ENVIRONMENTAL, community and business groups have called for the Stormont executive to prioritise green investment to support long-term recovery.
More than 40 signatories, including academics and campaigners, have written an open letter to the First and Deputy First Ministers urging them to put health and well-being, nature protection and climate action at the heart of decision-making in the roadmap to recovery.
The letter asks the executive to adopt three principles.
These include the creation of a more resilient economy by delivering a `green new deal' that commits to investing in infrastructure, housing, technology and skills to generate thousands of new jobs.
They also want more green space and strengthened protections by ensuring the swift passage of environmental legislation after the Brexit transition.
Kieran Harding, NI managing director of Business in the Community, said: "Businesses in Northern Ireland are facing unprecedented challenges as a result of Covid-19.
"It is vital that sustainability is at the heart of the recovery and rebuilding process.
"Government must support a green recovery and enable us to build back in a better way, one that directly addresses the climate and biodiversity crisis.
"In doing so, a recovery that focuses on the environment and protecting our planet will create new opportunities for business and generate greater prosperity and wellbeing for all."
