Northern Ireland Environmental Principles Policy Statement comes into effect

Date published: 2 September 2026

Developed under the Environment Act 2021, the NI EPPS provides guidance on the application of environmental principles when developing policy in Northern Ireland. This will support a more consistent approach in considering environmental impacts at the earliest stages of policy-making across all departments.

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.

Welcoming the commencement of the policy statement, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: “The introduction of the Northern Ireland Environmental Principles Policy Statement is an important and positive milestone for Northern Ireland.

“Our environment underpins our health, wellbeing, economy and quality of life. Protecting and improving it is therefore a responsibility that belongs across government and not to any single department alone.

“The Environmental Principles Policy Statement places environmental considerations at the heart of policy development. It requires departments to think carefully about how their decisions may affect the natural environment and will support more sustainable decision-making from the outset.

“Importantly, the statement is not only about avoiding environmental harm. It is also about recognising opportunities to deliver positive environmental outcomes for communities across Northern Ireland.

“The commencement of the policy statement is an important step towards embedding environmental responsibility across government and supporting better decisions for current and future generations.”