The “Segregation and the Environment, Breaking Down Barriers” was published in August 2024.
It was recently presented at the ‘Love Our Planet and Our Neighbours’ event in Queen’s University Belfast on 12th February.
Speaking afterwards, Minister Andrew Muir said that sustained collaboration across government, industry and community was needed when it came to addressing the threats posed by climate change and that, “The next steps are to get our first Climate Action Plan agreed and out to public consultation, as well as publish the Green Growth Strategy, and start rolling out schemes under the Sustainable Agriculture Programme.”
Dr Amanda Slevin, Lecturer in Climate Policy, Politics and Sustainability and Co-Director of the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action, Queen’s University Belfast said: “This event has created an opportunity to explore and expand pathways for inclusive action for climate and environment, in ways that are intrinsically entwined with peacebuilding and just transitions.
Main Takeaways from the Report:
• Deep-Rooted Segregation and Its Legacy
The report explains that segregation in Belfast is not new—it has its roots in historical conflicts (from partition through the Troubles) and has since been embedded into the very fabric of the city. Physical manifestations such as peace barriers and defensive architecture continue to divide communities and reinforce service duplication.
• Impact on Urban Resilience and the Environment
Segregation is shown to weaken the city’s resilience. Because services are duplicated on either side of community lines, not only does this model lead to inefficiencies (such as longer travel distances and extra carbon emissions), it also contributes to environmental degradation. For example, the extra distance many residents travel—due in part to barriers like the Westlink—adds unnecessary vehicle emissions, hindering progress toward net-zero targets.
• Inequalities in Access and Public Service Delivery
The report highlights that segregation contributes to unequal access to quality green spaces and public services. This uneven distribution adversely affects physical and mental health in disadvantaged communities, compounding the challenges faced by those living near peace barriers and in areas with lower environmental quality.
• Holistic and Integrated Recommendations
To address these intertwined issues, the report lays out a series of recommendations grouped under four strategic themes. These include:
- Reducing the “Segregation Handicap” by reviewing and streamlining service delivery and public building use, which in turn can reduce excess emissions.
- Reimagining Security Architecture through projects like planting and rewilding at interfaces, aiming both to improve environmental outcomes and to soften the legacy of conflict.
- Promoting Environmental Justice by ensuring that disadvantaged communities gain better access to green spaces and become more involved in environmental decision-making.
- Fostering Cross-Community Engagement via initiatives such as eco-schools, youth carbon projects, and cross-community public transport improvements.
• Long-Term Transformation and Collaboration
The report acknowledges that while there has been progress since the Good Friday Agreement, substantial transformation in de-segregating Belfast will take time—potentially a generation or two. It calls for collaborative, cross-sector efforts led by Belfast City Council in partnership with other public agencies and community groups to gradually overcome these entrenched barriers.