Thursday 18th April 2024
Europa Hotel, Belfast

Northern Ireland Environment Forum 2024

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Northern Ireland Environment Forum 2024


Northern Ireland’s major conference on environmental policy and management

The Northern Ireland Environment Forum, organised by agendaNi, is Northern Ireland’s major conference on environmental policy and management.

The conference provides an important opportunity for all the key players in the environment sector to come together for a day of discussion and networking. Alongside visiting experts, the Northern Ireland Environment Forum will be addressed by the key people in Northern Ireland's environmental policy landscape.

Northern Ireland’s first Climate Action Plan is currently being developed which will cover the period 2023 to 2027. This is part of the draft Green Growth Strategy, which is a long-term vision balancing climate, environment, and the economy. The Climate Action Plan will set out how we intend to achieve the carbon budget for this period and the overall emissions reduction targets as stated in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

The biodiversity crisis continues to worsen, an urgent need to protect and restore nature in Northern Ireland and globally. The total number of species on the priority list was 594 at the end of January 2023. Progress is also being made to transition our economy into one that is circular and sustainable.

With challenges facing the environment both locally and globally, the Forum will be of interest to attendees representing all the main sectors with an interest in Northern Ireland’s environment at this pivotal time for the sector.

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key themes

Key themes for the Northern Ireland Environment Forum 2024

Policy priorities for Northern Ireland’s environment;

Meeting the challenge of climate change: Adaptation and mitigation;

Biodiversity: How can nature recover?;

Air quality and other strategic issues;

Creating a circular economy;

ESG and sustainability;

Water quality and waste water treatment;

The relationship between public health and the environment;

Environment and planning.

speakers
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programme

Programme

  • Session 1

    09:05 - 11:00

  • Session 2

    11:30 - 13:00

  • Session 3

    14:00 - 15:15

  • Session 4

    15:45 - 16:45

08:30 - 09:00

Conference registration and morning coffee

09:00

Louise Cullen

Agriculture & Environment Correspondent, BBC News NI

Chair’s welcome and introduction

Dame Glenys Stacey

Chair, The Office for Environmental Protection (The OEP)

Protecting the environment for future generations

Andrew Muir, MLA

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Ministerial address

Faye Phillips

Senior Associate, Carson McDowell

Trends in environmental law and challenges

Sarah Jennings

Director of Communications, Customer and Commercial, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales

The role of public sector leadership in tackling the nature and climate emergencies

Lucy Gaffney

Platform Development Lead, Business for Biodiversity Ireland

Business for biodiversity: Driving the transition to a nature positive economy

Question & answer session / Panel discussion

11:00

Coffee break and exhibition viewing

11:30

David Greenfield

Vice President - External Affairs, Circular Economy Institute and Visiting Professor of Circular Economy, University of Brighton

Implementing the circular economy

Neil Rowland

Senior Research Fellow, Queen’s University Belfast and Regional Clean Air Champion for Northern Ireland

Air quality in Northern Ireland

Jane McCullough

Manager, Climate NI

Responding to climate change: Mitigation and adaptation

Dymphna Gallagher

Head of Drinking Water Regulation, Northern Ireland Water

Water quality and environmental impact

Angela Halpenny

Head of Environmental Regulation, Northern Ireland Water

Question & answer session / Panel discussion

13:00

Lunch break

14:00

Lorna McAdoo

Group Director Environment, Social & Governance and NI Lead Version 1

An effective ESG strategy: Putting words into action

John Woods

Director for Northern Ireland, Food, Farming and Countryside Commission

Land use for a sustainable future

Mark Horton

All Ireland Director, Rivers Trust

Rivers Trust: Engaging communities

Speaker TBC

Question & answer session / Panel discussion

15:15

Coffee break and exhibition viewing

15:45

PANEL DISCUSSION

The Northern Ireland environment: Challenges and future outlook

Senior Representative,Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)
Max Bryant, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Ireland Environment Link
Debbie Caldwell, Climate Commissioner, Belfast City Council
Joanne Sherwood, Director, RSPB Northern Ireland

16:45

Conference close

Register

Register

Delegate rate

£ 245

£245 + VAT @ 20% = £294

Charity rate

£ 145

£145 + VAT @ 20% = £174

who

Who should attend

Environmental policy-maker

Environmental Managers

Elected representatives

Local government

Environmental consultants and advisors

Sustainability Managers

Developers and construction companies

Waste management companies

Legal and financial advisors

Head of ESG

NGOs/Environmental charities

Academics

Planning professionals

Regulators

Sponsorship

Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities

There are only a small number of opportunities remaining to get involved with the Northern Ireland Environment Forum as a sponsor or exhibitor. Sponsorship of the conference underlines leadership status and helps profile an organisation's activities and expertise within the sector. It is also often a springboard into the networking and informal strategic discussions from which major business opportunities arise. In exchange for sponsorship support the sponsor will receive an attractive package of benefits designed to maximise their organisation’s profile in front of this senior audience and leave a lasting impression upon the key decision-makers in attendance.

Contact Fiona McCarthy on 028 9261 9933 or email fiona.mccarthy@agendani.com for further information on how to feature your organisation at the conference.

venue

Venue

Europa Hotel

Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7AP

In the heart of Belfast’s city centre, the 4-star Europa Hotel is next to Great Victoria Street Railway and Bus Station.

Directions and Public transport

Register now at the early bird rate (ends Thursday 15th February)