NI Executive Approves Environmental Improvement Plan

The Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir has welcomed the Executive's approval of Northern Ireland's first Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP).

The EIP will serve as Northern Ireland's initial Environment Strategy, outlining a comprehensive set of interventions and measures to enhance the quality of the environment. Minister Muir emphasised the plan's significance in improving public health and well-being, fostering economic development in an environmentally sustainable manner, and contributing to global environmental protection.

Northern Ireland faces a range of environmental challenges, including habitat loss, species decline, greenhouse gas emissions, and issues related to water, air, soil, waste management, and the circular economy. The EIP aims to address these challenges and provide a collective response to the global crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. To ensure accountability and transparency, the EIP will undergo regular review and revision, and will be subject to independent scrutiny by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP). This oversight will help ensure that all Northern Ireland departments are taking necessary steps to improve the environment.

DAERA's officials have worked with key stakeholders, including other departments and external bodies, to develop six strategic objectives for the EIP with the understanding that a better environment can provide economic, social and health benefits for individuals and for society, and outline a pathway to realising these benefits.

The objectives are:

1. Excellent air, water and land quality;

2. A healthy and accessible environment and landscapes everyone can connect with and enjoy;

3. Thriving, resilient and connected nature and wildlife;

4. Sustainable production and consumption on land and at sea;

5. Zero waste and a highly developed circular economy, and

6. Net zero greenhouse gas emissions and improved climate resilience and adaptability.

Minister Muir said action must start now: "When it comes to the environment maintaining the status quo is not an option. We all have a collective responsibility to deliver the change urgently required, the EIP sets an important framework and baseline for action to protect our environment."