The Northern Ireland Environmental Statistics Report has been published by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
This statistical report is produced annually and contains information on a range of environmental indicators in Northern Ireland, including public attitude, climate change, water and marine quality and biodiversity.
This is the seventeenth annual Northern Ireland Environmental Statistics Report.
This year’s report highlights that although the level of public concern about environmental issues was high in 2024/25, with 73% very or fairly concerned about the environment, it is almost identical to the level of concern measured in the inaugural report covering 2003/04.
Households were asked to consider a list of environmental problems and state which, if any, they thought was the most important issue to them. Results show that in 2024/25, the most commonly selected environmental problems were pollution of air, water and soil (28 per cent), illegal dumping of waste and litter (27 per cent) and climate change and ozone layer depletion (24 per cent).
In comparison with 2023/24, pollution of air, water and soil showed a significant increase from last year (22 per cent) while in contrast climate change and ozone layer depletion showed a significant decrease (29 per cent in 2023/24).
Other key points are:
- In 2024 Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP) was measured at 93 surveillance rivers across Northern Ireland giving an average concentration of 0.065 mg/l of phosphorus per litre of water.
- Of the twenty-five inshore coastal waterbodies delineated in Northern Ireland, 13 (52%) have been assessed at good or better ecological condition.
- In 2024, there were 1,886 water pollution incidents reported, of which 887 (47%) were substantiated (confirmed) as having an impact on the water quality of the receiving waterway.
Te read the full report, visit https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/northern-ireland-environmental-statistics-report-2025
