The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has published its eighteenth annual Northern Ireland Environmental Statistics Report, revealing a mixed assessment of environmental conditions across the region. While the data show continued progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining high public concern for environmental issues, they also reveal concerning declines in coastal water quality and the condition of protected wildlife sites.
The report, released on 28 May 2026, compiles data across seven themes: Public Attitudes and Access to Nature; Climate Change; Air; Water and Marine; Biodiversity and Land; Waste; and Historical Environment. It serves as the primary reference point for tracking Northern Ireland’s progress toward environmental targets, including those set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan and the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.
Public Concern Shifts to Illegal Dumping
Public anxiety about environmental issues remains high, with 73 per cent of households reporting they are very or fairly concerned about the environment in 2025/26. However, the focus of that concern has shifted markedly. Illegal dumping of waste and litter has overtaken broader pollution concerns as the primary worry, cited by 34 per cent of households compared to 29 per cent concerned about pollution of air, water and soil. This represents a significant increase from the previous year, when illegal dumping troubled 27 per cent of households.
Access to nature remains a pressing issue. In April 2026, only 48.0 per cent of households had accessible natural space within 400 metres of their home—up from previous years, yet still substantially below the 84 per cent target set for 2050 under the Environmental Improvement Plan.
Air Quality Reversals Amid Climate Progress
The report reveals a concerning reversal in air quality trends. Urban traffic nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, having fallen to 22.6μg/m³ in 2024, rose again to 26.3μg/m³ in 2025—though remaining below the 40.6μg/m³ recorded in 2012. This uptick suggests recent improvements in air quality may be fragile.
Climate change indicators offer more positive news. Northern Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions stood at 18.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2023, representing a 31.5 per cent reduction since 1990 baseline levels. This places the region on track toward the statutory net-zero target for 2050 established under the Climate Change Act, which requires at least a 48 per cent reduction in net emissions by 2030.
Coastal Waters and Protected Sites Deteriorating
Water quality data paint a concerning picture, particularly for coastal areas. Only 40 per cent of inshore coastal waterbodies (10 of 25) achieved good or better ecological status in 2025—a sharp decline from the 52 per cent recorded the previous year. This deterioration comes despite a slight reduction in overall water pollution incidents, which fell from 1,886 in 2024 to 1,780 in 2025, with 46 per cent substantiated as having actual impact on waterways.
River water quality shows mixed results. Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP) concentrations averaged 0.07 mg/l across 93 surveillance rivers in 2025—a slight increase from 0.065 mg/l the previous year and significantly above the <0.035 mg/l threshold associated with good ecological status under Water Framework Directive standards.
Biodiversity indicators also raise concerns. The proportion of features within Marine and Terrestrial protected sites classified as being in Favourable condition fell from 54 per cent in 2024/25 to 52 per cent in 2025/26, while Unfavourable condition features rose to 37 per cent. This decline in the condition of Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) suggests Northern Ireland’s most precious wildlife sites are under increasing pressure.
Heritage Protection Expands
In contrast to natural environment indicators, the historic environment shows steady growth. The number of listed buildings—structures of special architectural or historic interest—reached 9,157 in 2024/25, a 12 per cent increase since 2003/04. This expansion of the protected built heritage estate demonstrates continued recognition of Northern Ireland’s cultural assets.
Critical Questions for Policymakers
The 2026 statistics raise several urgent questions about environmental policy implementation:
- What explains the sharp deterioration in coastal water quality, and what specific measures are being implemented to reverse this trend before the next reporting cycle?
- Given the rise in NO2 levels after years of decline, is current air quality legislation sufficient to maintain long-term improvements, particularly with increasing traffic volumes?
- With protected site conditions worsening despite statutory protections, is current funding for site management adequate, and are enforcement mechanisms functioning effectively?
- How will DAERA accelerate progress toward the 84 per cent greenspace access target when current coverage stands at just 48 per cent with less than 25 years remaining to the 2050 deadline?
- Given that agriculture remains a dominant land use and pressure on water quality, how will the forthcoming Agriculture Policy framework address nutrient pollution from agricultural sources?
The full Northern Ireland Environmental Statistics Report 2026 and previous editions dating back to 2009 are available on the DAERA website. The department notes that these National Statistics undergo regular quality assurance and are produced free from political interference.