Public affairs for environmental policy: being heard before the rules are written
Most businesses meet environmental regulation at the end of the process, when the rules are final and the only question is how to comply. By then, the useful conversations are over. Public affairs is about getting into those conversations earlier.
What public affairs actually is
It’s not lobbying in the smoke-filled-room sense. In practice it’s mostly quiet, careful work:
- understanding how a policy is being developed and who’s shaping it
- responding to consultations with evidence rather than complaints
- explaining to officials and elected representatives how a proposal would work on the ground
- building relationships before you need them
I’ve worked in communications and public affairs for over twenty years, including parliamentary work in London. I’m a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, and I work to its code.
Why Northern Ireland needs it more
Policy here is shaped by Stormont, Westminster and, through the Windsor Framework, Brussels. Carbon border taxes, emissions trading, waste rules and land regulation can all look different depending on which system applies. That creates gaps and overlaps that officials don’t always see, because they rarely sit inside a business that deals with all of them.
Small and mid-sized firms are often best placed to explain how things work in practice. They’re also the least likely to have anyone whose job it is to say so.
Consultations are an opportunity
Government consultations are one of the most underused tools in business. A well-evidenced response, especially one with real numbers and real examples, gets read. A thoughtful response that shows you’ve understood the policy aim gets taken seriously.
A few things make the difference:
- Answer the questions asked. Officials have to summarise responses against their questions. Make it easy for them.
- Bring evidence. Costs, timelines, practical examples. Anecdote without data is easy to set aside.
- Offer solutions. Pointing out a problem helps. Proposing a workable alternative helps more.
- Follow up. A short meeting or briefing note after the deadline keeps your point alive.
Credibility over volume
The same principle applies to environmental communication more broadly. Customers, investors and regulators are increasingly alert to greenwash, and the rules on environmental claims are tightening. The strongest position is to say only what you can back up, and to be open about what you haven’t done yet.
That’s also why I connect public affairs with the technical work. A business that has measured its emissions properly and understands its regulatory exposure has something credible to say. One that hasn’t is just adding to the noise.
A live example
With Assembly elections due in May 2027, there’s a window to put issues on the agenda for the next Executive. Contaminated land is one I’m working on, because Northern Ireland’s regime has never been switched on. I’ve written about it in Contaminated land in Northern Ireland.
If there’s a policy that’s going to affect your business, the best time to talk about it is before it’s written.