NI's first environment plan approved by executive

The environment minister Andrew Muir has welcomed the executive's approval

Northern Ireland’s first Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) has been approved by the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) had been reprimanded by the UK’s environmental watchdog for failing to meet a deadline to have the plan in place by July 2023.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) had urged ministers to approve an environmental strategy that could be adopted as an EIP.

Environment Minister Andrew Muir welcomed the executive’s approval, saying the plan provided “a set of coherent and effective interventions and measures” to address the environmental challenges faced by Northern Ireland.

'Will improve health and well-being of all'

Soil quality is a focus

“It will improve the health and well-being of all, create opportunities to develop our economy in an environmentally sustainable manner and enable us to play our part in protecting the global environment for years to come,” said Mr Muir.

He said the challenges included habitat and species loss, greenhouse gas emissions, water, air and soil quality, developing a circular economy, waste management and more.

Mr Muir added that the EIP “will be regularly reviewed and revised, as well as face independent scrutiny by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), to ensure that all NI departments are taking the necessary steps to improve our environment".

Six strategic objectives have been developed for the EIP.

• Excellent air, water and land quality

• A healthy and accessible environment and landscapes everyone can connect with and enjoy

• Thriving, resilient and connected nature and wildlife

• Sustainable production and consumption on land and at sea

• Zero waste and a highly developed circular economy

• Net zero greenhouse gas emissions and improved climate resilience and adaptability

The OEP had previously launched an investigation into Daera’s failure to have an EIP in place by July 2023.

OEP chief executive Natalie Prosser welcomed the approval of the plan and said her office would assess how it had been improved in line with previous advice.

“An EIP is crucial as it should provide the roadmap for how this government will tackle the significant and pressing environmental challenges it faces, such as the current environmental crisis at Lough Neagh," she said.

"This EIP should drive the delivery of how Northern Ireland’s environment is to be significantly improved now and in the future.”

The plan will be monitored by the OEP and an annual report brought to the assembly on its progress.