Sustainable Northern Ireland was set up to encourage action on sustainable development in Northern Ireland. Local authorities felt they did not have the statutory powers to deliver change on the key issues of sustainable development, and central government and its agencies (who did deliver directly in these areas) did not have the remit to work on Local Agenda 21. This meant that the key focus in the years up to the end of 2000 was enabling these bodies to work together and with their communities in order to draw up realistic plans for the future of their areas.
Recent activities have included projects funded through Better Belfast Landfill Tax Credit Scheme and the Environment and Heritage Service; a programme to promote waste management through faith communities in Belfast, a feasibility study to look at how to optimise the use of 'reusable' materials from the waste stream , and a Choose to Reuse initiaitve . Sustainable Northern Ireland also ran a community visioing project with five communities in Castlereagh.
Sustainable Northern Ireland provides help for local government to develop and deliver Sustainable Development Implementation Plans. we encourage sustainable development thinking and action primarily within district coucnil and the community and voluntary sector. The Sustainable Development Strategy for Northern Ireland means that many of Sustainable Northern Ireland's future activities will involve helping local authorities and others to implement sustainable development in their areas.