Public bodies celebrated for milestone achievement in Climate Change Reporting

Date published: 12 June 2026

The event brought together representatives from public bodies across Northern Ireland, including local councils, education, health, emergency services, and key public service providers.

Under the Regulations, specified public bodies are required to submit climate change reports to DAERA outlining their greenhouse gas emissions, mitigation actions they are taking to reduce their emissions, their climate risks and what they are doing to adapt to the impacts of climate change. All 40 specified public bodies met their statutory reporting obligations, with two additional organisations participating on a voluntary basis.

These first reporting cycles have generated a comprehensive evidence base on emissions data, climate risks, and actions across the wider public sector in Northern Ireland creating a clear baseline for ongoing improvement. Benefits are already evident, as organisations strengthen sustainability practices and integrate climate considerations into planning and operations with some bodies noting the energy savings they are already seeing

DAERA Minister, Andrew Muir said: “The public sector has a crucial leadership role in responding to climate change, both within its own operations and in supporting the wider transition to a net zero, climate‑resilient Northern Ireland. The work undertaken through these reporting cycles has created a strong foundation for future progress and is already helping to embed climate considerations into organisational decision‑making and planning. The high level of engagement and collaboration across public bodies, and with DAERA, demonstrates a strong and shared commitment to driving meaningful climate action.”

Caroline Connor, Interim Director, Strategic Housing Authority, Northern Ireland Housing Executive said: “The Housing Executive is proud to have contributed to this first public body reporting cycle, strengthening our focus on climate mitigation, adaptation and sustainability. From improving energy efficiency of our housing stock and reducing emissions to progressing work on climate risk and flood resilience, this process has provided an opportunity to reflect on our progress while setting a clear pathway for future work. Our sustainability work continues to drive innovation across our services, ensuring we deliver warmer, greener homes while supporting more resilient communities. Through collaboration and shared learning, we are better equipped to deliver meaningful climate action for our communities.”

The event recognised the progress made in strengthening climate governance, knowledge and action across Northern Ireland’s public sector, and its contribution to the wider climate agenda. Attendees heard directly from public bodies about their experiences, successes, and key learnings from the first reporting cycle and reflected on the next steps to build on this strong foundation in future reporting cycles. 

DAERA is reviewing the submitted reports and will publish a summary of key findings alongside the full mitigation and adaptation reports in due course. The insights gathered will support and inform future policy development and strengthen Northern Ireland’s response to climate change.