Climate March through London to demand real action on climate change

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland

photo of Belfast from the air, with sunset

A clean and safe future for Northern Ireland

A healthy environment, happy communities, and worthwhile jobs: this is our vision for Northern Ireland.

People should have shared access to nature. And our resources should be managed fairly.

We believe these things are critical if we're to build a peaceful society.

photo of Belfast from the air, with sunset

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Environmental facts about Northern Ireland

1.7million
tonnes of sand a year are unlawfully extracted from Lough Neagh
45%
of electricity used in Northern Ireland comes from renewables
24,000
jobs could be created by refurbishing thousands of homes in Northern Ireland
80%
of Northern Ireland's transport budget is spent on roads
90%
of protected sites are badly damaged by agricultural pollution
A woman visiting one of our local group stalls during the Big Ask campaign calling for a UK climate change law

Find a group in your community

Find out where your nearest local action group in Northern Ireland is, and get in touch.

If there isn't one, consider starting a new one.

And if you're already part of a social justice or environmental community group, join forces with us.

A woman visiting one of our local group stalls during the Big Ask campaign calling for a UK climate change law
photo of Belfast, Northern Ireland, from Black Mountain

Northern Ireland's challenges

Northern Ireland's air, water and soils are in a bad way.

We have the least protected environment in the UK and Ireland. It's a real worry for the 1.8m people living here and the many important wildlife sites in the country.

Northern Ireland has no independent Environmental Protection Agency. No National Parks. No law to cut climate-changing emissions. The planning system leans heavily towards new development. And communities have too little say.

We're going to change this.

photo of Belfast, Northern Ireland, from Black Mountain
A group of people on a beach with No Gas Cavern signs

No Gas Caverns under Larne Lough

We're supporting No Gas Caverns, a community group fighting to defend their wildlife from plans to dig out 7 huge chambers under the sea, resulting in a super salty "dead-zone" where nothing could live, in a marine protected area near Islandmagee.

Together we're going to court in Belfast for a judicial review of the decision to approve the caverns.

No Gas Caverns
A group of people on a beach with No Gas Cavern signs

Lough Neagh: space to breathe

Lough Neagh is one of Northern Ireland’s most precious wildlife sites. It's supposed to be protected under international, European, and Northern Ireland law. Yet it's in a dire state – water quality is poor, and birds and fish are disappearing.

It's difficult to pinpoint all the causes. But one suspect stands out: unlawful sand dredging. Some companies are sucking out sand from the lough without planning permission or environmental assessment.

We won against the dredging in the courts. But the government allows it to go on. We won't stop fighting. If we can’t save such a designated protected site, then nowhere is safe.

Find out why Lough Neagh needs space to breathe.

Give Lough Neagh breathing space
Give Lough Neagh breathing space
A farmer in a field of crops and piglets

Real food, real farming, real future

Northern Ireland needs a farming system that is good for farmers, produces healthy food, and protects the environment. Instead we have farmers at breaking point, industrial pig factories, and polluted rivers.

Look behind the stereotypical green image of our country and you’ll find something much less wholesome. This is Northern Ireland’s dirty secret – rivers and lakes choking, fragile habitats polluted, and plummeting air quality.

Watch PIG Business for more information on factory pig farming. Short on time? Watch the 12 minute version or the teaser.

A farmer in a field of crops and piglets
Aerial photo of Cacancaw gold mine, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Extractive industries in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has a problem with unlawful and poorly regulated mines and quarries – from basalt in the Antrim plateau, to limestone from Fermanagh, and sand from Lough Neagh. Now international corporations have come looking for gold, lead, and oil and gas, and our most precious places are at risk.

We’re working with frontline communities to protect their countryside from exploitation and pollution. Support them by adding your name to our petition.

Aerial photo of Cacancaw gold mine, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Campaigners holding a 'Fossil Free Northern Ireland' banner

Fossil Free Northern Ireland

Worldwide, 800 financial institutions have pulled money out of fossil fuel companies – heaping growing pressure on them to stop drilling for more coal, oil and gas.

We're campaigning to get the Northern Ireland pension fund to take its money out of fossil fuels too. The fund has almost £350m in companies like Shell and BP.

Please write to your councillor today to ask them to support the campaign to get the Northern Ireland Pension Fund to go fossil-free.

And if you want to get more involved, see our campaign page on Facebook.

Campaigners holding a 'Fossil Free Northern Ireland' banner
photo of fruit and veg stalls at St George's Market, Belfast

Nature and people first

We're working with people across the counties to protect the things we all care about: flourishing nature, clean air, real food, and healthy communities. Together we can get Northern Ireland:

  • an environmental protection agency that has the freedom to do its job properly
  • a Climate Change Act that cuts pollution and creates clean jobs
  • a planning system fit for people and nature
  • strong environmental laws.
photo of fruit and veg stalls at St George's Market, Belfast
photo of Stormont, home of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Where are the environmental safeguards?

Northern Ireland is bad at protecting its environment. Companies are more or less free to damage our air, water and soil. We're sacrificing our health and livelihoods, including tourism.

Brexit only raises the stakes. Without strong environmental laws, the border with the Republic of Ireland could become a dumping ground for polluting industries after we leave the EU.

We need an independent Environmental Protection Agency – and an environmental court with the freedom and expertise to challenge bad decisions.

photo of Stormont, home of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Birds fly above Lough Neagh as the sun sets, casting an orange sky

Planning for People and Place

Planning can be confusing and intimidating. If only there were somewhere you could go to learn how the planning system works. There is. Planning for People and Place.

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland runs workshops and training on all aspects of the planning system. We cut through the jargon and give you the tools you need to defend the places you love from unwanted development. Experts in law and planning are on hand to answer your questions and offer advice.

Come along to the workshops and learn the skills you need to protect your environment.

Birds fly above Lough Neagh as the sun sets, casting an orange sky
Northern Ireland office location screenshot from Google Maps

Our team

Friends of the the Earth Northern Ireland is led by Director James Orr, and supported by:

Click on the names above to email each individual, or use the central office contact details below. 

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland, Gordon House, 22-24 Lombard Street, Belfast BT1 1RD

028 9023 3488

[email protected]

Northern Ireland office location screenshot from Google Maps

Latest on Northern Ireland

13 people holding a large banner under their waists which reads 'system change not climate change'
Anti-discrimination and harassment: what Friends of the Earth is doing
06 Mar 2023
Environmental justice recognises the climate crisis as a social and political problem, as well as an environmental one. This means acknowledging that struggles are interconnected and, by doing so, fighting for solutions that create a more sustainable planet, and a fairer and more just world. This is why we believe all of our staff and wider network and the work we do must be free from discrimination and harassment. Find out more by reading our statements.
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