DAERA publishes Northern Ireland’s first Environmental Improvement Plan Annual Progress Report
Date published:
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has today published Northern Ireland’s first Annual Progress Report on the Environmental Improvement Plan.
The report provides the first assessment of what has been achieved by the Department and across government since Northern Ireland’s first Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) was launched in September 2024.
The EIP is structured around six Strategic Environmental Outcomes (SEOs):
- Excellent Air, Water and Land Quality
- Healthy and Accessible Landscapes Everyone Can Connect With & Enjoy
- Thriving, Resilient & Connected Nature & Wildlife
- Sustainable Production & Consumption on Land & at Sea
- Zero Waste & Highly Developed Circular Economy
- Net Zero GHG Emissions & Improved Climate Resilience & Adaptability
The report demonstrates progress across all six SEOs, while acknowledging the scale of the challenge and the need for accelerated action to meet a number of commitments.
Delivery in the first year has included strengthened environmental monitoring through the introduction of the Outcome Indicator Framework. It provides a consistent and transparent means of monitoring environmental change across all six SEOs for the first time, which will enable comparison of progress in future years.
Other significant achievements include publishing the Third Cycle River Basin Management Plan and improvements in marine protection, with 38% of inshore waters now designated as Marine Protected Areas.
Nature restoration in the form of 453 hectares of peatland and over 500 hectares of new woodland has also added to the progress made over the past year.
Legislation was introduced in December 2024 for Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility, which aims to reduce the volume of packaging placed on the market alongside increasing the quantity of recycled packaging.
Northern Ireland has also continued to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with 2023 emissions falling by 7.1% compared with 2022, bringing overall emissions to 31.5% below 1990 levels.
While significant strides have been made, several challenges remain to be addressed. Water quality continues to be impacted by nutrient pressures and underinvestment in wastewater infrastructure, while biodiversity recovery is not yet progressing at the speed required. These challenges reflect long‑standing pressures on the environment and underline the need for sustained investment, coordinated action and long‑term recovery planning.
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: “As Minister, I have consistently championed the need to increase efforts to protect and improve our environment after decades of neglect.
“Publication of Northern Ireland’s first ever Environmental Improvement Plan in September 2024 was an important milestone, marking the start of a journey to turn this situation around.
“The publication of our first Annual Progress Report demonstrates that progress has been made across many areas, but it also makes clear that serious challenges remain and there is work still to be done.
“Our ambition is clear, and with the right policy landscape, we can be the stewards our environment clearly needs. However, real and lasting improvement will require more resource and funding, stronger environmental governance, as well as improved collaboration across government, industry, communities and wider society.
“I look forward to considering the Office for Environmental Protection’s response and recommendations which are to be provided within six months.”
The progress report is available to view on the DAERA website - Environmental Improvement Plan for Northern Ireland | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Notes to editors:
- Follow DAERA on X formerly called Twitter and Facebook.
- All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone: 028 9016 3460.
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours’ service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.