Policy support

LEEP works with policy makers in designing and appraising public policy.  We aim to provide insight to enable governments to formulate effective policies and to understand their impact on society.

Our academic staff have an impressive track record of working with policy makers and have been involved in major projects for the UK Government funded by DEFRA, NERC and others.

LEEP academics are or have recently been involved as members of several advisory bodies including:

• First Minster’s Environment Council advising the Scottish Goverment. 
• UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Natural Capital Committee (NCC) reporting to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
• Defra Science Advisory Council (SAC).
• Member of the Board of Directors of the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). 
• Aldersgate Group linking environmental research, policy and business.

Examples of where we have partnered successfully with policymakers include:

• Writing the relevant sections on the treatment of the natural environment in the H.M. Treasury guidelines for public spending published in 2018.
• Proposing a 25-year Environment Plan, subsequently adopted by all major UK political parties, and incorporated into Government policy in 2018.
• Leadership of the Natural Environment Valuation Online (NEVO) project by Brett Day and Amy Binner. This has been adopted by central and local government as the principle decision support system for natural capital policy in the UK. 

Professor Ian Bateman is a member of the UK Natural Capital Committee which provides advice to the government on the sustainable use of natural capital - that is, our natural assets including forests, rivers, land, minerals and oceans.