Image Caption – (left to right):

Frank Feighan TD, Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment; Paul Sheridan, Director of Corporate Services, SEUPB; Jillian Gilmore, Department of Finance; Max Bryant, CEO, Northern Ireland Environment Link; Karen Ciesielski, CEO, Irish Environmental Network.

Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) and the Irish Environmental Network (IEN) are delighted to announce the launch of the CHANGE (Collaborative Horizons for All-Island Nature and Governance Enhancement) project, a major cross-border initiative supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

The CHANGE project brings together environmental NGOs, public bodies and researchers from both sides of the border to better understand shared environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, freshwater quality, and marine protection, and to co-develop practical, evidence-based solutions and strategies to address them.

PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.

The island of Ireland is a single biogeographic unit with shared landscapes, water sources, flora, and fauna. In the midst of a climate and biodiversity crisis, both jurisdictions face similar challenges in responding effectively. Protecting this common environment depends on coherent policymaking, strong standards, regulations, and enforcement on both sides of the border. Increasing cross-border cooperation provides a real opportunity to improve environmental outcomes on an all-island basis.

Through developing practical, evidence-based solutions, strategic action plans and data-sharing, CHANGE aims to support strengthened cross-border environmental governance and resilience, enabling more coordinated responses to pressing environmental challenges.

The CHANGE project launch event in Newry was attended by environmental NGOs, public bodies, researchers, and community groups from both sides of the border. Speakers at the launch included Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment Frank Feighan TD, SEUPB Director of Corporate Services Paul Sheridan, NIEL CEO Max Bryant, and IEN CEO Karen Ciesielski. The event also featured a video message from Minister of Finance John O’Dowd.

Minister of Finance John O’Dowd MLA said: “I welcome the launch of the PEACEPLUS-funded CHANGE project. This initiative is a strong example of collaborative working. It will support solutions to shared environmental challenges and enhance institutional cooperation. The partnership provides an important North-South and an East-West dimension, ensuring that learning can be shared and integrated. I wish all involved every success with the project.”

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Jack Chambers TD said: “I am very pleased that the CHANGE project has been funded under the EU PEACEPLUS programme. This is an ambitious initiative that is responding to environmental governance challenges on a cross-border basis. The CHANGE project has an inclusive and evidence led approach at its core, promoting cooperation and building institutional capacity. My congratulations to all the project partners.”

Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation, and eGovernment, Frank Feighan TD added: “The CHANGE project is bringing together experienced project partners to promote cooperation in environmental governance across the island. This EU PEACEPLUS-funded project recognises the opportunities and synergies that can be achieved through coordinated cross-border partnership and collaboration. I look forward to seeing the outputs of this important project.”

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “The work between these two agencies reflects a clear and shared understanding of the environmental challenges we face across the island of Ireland and the need to address them together.

“Supported through PEACEPLUS, the CHANGE project recognises that effective environmental governance depends on cooperation. It relies on trust between institutions, openness in sharing knowledge, and the involvement of communities. It also requires persistence, as meaningful change takes time and careful work. Projects such as CHANGE show how that cooperation can be organised, supported and put into practice.”

NIEL CEO Max Bryant said: “NIEL is proud to launch the CHANGE project at a critical moment for our climate and natural environment. As pressures on biodiversity, ecosystems, and energy resilience increase, cross-border collaboration has never been more important. The island of Ireland is a single biogeographic area, and challenges such as climate change, invasive species, and environmental degradation do not respect borders. By working together and sharing knowledge, we can develop more effective, coordinated solutions that benefit communities and nature both North and South.”

IEN CEO Karen Ciesielski added: “Cross-border collaboration in the environmental NGO sector is vital. The Irish Environmental Network is delighted to partner with NIEL on the CHANGE project. Both organisations have been working together for a number of years on the promotion of better cross-border cooperation on the environment and to identify all-island policy and practical solutions to shared environmental challenges. We are very grateful to SEUPB for funding this initiative, which allows us to take this work to the next level. By working together, sharing expertise, and engaging stakeholders across both jurisdictions, we can strengthen environmental governance, improve outcomes, and support sustainable, evidence-based decision-making across the island.”

The CHANGE project represents a strategic step towards more effective cross-border environmental management, supporting national and EU priorities on sustainability, biodiversity protection, and climate action.