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Environment

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Explainer

Agri-food policy, environmental protections and plans within plans within plans
1 December 2023
A single sentence in a newspaper unravels to reveal how strategic policy can be 1) like a Russian Doll, and 2) open to various interpretations

Articles

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Environment

Is Northern Ireland the least environmentally protected place in Europe?
13 October 2023

CLAIM: Northern Ireland has the least protected environment in Europe – it has no independent environmental protection agency or government, Lough Neagh is dying, and councils are giving significant fossil-fuel schemes the green light.

Rating

MIXED

In a post on social media on 12 September, campaign group Save Our Lagan claimed: “NI is the least protected environment in the Europe: Lough

Articles

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Environment

Will nearly 40% of NI properties be at risk from flooding by 2080?
5 September 2023

CLAIM: The Belfast Telegraph claimed that projections from the Department of Infrastructure indicate that 38% of all properties in Northern Ireland will be at risk of flooding by 2080.

Rating

INACCURATE

On 4 September, the Belfast Telegraph published a story under the headline: “Flooding warning: Nearly 40% of properties in NI will be at risk of

Articles

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Environment

Does this picture show all the publicly-available green space in Northern Ireland?
28 June 2023

CLAIM: A map shared on Twitter shows the amount of green space in Northern Ireland which is available to the public.

Rating

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

On 25 May, Irish Mirror/Belfast Live Environment Correspondent Shauna Corr shared the following image on Twitter: In her tweet, she said: “This map of Northern

Articles

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Environment

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Health

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Topics

Is Lagan Valley one of the least wooded parts of NI?
22 June 2023

CLAIM: Lagan Valley is one of the least wooded areas in Northern Ireland, particularly with regards to ancient woodland.

Rating

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

On 18 June, Alliance Party MLA Sorcha Eastwood claimed on Twitter: “Lagan Valley is one of the least wooded areas in NI, particularly re ancient

Articles

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Environment

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Europe

Does Dungiven have some of the worst nitrogen dioxide readings in Western Europe?
7 March 2023

CLAIM: Dungiven has some of the worst nitrogen dioxide (NO2) readings in Western Europe.

Rating

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

On 27 January, community group Glenshane Community Development Ltd tweeted: “Why is Dungiven choked up this evening whilst the bypass lies unopened? The town has

Articles

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Environment

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Health

Do 140 people per year die while fishing in Irish waters?
16 June 2022

CLAIM: Approximately 120 to 140 people die while fishing in Ireland.

Rating

INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

On BBC Radio Ulster’s show Good Morning Ulster on June 7, during a discussion about deaths during the Isle of Man TT, former road racer

Economy

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Elections

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Environment

Do 25 of NI’s 27 main ‘economic hubs’ have creaking water and sewage infrastructure that is holding back development?
4 May 2022

CLAIM: The DUP’s manifesto claims that 25 of NI’s 27 economic hub towns have compromised water infrastructure - with only 12 set to see investment by 2027.

Rating

ACCURATE

The DUP manifesto for the 2022 Assembly election claims: “The crisis in available water and sewerage capacity in Northern Ireland is curtailing economic investment and

Elections

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Environment

Do nearly 30% of NI’s carbon emissions come from farming, compared with 10% in the rest of the UK?
3 May 2022

CLAIM: Alliance’s manifesto says almost 30% of Northern Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions stem from agriculture, whereas in Great Britain that figure is 10%.

Rating

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

The Alliance Party’s 2022 Assembly election manifesto claims: “Addressing our agriculture and transport sectors is fundamental to drastically reducing emissions in Northern Ireland. Nearly 30%

Environment

Does Northern Ireland have some of the worst insulated houses?
29 November 2021

CLAIM: Northern Ireland has some of the worst insulated houses in Western Europe.

Rating

UNSUBSTANTIATED

There are unknown data for home insulation measures across Europe. A manufacturer’s survey suggests that houses in Great Britain perform poorly in retaining heating temperatures.

Economy

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Environment

Does Northern Ireland produce enough to feed 10 million people?
16 November 2021

CLAIM: Northern Ireland produces enough to feed 10 million people (annually).

Rating

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

The Northern Ireland agricultural sector produces enough protein to meet the needs of 10m adults. However, production is only sufficient to meet the energy requirements

Environment

Did only the Green Party support an EPA?
25 February 2020

CLAIM: Only the Green Party supported a proposal to establish an environmental protection agency (EPA), as part of the review of public administration (local government) in Northern Ireland.

Rating

INACCURATE

During the Review of Public Administration (June 2002-March 2006), three political parties — Alliance, Green Party, and the SDLP — pledged support for an independent