Environment Act 2021

Policy statement on environmental principles

6 (1) The Department must prepare a policy statement on environmental principles in accordance with this paragraph and paragraph 7.

(2) A “policy statement on environmental principles” is a statement explaining how the environmental principles should be interpreted and proportionately applied—

(a) by Northern Ireland departments when making policy, and

(b) by Ministers of the Crown when making policy so far as relating to Northern Ireland.

(3) It may also explain how Northern Ireland departments and Ministers of the Crown, when interpreting and applying the environmental principles, should take into account other considerations relevant to their policy.

(4) The Department must be satisfied that the statement will, when it comes into effect, contribute to—

(a) the improvement of environmental protection, and

(b) sustainable development.

(5) In this Schedule “environmental principles” means the following principles—

(a) the principle that environmental protection should be integrated into the making of policies,

(b) the principle of preventative action to avert environmental damage,

(c) the precautionary principle, so far as relating to the environment,

(d) the principle that environmental damage should as a priority be rectified at source, and

(e) the polluter pays principle.