The Council meets in the Environment Sector in order to make decisions on common policies and approaches in areas such as environmental protection, pollution, water quality management and waste management in a cross-border context.
The agreed work programme includes:
- Climate Action, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development
- Current issues in relation to climate action, biodiversity and sustainable development and the interaction with other wider environmental issues, and the mutually beneficial ways to address these.
- Identification of strategies and activities which would contribute to a co-operative approach to the achievement of sustainable development.
- Environmental Research, Reporting and Funding
- Information sharing and collaboration on environmental research activities.
- Working to ensure maximum accessibility of environmental information through Open Data approach.
- Promote co-operation with a view to maximising drawdown of EU funding.
- Water and Wastewater Management
- The development of catchment-based strategies in relation to water quality.
- Encourage cooperation and knowledge sharing in relation to the environmental impact of agricultural activities and related issues.
- Promote co-operation and exchange information on marine/bathing/shellfish waters.
- Promote co-operation and collaboration on water and sewerage services areas taking account of policy in the EU, the UK and Ireland.
- Promote cooperation and exchange of information on marine spatial planning and development.
- Circular Economy in a Cross-Border context
- The scope for improved coordination and sharing of best practice in the circular economy in a cross-border context taking account of policy in the EU, the UK and Ireland.
- Joint programme of enforcement and collaboration on tackling environmental crime.
- Air Quality
- Sharing experience and best practice on Clean Air Strategies and their implementation.
- Continued cooperation on how to address solid fuel burning.
- Updating on shared opportunities for air quality through the PEACEPLUS Programme and education and awareness.