NIHE aims to reduce carbon emissions by 89,000 tonnes by 2030

Key strategic actions in the plan include improving the organisation’s built environment, supporting biodiversity, assisting sustainable communities, and promoting sustainable transport.

The strategy will be updated every five years. 

Grainia Long, chief executive of the NIHE, said: “Alarm bells about climate change and soaring wholesale energy prices have brought the urgency of the climate and energy crisis into sharp focus.

“Our housing sector faces a huge challenge.”

She added that Northern Ireland has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 24% since 1990, but “much more needs to be done”.

“In this strategy we have put sustainability at our core, meaning we want to transform everything we do with an intent and urgency on the need to decarbonise our stock, improve energy efficiency, support the building of low-carbon homes and decarbonise our fleet,” Ms Long explained.

She said funding is “urgently required” across all sectors. 

Ms Long added: “At the core of the programmes is a range of innovative technologies to address the impact of climate change and improve sustainability. 

“Taking a fabric-first approach to the decarbonisation of homes, and delivering at scale in this decade, presents a once in a generation opportunity to improve housing standards, reduce energy costs of households and create jobs.

“However, achieving our ambitions will require very significant investment in energy-efficiency measures, the funding for which will not be available under our current funding regime.”

As a result, the 2030-31 target for NIHE housing stock will be reviewed “as the issues of funding, technology and sector capacity become more clear” towards the end of the initial five-year action plan period.