Have your say: DAERA consultation on Climate Change Adaptation

The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a public consultation on its draft Third Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme (NICCAP3).

The draft programme sets out over 250 proposed actions from government departments and external organisations, aimed at strengthening Northern Ireland’s resilience to the impacts of climate change over the next five years.

Respondents working in the built environment may wish to pay particular attention to the Infrastructure Services and People and the Built Environment annexes of the document, both of which contain actions that are directly relevant to architectural practice.

For example:

• Infrastructure Services: includes actions on integrated water management, energy-efficient retrofitting, digital infrastructure, and active travel.
• People and the Built Environment: aims to address how towns, buildings and communities can adapt to flooding, overheating, and extreme weather. It places emphasis on retrofitting existing building stock, embedding resilience into new design, and using nature-based solutions to manage urban heat and water.

The overarching consultation booklet can be accessed here.

The deadline for responses is 11:59am on Monday, 4 August 2025.

RSUA is preparing a response to this consultation. To share your views, please contact Curtis Large, RSUA Policy and Public Affairs Officer, at curtis@rsua.org.uk