Council's Climate Change policy comes under scrutiny

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has been accused of “misleading” the public to support its new climate change policy.

The Council is due to publicly launch its updated strategy towards a pathway of net zero carbon emissions. 

However, a Mournes Councillor has claimed flooding images of local town centres have been used to give people an “untrue” climate picture. 

Councillor Henry Reilly said: ”I am very concerned that some of the material in the sustainability report and I actually find it misleading.

“There are photographs of a flooded town centre in Downpatrick and Newry and that is giving the impression that if we penalise our own people through more expensive energy supplies that it (flooding) will stop. That is quite untrue.

“The reason why the Clanrye and Quoile rivers flooded is because they haven’t been dredged in 40 years, because of EU legislation under the Rivers Directive, that you can’t touch those rivers to dredge them.”

Councillor Reilly added: “So, all the carbon reduction that Newry, Mourne and Down will do will not stop flooding in Downpatrick and Newry.

“I think it is very misleading of the council to create that perception to the public in order to get support for this policy.

“Carbon molecules do not stay in China or India where they are increasing their use of  fossil fuels, so for us to penalise our people with very expensive de-carbonisation methods, does not make sense.” 

Newry and Downpatrick have flooded in recent year with the latest happening in late 2023.

A report before the chamber shows a draft climate change strategy was approved for public consultation by the committee in October 2025.

This was then sent out for public consultation taking place from December 2025 to March 2026.

The final strategy has received support from all other political parties at the committee.

Mournes Councillor Jill Truesdale said: ”The targets are tied to real statutory drivers such as the Climate Change Act rather than just an unrelatable aspiration 

“It is a really solid piece of work.”

Council deputy chairperson, Councillor Doire Finn added: ”Climate change doesn’t recognise borders and we have seen this summer as one of the hottest on record across Ireland and the UK. 

“It is really important that we are leaders on this and we recognise the impact climate change will have, whether it be hotter summers or wetter winters.

“This is effectively the biggest challenge that our generation is likely to face.”

A council officer responded: “It will be a matter of prioritising what we do in order to get the biggest bang for the buck to bring all the business cases on carbon reduction through as no doubt the funding is going to be a bit of a challenge. 

“There will be a year on year review on progress and action plans to be developed.”