The Environment Act Implementation

This heading refers to 3 elements of the Act:

1. establishment of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP);
2. publication of a policy statement on environmental principles; and
3. annual reporting on implementation of the Environmental Improvement Plan.

Type of Change

Statutory.

Affected Stakeholders

• General Public
• DAERA and other NI departments
• UK Government ministers
• Public authorities

Changes

1. new environmental oversight body that holds government and other public authorities to account for the proper implementation of environmental law;
2. embedding 5 environmental principles in domestic law through a policy statement to which NI departments and UK Government ministers making policy for NI must have ‘due regard’; and
3. reporting on progress towards delivery of an Environmental Improvement Plan.

Status

1. the OEP has been operating in NI since February 2022 – DAERA liaises closely with the OEP across a wide range of issues;
2. a draft environmental policy statement is being developed with a view to publishing a consultation document later in 2024;
3. an outcome indicator framework and monitoring and reporting regime is being developed.

Expected Timeline

1. ongoing;
2. late 2025;
3. first annual report due 16 months after EIP is published.