The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) today (November 20) welcomes the approval by Northern Ireland's Executive of the Environmental Principles Policy Statement (EPPS).
Responding to the EPPS’ approval OEP Chair, Dame Glenys Stacey, said: “The EPPS aims to place the environment at the heart of the Government’s policymaking.
“We believe that if implemented effectively the EPPS can be a powerful tool to assist in achieving improved policy coherence, support environmental protection and enhancement as well as helping drive delivery on the Government’s environmental objectives.”
The OEP previously gave advice to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in 2023 on how to strengthen the EPPS.
Dame Glenys added: “We provided advice as the EPPS was being developed and are pleased to note much of this has been reflected in the published EPPS.”
The EPPS is one of the cornerstones of environmental governance in the Environment Act 2021, alongside the Act’s provisions for, the Environment Improvement Plan and the OEP.
Dame Glenys added: “Today’s (November 20) announcement follows on from last month’s (October) publication of the environmental governance review, requested by Minister Muir, that made numerous governance reform recommendations. Both are undoubtedly important and welcome steps in the right direction to strengthen governance.
“However, if stronger governance is to lead to better protection and improvement of the environment then, effective implementation of the EPPS and review’s recommendations is vital.
“The EPPS has the potential to play a key role in helping turn things around, but it needs to be implemented properly and embedded right across government and its departments if it is to deliver for the environment as it should.”
Given the significance of its role in environmental governance, we will take an active interest in the implementation of the EPPS across government. As such, we have already reported on the implementation of England’s EPPS in February (2025).
We will scrutinise and monitor the implementation of the EPPS when it comes into effect, with a view to providing independent insight to government on whether any improvements can be made to improve its chances of success.
DAERA’s statement on the EPPS is here.
Notes
- The final EPPS will be publicly published following the government’s scrutiny period of 21 sitting days has been completed and any amendments made.
- The EPPS covers five environmental principles set out in law, that ministers, government departments and officials will have a legal duty to be guided by when making policy. When the EPPS is implemented in six months’ time policymakers will legally have to consider the impact their policies will have on the environment.
- The EPPS covers five environmental principles set out in law that are:
- The Integration principle
- The Prevention principle
- Precautionary principle
- Rectification at source principle
- Polluter pays principle
- The EPPS is a key component of improving environmental governance in Northern Ireland.
- England’s EPPS monitoring report can be found here.
