CEP successfully adapts FORENV interactive sense-making workshops for online delivery

CEP successfully adapts interactive sense-making workshops for online delivery as part of our role as secretariat for the EU Foresight System for the detection of emerging environmental issues (FORENV)

In our role of providing the secretariat for the EU Commission’s new EU Foresight System for the detection of emerging environmental issues (FORENV), CEP has designed and moderated four online sense-making workshops.  These workshop are part of the third annual cycle of FORENV, which is running from September 2020 – September 2021, and is focusing on the topic ‘Emerging issues that will impact our ability to deliver a zero-pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment by 2050’.

In the first two annual cycles of FORENV (2018-19 and 2019-20) these workshops were held physically in Copenhagen, Brussels and Ispra (Italy).  Responding to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions it was necessary in the third annual cycle to redesign the workshops to be delivered online.  Through this adaptation the workshops were delivered in a highly participatory and interactive manner.  We were also able to make use of a state-of-the-art media facility hosted by our partner on this project, Cranfield University, which enhanced the experience for participants leading to successful outcomes for the project.

The workshops were held on the 12th and 16th of April and engaged approximately 40 experts from the European Commission, EU Member States, NGOs and research institutions.

Across the workshops approximately 130 ‘weak signals’ of change related to the topic were discussed, clustered and prioritised.  CEP led the organisation of the workshops and moderated them with support from our partners Cranfield University, Milieu Ltd and representatives of the European Commission.

Drawing on the workshop outcomes, up to 10 priority emerging issues will be proposed for further consideration in the next steps of the FORENV system.

For further information please contact Owen White (Technical Director) or Paula Orr (Technical Director).

New UK Government Futures Framework

CEP is a supplier on the new UK Government Futures Framework

CEP, in partnership with Cranfield University, have been appointed as a supplier to the new ‘Futures Framework’ which is supporting departments and agencies across UK Government in undertaking futures work and developing foresight capabilities.

The framework launched in February 2020 and will last for four years.  Through the framework UK Government departments and agencies can access support in relation to:

• Understanding emerging trends and developments that could impact policy;

• Understanding systemic consequences of policy or strategy;

• Exploring underlying drivers and issues in scoping policy or strategy;

• Identifying trade-offs and synergies in policy or strategy design;

• Determining visions of the future for new areas of policy or strategy;

• Use scenarios to test the future resilience of decisions;

• Literature and evidence reviews; and,

• Designing participatory processes including workshops.

Our partnership with Cranfield University builds on the ongoing successful collaboration to support the European Commission in implementing the European Foresight System for Emerging Environmental Issues (FORENV). 

CEP and Cranfield’s collective futures expertise includes:

• Conducting foresight and policy research, and developing forward-looking processes (e.g. emerging risk identification, horizon scanning, scenario building);

• Designing strategic foresight processes (e.g. scenario building and horizon scanning processes) and toolkits;

• Conducting foresight research to support the long-term vision, and strategic orientation of organisations and their policies;

• Providing expert assessment of emerging issues and their consequences;

• Conducting UK and EU-wide policy/programme evaluations across all stages of the policy cycle; and,

• Designing and delivering training and capacity building to public and private sector organisations in the use of strategic foresight processes.

More details of our partnership and a prospectus which sets out the collective expertise CEP and Cranfield are able to offer is available through the Cranfield University website.

Please contact Owen White (Technical Director) for any further information.

CEP WORKING ON SECOND ANNUAL CYCLE OF THE EU FORESIGHT SYSTEM FOR EMERGING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

CEP is supporting the characterisation of priority emerging issues as part of the second annual cycle of the EU foresight system to detect emerging environmental issues

 In our role of providing the secretariat for the EU Commission’s Foresight System for the detection of emerging environmental issues (FORENV), CEP is now leading the characterisation of ten priority emerging issues.

Now in its’ second annual cycle, this cycle of FORENV is focussing on identifying and characterising Emerging - economic, business, technological and social - innovations in the Green economy of the Future.  This topic was selected by the European Commission and relates to the need to move away from the current linear (take-make-dispose) economy to one that is climate neutral and in which growth is decoupled from resource use, as reflected in the European Green Deal.  The importance of understanding and planning for emerging risks is also highlighted by the current Covid-19 pandemic.

CEP facilitated a series of sense-making workshops held in January and February 2020 from which the ten priority emerging issues were identified.  The issues represent a range of social, technological and economic developments that may become more important in coming years and decades, with implications for Europe’s environment and policy.  For example, how might the sharing economy evolve and develop, in what ways will society and communities interact with a new circular economy, and what might be the future green economy tax and finance regime?

More information on FORENV can be found on the European Commission website, where a short video presenting the FORENV method is also now available.

