Science Council statement on funding for science (Supported by IES)
In June 2026, the Science Council responded to the latest proposals for science funding. It raised concerns that the proposals amounted to real-term funding reductions with serious consequences for several disciplines and the country's collective scientific infrastructure.
The statement calls on government to adopt a measured and transparent approach, informed by engagement with the scientific community. It also called for an acknowledgement of the long-term consequences of short-term funding decisions, which will be especially relevant in the environmental sciences, where investment now is essential to preventing much higher costs in the future.
The IES signed the statement in support.
Our recommendations for science funding
The statement from the Science Council makes five policy recommendations:
- Adopt a measured and transparent approach to changes in science funding, ensuring that decisions are informed by robust evidence and clear long-term objectives.
- Consult proactively with the scientific community and its representative bodies before implementing significant changes to research, development and innovation funding, to fully understand potential impacts and reduce unintended consequences.
- Recognise the critical importance of continuity and stability in science funding, particularly for infrastructure and for foundational and curiosity-driven research that delivers long-term value.
- Improve communication and engagement with the research community in advance of funding announcements, providing clarity on rationale, timelines and anticipated impacts.
- Acknowledge the long-term implications of current funding decisions for the UK’s research capacity, skills pipeline and international competitiveness.
The IES has a strong record of supporting funding for actionable, evidence-led science that can support the transition to a sustainable society, including through our recommendations to the UK Government. In our key messages for COP30 on climate change, we argued that 'doing more costs less', because restricting investment in the short-term runs the risk of drastically increasing costs in the long-term. While our message at the time was limited to the context of climate change, the same principles should apply when considering science funding in general.
Our policy team is actively working to help make policy implementation effective and efficient, including through our Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC).
Further information and related issues
To find out more about the topic, you can read the Science Council's letter ahead of the 2021 Spending Review, which the IES also supported. Related policy publications and issues include:
- For a community of practice in environmental education, find out more about the Community for Environmental Disciplines in Higher Education (CEDHE)
- Read our CEO Adam Donnan's analysis on the links between economic thinking and environmental science
- To support effective policy delivery, join our Environmental Policy Implementation Community
If you want to support the work of the IES, you can become an affiliate, or if you’re a professional in the environmental sector working with science, consider joining the IES.
Header image credit: © Puripat | AdobeStock
