The Northern Ireland Resources Network recently attended the launch of the Office for Environmental Protection’s Progress in Improving the Natural Environment in Northern Ireland 2024/2025 report at Stormont. The report finds that while commitments in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) have set a foundation for much-needed action, the current pace and scale of progress needs to accelerate to deliver the change required for the plan to be effective.
Among the six strategic outcomes assessed, Strategic Outcome 6 – Zero Waste and a Highly Developed Circular Economy was of greatest relevance to our work. We were encouraged to see that, of all the actions needed to deliver the EIP, the importance of progress on the circular economy was explicitly recognised.
Key Recommendation 2 – Speed Up Action on the Circular Economy resonated strongly with us. The report is clear that accelerating circular economy action is essential to address the underlying drivers of environmental degradation and nature loss — drivers which are deeply connected to overall levels of resource use and how our economy and society consumes materials and energy. The transition to a circular economy is not only an environmental imperative; it also supports the development of a more resilient and inclusive economy, both now and for future generations.
The recommendation rightly emphasises that in developing a circular economy, actions must be grounded in the Environmental Principles Policy Statement. The systematic application of these principles can reduce environmental pressures from economic activity and embed safe and sustainable design into chemical and product lifecycles from the outset. Critically, the polluter pays principle must be applied to ensure that the costs of pollution and waste are not unfairly borne by the public.
This aligns closely with evidence from the UN Global Resources Outlook, which makes clear that consumption patterns have significant impacts on global greenhouse gas emissions, air and water quality, biodiversity loss, water stress, and the volume of waste generated.
Publishing and enacting a dedicated Circular Economy Strategy for Northern Ireland goes beyond an environmental measure. It is an economic opportunity that can create new industries, support green jobs, reduce resource dependency, and deliver wide-ranging environmental co-benefits simultaneously. The case for urgent action is compelling, and the Resources Network looks forward to supporting that journey.
