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.
The community works alongside the other IES communities to engage with related areas of interest such as land, air, noise, nature recovery, local climate action plans and the environmental dimensions of broader health and welfare initiatives. EPIC’s work addresses policy implementation from as broad a perspective as necessary to achieve its aims and mission, including consideration of the connected processes of policy design and evaluation.
The community was launched in February 2024 following the merger of Environmental Protection UK with the IES.
EPIC membership is available for IES members and local authority environmental professionals - find out more about who qualifies for EPIC membership.
Current workstreams
BNG in Practice
Air Quality and Planning
- Update of Planning for Air Quality Guidance with the IAQM
Implementation Science
- Environmental Implementation: A Guide for Local Authorities (Oct 2025)
- An introduction to implementation science
Noise Action Week
EPIC is re-launching noise action week in May 2026. For more information or to get involved contact Ellie Savage (ellie@the-ies.org)
Closed workstreams
Air Quality & Climate Change
Local Nature Recovery Startegies
For more information, please contact EPIC's Policy Officer Ellie Savage (ellie@the-ies.org).
National Contaminated Land Officers Group
The National Contaminated Land Officers Group (NCLOG) leads EPIC's work on contaminated land. If you are a local authority professional who works in contaminated land, and is interested in joining NCLOG, then please contact Ellie Savage (ellie@the-ies.org).
EPIC Committee
The EPIC Committee governs the work of EPIC. Current members are:
- Ruth Calderwood (Chair)
- Christopher Fry
- Sarah Legge
- Liz Bates
- Nigel Kerr (former EPS Chair)
- Laura Young (former EPS Trustee)
- Andy Bray
- Joanne Kwan
- Matt Beacon
- James Langley
- Sally Shaw (NCLOG Co-Chair)
- Ann Barker (NCLOG Co-Chair)
- Ellie Savage (EPIC Officer, ex-officio)