Deadline extended for Northern Ireland's first environment strategy

Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has extended the deadline for views on its first environment strategy, to allow the public more time to give feedback.

The deadline was originally set for 23 December 2019, but this has been pushed back to 5 February 2020.

The environment strategy will form the basis for a set of interventions to deliver real improvements in environmental quality. It aims to improve the health and wellbeing of citizens, create opportunities and develop the economy, as well as protecting the global environment.

David Small from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency said that “ambitious, inspiring and targeted actions“ were needed to properly protect Northern Ireland's environment.

The strategy will seek to address wide-ranging and complex issues including climate action, plastic pollution and the drive to zero waste.

In deciding to extend the deadline, Dave Foster, director of regulatory and natural resources policy, commented: “Detailed responses are coming in on a daily basis so, given the considerable level of interest, we wanted to extend the public discussion period to ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to take part.“

A summary of the consultation findings will be published by DAERA in spring 2020, before the new environment strategy is drafted.

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