At a recent gathering of agri-food and environmental leaders in Belfast, Dr Nicola Ranger from the Environmental Change Institute delivered a powerful message: the UK’s environmental risks are growing, but with smart, collaborative action, they can become drivers of resilience and prosperity.
Dr Nicola Ranger, Director of the Global Finance and Economy Group and the Resilient Planet Finance Lab at the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford, delivered the keynote address at the 65th George Scott Robertson Memorial Lecture, held recently at Riddel Hall, Queen’s University Belfast.
An audience of leading voices from across Northern Ireland’s agri-food and environmental sectors gathered to hear Dr Ranger share her expertise on managing nature-based risks — including flooding, pollution, and biodiversity loss — and the pivotal role of green finance in securing resilience and long-term prosperity for the UK and beyond.
Reflecting on the risks posed by environmental degradation, Dr Ranger highlighted the urgency of action, noting:
“The UK faces considerable risks due to nature loss, but with good policy and positive partnerships between government, finance and business we can turn risk into opportunity. The agri-food sector in particular sits at the nexus of resilience, nature and security. As stewards of the land, the sector itself is an important part of the solution, creating opportunities not just for farmers but for national prosperity and security.”
Dr Ranger’s research, supported by the Natural Environment Research Council’s Integrating Finance and Biodiversity (IFB) programme, in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast and research partners across the UK, explores how climate and environmental risks can be embedded into financial decision-making. Her address demonstrated how mobilising sustainable investment can transform sectors like agri-food, offering a pathway to enhanced resilience, revenues, and job creation.
The lecture, a landmark event in the Northern Ireland agri-food calendar, is organised by the Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI), the Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs (DAERA), the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast, and the Ulster Farmers’ Union. Supported by the Gibson Trust, the series honours Dr George Scott Robertson, a pioneer in advancing agricultural progress in Northern Ireland.
Professor Sharon Huws (QUB), DAERA Minister Andrew Muir (MLA), Dr Nicola Ranger (ECI) and Dr Stanley McDowell (CEO, AFBI).
Professor Elizabeth Magowan, Director of Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences at AFBI, praised Dr Ranger’s contribution:
Dr Ranger’s presentation offered thought-provoking and invaluable insights. As the financial and economic impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss rise up the agenda, her lecture provided a forward-looking perspective that will support Northern Ireland’s agri-food and environmental goals.”
Dr Ranger added:
It was inspiring to see the innovations and dialogue happening in the region. I was delighted to showcase the power of sustainable investment to drive positive change in Northern Ireland’s agri-food sector.”