The Northern Ireland (NI) Environmental Principles Policy Statement 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.

Minister Muir said: “I am delighted to bring forward the Environmental Principles Policy Statement to ensure policy making gives due regard to the environment. The environment and key principles such as prevention of damage and the polluter pays principle should not be an afterthought when taking key policy decisions. I look forward to Assembly support for this important measure.”

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.

There was cross-departmental engagement as part of the development process, and the draft statement was subject to public consultation last year, with feedback incorporated into the current draft EPPS, which will be now laid before the Assembly for scrutiny.

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