NI Environment Principles Policy Statement
On 6 November 2025 the NI Executive approved the NI Environmental Principles Policy Statement (EPPS). Subsequently, the draft EPPS was laid at the Assembly on 20 November and was subject to the 21 sitting day scrutiny process. The 21-day scrutiny period for the NI EPPS ended on 2 March 2026.
The EPPS remains unchanged following scrutiny and will come into force on 2 September 2026.
The NI EPPS will ensure that environmental considerations are central to policy development and delivery in all Government departments. It will guide policymakers to consistently consider environmental impacts, prevent damage, and find innovative opportunities to enhance the environment.
Publishing an EPPS fulfils Northern Ireland’s statutory duty under the UK Environment Act 2021, which replaced previous EU guidelines. The Act includes provisions for embedding five environmental principles in domestic law in England and Northern Ireland. These principles will be applied under the EPPS regime as part of this law. The EPPS must be given due regard by NI departments and UK ministers when it comes to policy making.
The five environmental principles are:
i. the principle that environmental protection should be integrated into the making of policies;
ii. the principle of preventative action to avert environmental damage;
iii. the precautionary principle, so far as relating to the environment;
iv. the principle that environmental damage should as a priority be rectified at source; and
v. the polluter pays principle.
View the NI Environmental Principles Policy Statement (NI EPPS) here.