Key contact
Sarah Ridgeon, Policy & Communications Officer | [email protected]
Green Skills Survey
The Environmental Policy Forum (of which SocEnv is Secretariat) have designed a skills survey to gather insights from professional bodies (or similar organisations) across sectors. As a collective of 13 professional bodies, we have been working collaboratively in this area but are keen to take a broader approach and identify:
• The extent of the green skills challenge across your sector(s), including skills gaps/ shortages, perception of green jobs, barriers to entry etc.
• What activity your professional body is already doing to address green skills challenges.
• Your professional body’s future plans to boost green skills / scope for collaboration.
The survey results will then form a report, helping to show where future efforts to tackle green skills challenges are best placed.
The survey is now closed and the results are being analysed. Once this is complete, we will share the results on this page.
The Environmental Policy Forum (EPF)
Formed by a selection of professional bodies, the EPF is a by-invitation-only membership group established to provide the opportunity for collaboration, learning, dialogue and debate amongst professionals across the environmental disciplines. Through regular meetings, workshops and electronic media, the forum leads on the production of policy papers in order to influence environmental policy and its formulation and ensure that environmental sustainability is high on policy agendas.
The EPF is Chaired by Professor Will Pope HonFSE CEnv of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), with the Society for the Environment acting as Forum Secretariat.
Find out more about the EPF, learn who the members are and view submissions:
Autumn policy update
It’s been a busy time in the policy space, and we’ve been working hard to ensure the voice of environmental professionals is heard by decision-makers.
In early September, we supported an Environmental Policy Forum (EPF) open letter, summarising our deep concerns re amendments to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill. Positively, the amendments – which would have weakened the nutrient neutrality requirements for building new developments – were defeated in the Lords.
Later that month, in response to recent net zero policy reversals, we issued a statement and signed up in support of collaborative letters. In all these submissions we raised concerns that the reversals leave us without a clear roadmap to net zero and fail to recognise the benefits of achieving net zero.
Special interest task groups
Soils and Stones project
In March we gave oral and written evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee inquiry into soil health. Our Soils and Stones lead Martin Ballard CEnv was our representative at the in-person session, and we are grateful to have been involved in such an important and constructive session alongside British Society of Soil Science and UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. We are looking forward to the outcomes and engaging in next steps.
Amongst our influential 2021 Soils and Stones report’s headline recommendations was the need for an overarching Soils and Stones framework against which existing legislation and regulation can be reviewed and improved. Work to progress this action has resulted in “The Ten Principles of Good Soils and Stones Management”, a document which seeks to provide a clear, straightforward outline of how to use and re-use soils and stones.
October update
On the 3rd October we were delighted to hold the first in-person meeting of the project since pre-COVID times. The meeting, which took place in central Birmingham, provided an opportunity for project volunteers to reconnect in-person. It also allowed us to recap our progress, and map what partners are doing. All this helps us to determine the areas where the project can add most value and should focus on going forward. A huge thank you to all involved, including our host, Ramboll, and catering provided by CL:AIRE (Leading Sustainable Land Reuse).
You can find out more about what was discussed and outcomes via the briefing below.
Supported initiatives
The Broadway Initiative
The Broadway Initiative is a platform for all sectors of the economy and society to work together on the frameworks, plans and partnerships needed to meet net zero emissions and wider environmental goals.
The Society for the Environment is a partner organisation for the Broadway Initiative and a signatory to key policy documents.
Climate Initiatives
SocEnv are proud to one of the founding signatories and supporters of Pledge to Net Zero and the Professional Bodies Climate Action Charter respectively. Both these initiatives are aiding collaboration and helping to turn climate ambitions into tangible action through science-based targets, good practice sharing and thought-leadership.
Find out more about these initiatives via the links below. If your Professional Body would like to get involved in these initiatives, do get in touch.
