Environmental justice: what’s missing from UK environmental decision-making?

Policy Connect is holding a parliamentary roundtable on the Inclusive Environments Environmental Justice Framework, developed by researchers at the University of Chester and the University of Derby with communities, businesses, public bodies and voluntary organisations across Cheshire and Warrington.

The UK has well-established environmental assessment, consultation and equality duties, but they often operate in silos. Environmental and equality considerations are treated separately, consultation tends to come after decisions have been shaped, and lived experience is not consistently built in. Yet the communities most exposed to environmental harms, such as air pollution and flood risk, are often those with the least say.

The roundtable will bring together parliamentarians, academics, public bodies, businesses and community representatives to test how the Framework could shape national policy and practice, and how it can help organisations move from consultation towards genuine co-production on net zero, planning, transport and infrastructure decisions.

Chaired by Sarah Hall MP.