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’.
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 has been developed and approved by the Minister, this is now with the Executive for approval before laying with the Assembly. Timeline currently unsure due to hold up at Executive but expected early 2026.
3. An outcome indicator framework and monitoring and reporting regime is being developed.

Expected Timeline

1. Ongoing.
2. Early 2026.
3. First annual report in January 2026.