-balanced team from policy, planning and law; (b) supporting early career researchers notably PGR students in our institutions in developing their impact and engagement skills and (c) the network will also benefit our partner organisations, NI Environment Link and Environmental Pillar by creating opportunities to solidify evidence-based analysis of past forms of cooperation as well as provide a forum for in-depth analysis of current developments with Protocol implementation and Covid19 impact.
However, the United Kingdom left the EU on the 31st January 2020 with a transition period in place where EU rules and regulations would continue to apply to the UK. This transition period is due to end on the 31st December 2020. Part of the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement ratified in 2020 included the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland which sets out a new legal framework (irrespective of a potential future trade relationship) between both parts of the island. It has direct implications for the environment (listing areas of EU environmental rules which Northern Ireland will need to continue to comply with) as well as indirect implications, such as (a) how it would work alongside the 1998 Good Friday Agreement (GFA) and future relationship and (b) how environmental groups and priorities can be featured in the institutions it sets out.
Additionally, at odds with common perceptions of a 'green' Ireland, both jurisdictions have long been environmental laggards. The repeated failures of both governments mean environmental governance on the island is even more dependent on the actions of non-governmental actors, from businesses, to third sector organisations and research organisations, mobilising in uncertain times. Mobilising a variety of Irish voices in these debates (via consultation, etc.) is critical to (a) learn from the previous economic crisis and how it stifled environmental action and (b) develop a European Green Deal which can also work beyond the borders of the EU, so both sides of the island can rebuild greener. This echoes the new draft Irish Programme for Government calling for a 'shared Ireland', seeking to 'develop an all-island strategy to tackle climate breakdown and the biodiversity crisis'.(Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green Party, 2020) and at the EU level, where a European Green Deal is a priority of the new Von der Leyen Commission, a priority which has been reiterated in the face of covid19 and its impact on European economies.
This project aims at mobilising key actors across the island of Ireland to improve environmental governance (both cross-border and all-Island) after Brexit and in times of coronavirus. It will amplify innovation and progress, creating new links and reinforcing pre-existing relationships between research communities and practitioners across the island. The project will carry out a number of tasks: firstly it will map past cooperation cross-border to better understand what forms of cooperation have been established, what they achieved and how they are being challenged by the present dual disruptions. It will then analyse our new present to foster mobilisation, understanding and use of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. Finally, it will sketch the way forward towards a Green Deal on the island of Ireland.
We will deliver on these objectives by (a) pursuing interdisciplinary work, bringing together a gender-balanced team from policy, planning and law; (b) supporting early career researchers notably PGR students in our institutions in developing their impact and engagement skills and (c) the network will also benefit our partner organisations, NI Environment Link and Environmental Pillar by creating opportunities to solidify evidence-based analysis of past forms of cooperation as well as provide a forum for in-depth analysis of current developments with Protocol implementation and Covid19 impact.
Publications
Brennan, C.
(2023)
Linking the Irish Environment
Gravey V
(2023)
UK environmental policy and Brexit: simultaneously de-Europeanising, disengaging and (re)-engaging?
in Journal of European Public Policy
Description | As a networking grant, our aims were principally to build and strengthen networks of academics and practitioners on the island of Ireland interested in the mechanics and practice of environmental governance on a cross-border, and all-island perspective. We have achieved three principal findings - first we have built and strengthened such a network, across disciplines and jurisdictions. Second, we have started work on mapping the existing highly diverse practices of cooperation, both formal and informal. Third, we have provided detailed evidence and support on how new legislative plans in Northern Ireland, as well as Brexit and the Protocol in particular, challenges the status quo of environmental governance on the island. |
Exploitation Route | Our project and especially its work on the impact of the Protocol on the environment could fuel comparative work on the impact of the Protocol on other sectors of the economy, especially on other areas of cooperation under the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement such as agriculture. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Energy,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Description | Our findings led to engagement with decision makers across the UK, Ireland (with Shared Island initiative) as well as EU representatives, to highlight how new UK-EU relation has specific environmental impacts on the island of Ireland. It also has led environmental NGOs partners in both Ireland NI to commission follow-up study on cross-border and all-island cooperation to shape how they address the challenges in delivering environmental improvement on the island and their advocacy position. |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
Description | Citation in report from House of Lords EU Committee Sub-Committee on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/7001/documents/72888/default/ |
Description | Submission to NI AERA Committee inquiry on Climate Change Bill 2 |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
URL | https://consult.nia-yourassembly.org.uk/agrienvra/climate-change-no-2-bill/consultation/view_respond... |
Description | Submission to NI Agriculture Environment Rural Affairs Committee report on Climate Change Bill 1 |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
URL | https://consult.nia-yourassembly.org.uk/agrienvra/climate-change-bill/consultation/view_respondent?s... |
