Environmental Policy Implementation Community
Supporting and delivering effective environmental policy
Delivering change
The Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC) brings together members from across the environmental sciences to share their experiences and call for ambitious and deliverable policy, as well as providing members with the knowledge, insights and tools to help them deliver on the ground.
EPIC believes that the development of effective policy depends on combining the knowledge and experiences of those who shape and formulate policy with that of those who implement policy in practice.
Joining EPIC
In recognition of the tight budgetary constraints on local government, as well as increasing demands from new policy regimes such as mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain, Local Nature Recovery Strategies, and Environmental Outcomes Reports, the IES has made membership of EPIC free to any environmental professionals working in local authorities. If you would like to join EPIC, please contact the Community Coordinator Ellie Savage
Highlights from EPIC
EPIC FAQs
EPIC membership includes:
- Monthly EPIC newsletter, providing updates on the latest EPIC activities and opportunities, as well as wider implementation news
- Webinars and workshops, provided at a free or reduced rate to members
- Access to the annual EPIC Conference (held in October)
- Guidance and reports on key environmental delivery challenges, informed by implementation science
- Opportunities to get involved in working groups, and feed-in to EPIC consultation responses and policy positions
EPIC was formed as a result of Enviornmental Protection (UK) joining the IES family in 2023.
EPUK was a 125-year-old national charity that acted as an expert Forum for problem analysis, policy development and practical policy implementation on key environmental issues. It focussed particularly on the topics of air quality, land quality and noise. By bringing together actors from many different sectors and disciplines EPUK was able to contribute significantly to the evolution of better more practical policies at national level and their more effective implementation on the ground by local authorities, business and other actors.
In January 2025, Environmental Protection Scotland (EPS) also joined EPIC.
All IES members and environmental professionals working in local authorities can join EPIC (free of charge). Membership is for individuals only.
You cannot pay to become an EPIC member, so if you are not a local authority environmental professional then you will need to join the IES in order to join EPIC.
A local authority employee who works in the environmental profession, for example, in one or several of the following areas:
Acoustics | Air Quality | Built Environment |Climatology and Carbon Management | Conservation and Ecology | Education and Training | Energy | Environmental Management | Forestry and Landscaping | Heritage and Archaeology | Impact Assessment | Land Condition | Marine and Coastal | Odour | Sustainability | Transport | Waste Management | Water
This does not include elected representatives.
If you are unsure whether you are a local authority environmental professional, please contact tjhe EPIC Coordinator, Ellie Savage ellie@the-ies.org
EPIC is governed by the EPIC Committee, which makes decisions and sets the direction of the community. Working groups lead on specific issues and workstreams. Currently, EPIC has three working groups:
- Planning for Air Quality Guidance Update (joint with IAQM)
- BNG in Practice
- Implementation Science
- Noise Action Week
The National Contaminated Land Officers Group (NCLOG) is part of EPIC, and leads on EPIC's work on contaminated land.
Community Coordinator
Other communities
The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) is a charitable organisation; a global professional membership body for environmental scientists.
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