Ways we can help
We have worked on over 100 projects and have experience within the following research approaches:
Policy Formulation and Governance
Comparative Analysis
Transposition and Implementation
Environmental Assessment and Planning
Environmental Evidence from Earth Observation Technologies
These five sectors a discussed in more detail below.
Policy Formulation and Governance
We have expertise in all environmental policy instruments and their use, as appropriate for each study.
We have conducted several Impact Assessments for the Commission and are aware of their importance in decision-making. We have also been invovled in national Regulatory Impact Assessment studies in the UK and EU Member States.
Our expertise in several environmental policy areas enables us to identify and integrate any innovative approaches to any task at hand and our work on assessing and developing indicators will help towards providing options for efficient and effective policy making. Any approach will further benefit from our knowledge of European best practice cases in a variety of institutional settings. We also have expertise in policy, law and environmental science – bringing a multi-disciplinary approach to policy analysis and formulation. Our background also means we are experienced in data collection and public and other stakeholder consultations (surveys, structured/semi-structured interviews).
Comparative Analysis
Ecocentric has a vast experience in carrying out multi-country and comparative studies – the countries we have already worked in are listed on this website. Considering approaches of stakeholders in other jurisdictions and lessons learnt can be a very valuable exercise. Our academic and policy backgrounds also mean that we have an extensive network of experts in the UK, EU Member States and all across the world. These can be called upon when undertaking comparative studies to examine implementation and practice of laws and policies (or planned laws and policies) in other countries. Our research history and contacts through bodies such as The International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement also means that we have extensive high-level contacts in national governments and international institutions across the world that can assist with any comparative research.
Transposition and Implementation
Since Brexit, there has been a continuing divergence in environmental regulation between the EU and the UK as a whole but also between its devolved administrations (for further info, see IEEP UK report). At the same time the public and political attitudes towards Brexit are changing and there is an increased appetite for a closer relationship with the EU. A closer regulatory alignment has the potential to develop more specific single market agreements between EU and the UK for certain products and services. This does not mean that the UK has to give up its regulatory autonomy but rather that the current UK Labour government can do it thoughtfully and has less political pressure to deliver divergence only for the sake of it. Consequently, even in Brexit times, there are emerging opportunities in the UK to capitalise on the benefits of understanding EU environmental regulation and its evolution in EU’s legislative framework. Peter was one of the authors for the Manual of European Environmental Policy (https://ieep.uk/work-streams/divergence-in-uk-eu-environment-policy/access-ieep-definitive-guide-to-european-environmental-policy/) for over fifteen years. A bit of a similar approach might now be called for.
For EU interest, Ecocentric has been supporting DG Environment and DG Energy of the European Commission in their task to ensure that European Directives are fully and correctly transposed in Member States. We have undertaken approximately fifty transposition studies in a wide range of environmental and energy fields. The identification of drafting issues, or the incorrect application of laws, have resulted in countries having legal action against them and have formed the basis for amendments to existing legislation, especially in the UK, Ireland and the Nordic countries. We also have a strong track record in examining the interpretation and application of international environmental laws in national jurisdictions.
Environmental Assessment and Planning
We have considerable expertise in environmental assessment and planning and can provide a number of services for a range of actors. We are well familiar with the requirements of the different environmental assessment procedures (EIA, SEA and Appropriate Assessments) and best practices from a range of Member States. In the UK there has been an overhaul of the environmental assessment/appraisal legislation through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. We understand the implications of this Act and its relevance to the devolved administrations and their specific approaches to environmental assessments. More specifically we are able to provide advice to local authorities and relevant agencies on how to improve the integration of the different environmental assessment procedures in a more efficient and streamlined manner. Simple structural changes in the use of indicators, monitoring and data-availability can provide substantial savings in time and money for developers, local authorities and relevant agencies. We are also able to provide expert legal advice on any issues concerning these assessment procedures.
We are knowledgable iwith the different land use planning approaches existing within the EU and the UK. We have learnt that good land use plans have been developed through transparent and co-operative procedures, using relevant and up-to-date information. There are also good practice examples of ways to utilize environmental assessment procedures as part of land use planning. We are also able to provide advice on how green infrastructure and ecosystem services can potentially provide multi-benefits, if considered in the development of these plans.
Environmental Evidence from Earth Observation Technologies
Through our sister company (http://www.space-evidence.net/), we are one of the world’s leading experts in obtaining information from satellite technologies in environmental and planning cases – which can sometimes be used as evidence in a court of law. We can assist clients by providing robust evidence to show whether a certain activity, offence or land-use type, occurred at a certain location in a specified period of time. We can also provide advice as to demonstrating methods by which Earth observation data can be relied upon in environmental monitoring programmes, and ways of increasing its probity as evidence in court. There will also be a number of other opportunities where Earth observations can be used, as part of environmental or social projects we have been commissioned to do, even if not specifically to the project from the onset.