Northern Ireland at a Crossroads: Environmental Policy, Net Zero, and the Road Ahead

The Northern Ireland Environment Forum, held in April 2025, convened policymakers, academics, and environmental leaders at a pivotal moment for the region's sustainability agenda. With Northern Ireland’s first Climate Action Plan still under development, two years behind schedule, and the Climate Change Committee (CCC) recommending a 77% emissions reduction by 2040, the forum emphasised the urgency of action and the practical barriers to progress.

This report considers key insights from the forum, placing them within the context of recent policy developments and emerging environmental data. Northern Ireland faces a clear choice: maintain fragmented responses, or embrace integrated, collaborative solutions that could position it as a sustainability leader.

‍Policy Framework Delays: Addressing Governance Challenges

The delayed development of Northern Ireland’s 2023–2027 Climate Action Plan reflects broader governance challenges, partly due to the recent political impasse (2022–2024 executive collapse). Environment Minister Andrew Muir’s renewed commitment to fast-track the consultation is a positive step. Still, it arrives against CCC warnings that only immediate, well-resourced action will be sufficient to meet the region’s net-zero obligations.

Notably, agriculture - accounting for 30% of Northern Ireland's emissions - currently lacks clear, enforceable targets, unlike the sector-specific ceilings introduced by the Republic of Ireland. However, this gap presents an opportunity: Northern Ireland can now draw lessons from neighbours to develop realistic, achievable benchmarks.

The Office for Environmental Protection’s (OEP) 2024 review highlighted similar issues, noting that 70% of Northern Ireland's water bodies fall short of "good ecological status". Addressing these challenges constructively requires strengthened governance, clearer accountability, and adequate funding.

Bridging Policy Ambition and Real-World Implementation

The persistent gap between policy ambition and practical delivery was a recurring theme at the forum. While Northern Ireland’s Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 sets commendable targets for biodiversity and waste reduction, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has found that around 60% of these targets lack clear delivery mechanisms or dedicated funding.

Post-Brexit regulatory uncertainty is compounding these challenges. RSPB Northern Ireland Director Joanne Sherwood highlighted uneven enforcement of key measures such as the Nitrates Action Programme, which continues to drive nutrient pollution in sensitive ecosystems. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) faces ongoing capacity constraints, operating with 25% fewer staff than recommended in the 2021 Independent Review of Environmental Governance.

This under-resourcing has tangible consequences. The circular economy share of Northern Ireland’s economy has declined from 9.2% in 2020 to 7.9% in 2024, reflecting the growing disconnect between environmental goals and delivery capacity. Nevertheless, stakeholders at the forum identified real opportunities: with targeted investment and capacity-building, DAERA and its partners could improve environmental outcomes while enhancing the agricultural sector’s long-term sustainability.‍

Agriculture and Wastewater: Opportunities for Integrated Reform

Agriculture remains the biggest emissions contributor, yet Northern Ireland’s draft Climate Action Plan offers only non-binding “guidance” for the sector. This falls short of CCC expectations and lags the Republic’s more robust approach. Methane reduction, in particular, trails UK averages by 35 percentage points.

The environmental cost of inaction is stark. In 2024, satellite imagery revealed 87% of Lough Neagh was covered in toxic algae, driven by nutrient runoff and inadequate wastewater treatment. A nitrogen surplus of 23.4 kg/ha, 41% above the EU Nitrates Directive threshold, underscores the scale of the problem.

The Executive’s consultation on developer contributions to wastewater infrastructure seeks to plug an £800m funding gap, but Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins acknowledges that full modernisation could take “decades and billions.”

Constructive steps include the Northern Ireland Executive's consultation on developer contributions to address an £800m wastewater infrastructure gap. Encouraging cross-sector cooperation, including farmers, infrastructure developers, and government agencies, could provide innovative financing solutions, leveraging public-private partnerships and green investment.‍

Public Engagement and Behaviour Change: Moving from Awareness to Action

Despite high public awareness - 78% of residents express environmental anxiety - only a minority actively prioritise climate change action. This reveals a critical opportunity: leveraging public sentiment into tangible behavioural shifts through clearer communication and incentive-driven infrastructure improvements.

Positive examples include the Energy Strategy Action Plan’s initiatives on renewable heat and smart meter rollout, although uptake remains modest. Accelerating these efforts through targeted public campaigns and expanded incentive schemes could bridge the gap between awareness and meaningful behavioural change.

Energy Transition: Realising Renewable Potential

Electricity is at the heart of Northern Ireland’s net-zero transition. The 2025 Energy Strategy Action Plan targets 80% renewable generation by 2030, with offshore wind and grid upgrades at its core. But real-world constraints persist: 1.2 GW of wind projects are stalled, awaiting grid connections. The absence of a dedicated offshore wind policy also delays progress in a region with 8 GW of potential in the Irish Sea.

Electrification is non-negotiable: 55% of emissions cuts depend on decarbonising heat, transport, and industry. But the supporting infrastructure is lagging: only 13.6% of new vehicles were EVs as of 2023 (vs. 14.4% in the Republic), and charging infrastructure is sparse, with 36 per 100,000 people compared to the UK average of 108.

Proactive solutions could include accelerated grid modernisation programmes, regulatory reform to streamline renewable project approvals, and the establishment of dedicated offshore wind zones in the Irish Sea. These moves offer significant economic opportunities alongside emissions reductions.‍

A Collaborative Path Forward

Northern Ireland stands at a critical juncture, with substantial opportunities for progress if barriers to integration, governance, and public engagement can be constructively addressed. Several key areas could become important for successful future action:

1. Strengthening governance and accountability through clearer mandates for agencies like the OEP.
2. Encouraging integrated financial approaches to address infrastructure deficits, including leveraging public-private partnerships and green financing.
3. Facilitating behavioural change by aligning incentives with sustainable infrastructure and targeted communications.

Businesses, local authorities, and civil society organisations have a vital role in shaping this positive trajectory. Through active engagement in policy consultations, innovative collaborations, and investment in sustainability initiatives, stakeholders can turn current challenges into opportunities, supporting Northern Ireland in becoming a model for integrated environmental governance and action.