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Public concern about environmental issues remains high

Date published: 29 May 2025

Site topics: Transport, environment and climate change

New accredited official statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) present key indicators of Northern Ireland's environmental health and sustainability in the annual Northern Ireland Environmental Statistics Report 2025.

Key findings:

  • Public concern about environmental issues remains high with 73% of people very or fairly concerned about the environment in 2024/25
  • Northern Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions were estimated at 21.3 MtCO2e in 2022, a 26% reduction since 1990 baseline levels
  • 44% of total metered electricity consumption in Northern Ireland was generated from renewable sources during January to December 2024
    Roadside nitrogen dioxide levels have decreased significantly from 40.6μg/m³ in 2012 to 22.6μg/m³ in 2024
  • Of the twenty-five inshore coastal waterbodies in Northern Ireland, 13 (52%) have been assessed at good or better ecological condition
  • 54% of features within Marine and Terrestrial protected sites were in Favourable condition in 2024/25, while 38% were in Unfavourable condition
  • By March 2025, 111,159 hectares across 394 sites were declared Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI)
  • Wild bird populations have been in general decline since 2005, driven principally by bird species found in farmland habitats

     

About the publication:

The Northern Ireland Environmental Statistics Report is a comprehensive compendium covering seven main environmental topics:

  • Public Attitudes and Access to Nature - including public concern about environmental issues, actions taken by households, and access to natural spaces
  • Climate Change - featuring greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy generation, and temperature trends
  • Air - monitoring nitrogen dioxide levels, particulate matter, and ammonia emissions
  • Water and Marine - reporting on coastal water quality, river phosphorus levels, and water pollution incidents
  • Biodiversity and Land - covering protected areas, habitat conditions, and wild bird populations
  • Waste - including recycling rates and waste management
  • Historic Environment - tracking scheduled monuments, listed buildings, and conservation efforts

The report provides data on trends over time and, where applicable, performance against quantified targets. Each indicator includes commentary describing notable trends, with corresponding data tables available. The publication has been streamlined to concentrate on statistics that are first released in this report and those used for Programme for Government monitoring.

Further information:

Read the full report: Northern Ireland Environmental Statistics Report 2025

The next update is scheduled for May 2026.

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Last updated: 30 May 2025

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