The final report for the first annual cycle has been published, together with infographics for each of the 10 emerging issues to help communicate the FORENV process and outcomes to a wide audience.

The methodology used for FORENV, which was developed for the European Commission through a project led by CEP, has also been published.

For further information please contact Owen White (Technical Director) or Paula Orr (Technical Director).

Our Bright Future Programme mid-term evaluation report published

Our Bright Future Programme mid-term evaluation report published

CEP, with partners ERS, are undertaking the evaluation+ of the Our Bright Future Programme, which aims to empower young people to lead progressive change in their communities and local environment, through a portfolio of 31 projects across the UK, each with a duration of three to five years++.

As part of this evaluation the mid-term report has now been published.  The report presents and evaluates evidence on what has been achieved since the beginning of the programme while promoting learning and supporting the ongoing delivery of the programme.  The report is structured around four programme themes: outcomes for young people; outcomes for the environment and communities; outcomes for policy and practice; and, outcomes of the youth led and partnership approach.

Selected key findings include:

• The programme has directly engaged 85,788 young people, which already far exceeds the programme’s overall target of 60,000 young people participating in Our Bright Future activities

• Young people have gained a range of knowledge and new skills both specific to environmental topics, and more general soft and transferable skills

• Projects have improved participants’ self-confidence, wellbeing and mental health

• The Our Bright Future programme is supporting a wide range of terrestrial and marine habitats, through a variety of conservation tasks

• A survey of 450 young people involved in the programme found that projects have increased participants’ awareness of environmental issues and improved their attitudes towards spending time in the natural environment

Owen White is CEP’s lead for this project, please contact him for more information.

+The evaluation aims to:

• Test whether the Our Bright Future Programme has achieved its long term ambitions

• Provide better evidence on how young people can improve their local environment

• Test and evidence whether a partnership way of working that invests in human, social and natural capital, is an effective means by which to deliver greater impact

• Identify good practice and ongoing improvements

++The Programme is supported by £33 million of funding from the Big Lottery Fund, and is managed by a consortium of eight organisations led by The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.

CEP at Parliamentary Event as part of the evaluation of the Our Bright Future Programme

CEP participated in a Parliamentary Event in Westminster as part of our role in evaluating the Our Bright Future Programme

Photo courtesy of The Wildlife Trust

CEP’s Owen White attended a Parliamentary Event at Portcullis House in Westminster, London organised by the Our Bright Future Programme. The event was used to highlight to MPs and senior civil servants the successes of the Programme, and in particular provide an opportunity to communicate three key changes young people want to see: more time spent learning in and about nature; support to get into environmental job; more attention to be paid to the needs of young people and the environment.

CEP’s participation was as part of our role in the ongoing evaluation of the Our Bright Future Programme. We were observing the event and meeting with participants from the Programme and MPs to help understand the role of the event in meeting Programme objectives related to encouraging changes in policy and practice. For more information contact Owen White (Technical Director)

CEP-led consortium to deliver new EEA project on transitions governance

CEP-led consortium has been awarded a new EEA project to develop a report on governance and policy for sustainability transitions

A new project has been awarded under the CEP-led framework service contract for the European Environment Agency (EEA) which provides assistance on forward looking analysis, sustainability assessments and systemic transitions.

This project, led by the Sustainable Consumption Institute at the University of Manchester, will further develop and finalise a report on the implications of research into sustainability transitions and transformations for European policy and governance. This project continues work previously completed under an earlier project. CEP has a role in this project to review the report for quality purposes, overall coherence, and to ensure accessibility for the target audience.

For more information please contact CEP’s Owen White, the overall Framework Contract Manager, or Dr Bill Sheate, the Framework Contract Director.

Staff promotions in CEP

Key CEP staff receive promotions

We are pleased to announce that a number of key staff at CEP have recently been promoted from 1 October 2017 to more senior positions, reflecting their well-established commitment to CEP's approach and the responsibilities they have assumed.

Paula Orr has been promoted from Principal Consultant to Technical Director (Paula has been at CEP since 2007, specialising in stakeholder engagement, evaluation, social impacts, risk perception, climate vulnerability, and flood risk).

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Owen White has been promoted from Principal Consultant to Technical Director (Owen has been at CEP since 2008, specialising in European policy and long-term futures, science-policy, and integrated policy assessment and evaluation).

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Dr Peter Phillips has been promoted from Senior Consultant to Principal Consultant (Peter has been at CEP since 2013, specialising in natural capital, ecosystem services, environmental assessment, evaluation, land use and participatory planning and urban sustainability).

Ric Eales, CEP's Managing Director said:

"We are delighted to have announced these highly deserved senior promotions, reflecting just how lucky we are at CEP to have such knowledgeable, loyal and dedicated staff."