Description | Linking the Irish Environment |
Amount | € 16,500 (EUR) |
Organisation | Northern Ireland Environment Link |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2022 |
End | 09/2022 |
Description | Research on the Impact of the UK's Withdrawal from the EU on Human Rights and the Environment in Northern Ireland |
Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2023 |
End | 05/2023 |
Description | Linking the Irish Environment |
Organisation | Environmental Justice Network Ireland |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Joint response by network members and EJNI to call for tender by NI Environment Link and Irish Environment Network Ireland on 'Linking the Irish Environment'. Commissioned report for 16.500 euros (how work is to be split between network members in UK, Ireland and EJNI members still to be confirmed at this stage hence no details above on direct financial contribution). Two investigators from UK side of network, Viviane Gravey (PI) and Lisa Whitten (co-I) will be co-author of study, as will two Irish investigators from networks (Finbarr Brereton, PI and Hannah Gould, co-I). |
Collaborator Contribution | EJNI founder and director Dr Ciara Brennan and two EJNI associates, Dr Mary Dobbs and Dr Alison Hough will contribute their expertise on the impact of Good Friday Agreement and international agreements on environmental cooperation on island of Ireland. EJNI will also co-host events helping us reach out to greater variety of actors. |
Impact | Work is currently on-going on this partnership. Multi-disciplinary, Law and Politics. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Keynote roundtable at UKELA conference June 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The UK Environment Law Association annual conference is a major venue for discussing future of UK environmental governance. I was invited to speak on NI new environmental governance in a keynote roundtable alongside leading academic experts presenting developments in Englnad, Wales and Scotland and the new regulators as well. I used my speech to draw not only on NI developments but on all-Island initiatives and challenges, building on this network's work. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.ukela.org/UKELA/UKELA-Annual-Conference/Programme.aspx |
Description | Oral evidence given to House of Commons Public Bill Committees 8 Nov 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Only speaker giving evidence to Public Bills Committee on the NI and ROI impact of the Retained EU law revocation and reform bill. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-11-08/debates/f42a4279-8a37-4247-8733-6eb9c93e66f8/Retain... |
Description | Presentation to EU climate&environment attachés, Delegation of the European Union to the United Kingdom (25 March 2021) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Following on our workshop in February, I was invited to present project work on the Protocol and the Environment to the environment & climate attachés - ie one civil servant per each member state of the EU, assigned to the London delegation of the EU to the UK. For many attachés this was their first engagement with the devolved nature of environmental policy making in the UK, and drew a good discussion on the impact of the protocol. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Shared Island Dialogue: The Environment and Climate - Addressing Shared Challenges (5 February 2021) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Participation as panel member to Shared Island Dialogue: The Environment and Climate - Addressing Shared Challenges organised by the Irish government, reporting on rationale and early work in the project, engagement with Irish stakeholders. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/cfe86-minister-for-the-environment-climate-and-communications-ea... |
Description | Talk at workshop on Retained EU Law Revocation and Reform Bill |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Spoke to event organised by environmental NGOs (Greener UK) and the UK environmental law association UKELA in January 2023 on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill and its impact on Northern Ireland and environmental cooperation on the island of Ireland. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.ukela.org/UKELA/UKELA/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=24ED9920-45F0-4B86-974A-D86982B3E283#:... |
Description | UKELA Northern Ireland Conference on Environmental Law - 9 September 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Annual UKELA NI event, participation to governance and environmental law update, with discussion of the cross-border and all-island implications of new post-Brexit governance and policy arrangements, dissemination of project results. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Workshop Advising for Sustainable Food Production as an Island |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This is the second out of the three workshop NI partners promised they would deliver during this project. The focus was on advice provision in agri-food, and how cross-border, all-island approaches can be built to foster exchanges and share best practices in delivering such advice. 57 registered participants (mostly experts) discussed both the state of play and how to improve it. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.brexitenvironment.co.uk/politic_event/advising-sustainable-food-production-island/ |
Description | Workshop Legislating for Climate Action on the Island of Ireland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Our third project workshop, organised to reflect on recent development on climate legislation in both jurisdictions on the island. Informed discussions about the state of the environment in both NI and ROI, and how very different the paths to climate legislation have been. 53 registered participants. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.brexitenvironment.co.uk/politic_event/legislating-for-climate-action-on-the-island-of-ir... |
Description | Workshop on the Protocol and the Environment (15 Feb 2021) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | 125 registered participants across wide range of civil service, third sector, business, academia, both in Ireland and Northern Ireland, but also GB and EU representatives, with experts (both in project and invited speakers) discussing what the Protocol is likely to mean for the environment. This led to publication of policy brief. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-protocol-and-the-environment-tickets-138229140079# |