The twenty fifth North South Ministerial Council Environment Meeting 04 July 2025
Date published:
The twenty fifth North South Ministerial Council Environment meeting was held in the Loughs Agency Offices, Carlingford on 4 July 2025. The meeting was attended by Andrew Muir MLA, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Aisling Reilly MLA Junior Minister The Executive Office, Pam Cameron Junior Minister, The Executive Office, Darragh O’Brien T.D., Minister for Climate, Environment, and Energy and Christopher O’Sullivan T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage with special responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity.
Ministers welcomed the strong links between researchers in both jurisdictions in the field of Environment Research. The Council noted the continuing work and progress in co-operation on Climate Change, Biodiversity, Marine Environment and Marine Protected Areas.
Minister’s welcomed the launch of the NI Executive’s approved Lough Neagh Report and Action Plan 2024 and the publication of Ireland’s Third Cycle River Basin Management Plan, the Water Action Plan 2024 and the approval of NI’s Third Cycle River Basin Management Plan, which were published since the last sectoral meeting.
The NSMC welcomed a presentation on Northern Ireland’s Blue Carbon Action Plan 2025-2030 from officials in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
The Joint Communiqué is available to view here.