What does the Action Planning stage entail?
Action planning is the process of collaboratively developing a clear and accountable plan to implement a proposed change or measure, especially after assessing its potential impacts on marginalised communities. After gathering all the necessary insights, the Lived Experience Lead and the organisation should work together to create a clear and inclusive Action Plan for the proposed environmental change.
The Action Plan should include detail on:
- The potential impacts of the environmental sustainability measure on marginalised communities identifying any potential positive or negative effects the measure may have on underrepresented or vulnerable groups.
- Clearly explain the reasons behind each decision to ensure honesty and build trust.
- Set out next steps based on the assessment of impact:
- If the impact is positive or neutral, the change can go ahead as planned. Any benefits should be enhanced, shared publicly and recorded in the Environmental Justice Template.
- If the impact is negative, the Action Plan should set out how the environmental sustainability measure will be revised to reduce or remove the harm wherever possible.
- If the impact of the environmental sustainability is negative and there are justifiable reasons why these impacts cannot be reduced/removed through revising the measure, then these justifiable reasons should be recorded, shared and recorded in the Environmental Justice Template.
If the environmental sustainability measure could result in unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, legal advice should be sought, and the measure should be stopped or revised immediately.
The Action Plan should ensure ownership and accountability for the recorded actions by:
- Assigning each action to a specific person with a clear and realistic timeline.
- Ensuring senior management takes overall responsibility for delivering the plan.
- Providing for the regular monitoring and review of the implementation of actions.
- Documenting all findings and actions, especially those affecting marginalised groups in the Environmental Justice Template.
The Lived Experience Lead plays a key role in co-developing an Action Plan for proposed environmental sustainability measures. Their responsibilities include:
- Collaborating with the organisation to ensure the Action Plan reflects insights from earlier stages of assessment.
- Working with the organisation to identify and develop actions to address impacts of the environmental sustainability measure (positive, neutral, or negative) on marginalised communities.
- Ensuring transparency by justifying decisions and documenting them in the Environmental Justice Template.
- Working with the organisation to adapt measures to reduce or eliminate negative impacts.
Tool: Environmental Justice Template
The Environmental Justice Template is the tool through which to record the different stages of the Environmental Justice Framework.
Within the template, there is space to record each stage. These notes and reflections can then be returned to and reviewed at the end of the process.
Action Planning Checklist
This checklist is designed to help decision-makers consider the following questions:
- Have we reviewed all the information gathered and conversations from earlier stages?
- What are the potential positive or negative impacts of the environmental sustainability measure on marginalised communities?
- Have we engaged with those who may be affected, especially underrepresented/marginalised groups?
- Have we identified any risks of exclusion, harm, or discrimination?
- If a negative impact is identified, can we adapt the change to reduce or eliminate it?
- Is there any evidence of actual or potential unlawful discrimination?
- If yes, has the change been stopped or revised immediately and/or legal advice sought?
- Have we clearly explained the reasons behind each action in the Action Plan?
- Have we recorded all findings of potential impacts and actions to address in the Environmental Justice Template?
- If the impact is positive or neutral, are we ready to proceed with the environmental sustainability measure?
- If the impact is negative, cannot be reduced or removed and it is justifiable to continue to implement the environmental sustainability measure have we fully justified the reasons for continuing?
- If the impact is negative, cannot be reduced or removed and it is justifiable to continue to implement the environmental sustainability measure have we planned how to share, justify and support negatively impacted groups?
- Have we planned how to share and publish any benefits of the environmental sustainability measure?
- Have we assigned each action to a specific person with a clear timeline?
- Is senior management aware and accountable for the overall plan?
- Have we set up a process to monitor and review progress regularly?
- Are we tracking how well we’re minimising negative impacts and maximising positive ones?
Scenario Example: The Green Streets Initiative
This scenario shows how the action planning stage of the framework might be applied.
Description of the proposed measure: The local council of a mid-sized town is planning to implement a ‘Green Streets’ initiative. The project involves converting several car-dominated streets into pedestrian-friendly green corridors with trees, seating, bike lanes, and community gardens. The goal is to reduce air pollution, encourage active travel, and improve public health. The proposed streets run through a diverse, low-income neighbourhood with a high proportion of elderly residents, disabled individuals, and ethnic minority communities.
Applying the Action Planning Stage
- The Lived Experience Lead and the local council should collaboratively develop an Action Plan for the ‘Green Streets’ initiative. This should be informed by:
- Community consultations with elderly residents, disabled individuals, and ethnic minority groups.
- Data from previous engagement stages (e.g. surveys, focus groups, environmental impact studies).
The Action Plan must link to the assessment of potential impacts and:
- Identify positive impacts, such as improved air quality, safer streets, and increased access to green spaces.
- Identify potential negative impacts, such as:
- Reduced car access for mobility-impaired residents.
- Displacement of informal community activities.
- Risk of gentrification and rising rents.
Each impact should be justified and documented to ensure transparency.
- If the assessment shows positive or neutral impacts, the Green Streets initiative can proceed as proposed with an action plan to maximise any positive benefits on marginalised groups.
- If negative impacts are identified:
- The action plan must set out how the Green Streets initiative is going to be adapted to mitigate these (e.g. ensuring accessible transport alternatives, preserving cultural spaces).
- If unlawful discrimination is evident (e.g. disproportionately disadvantaging disabled or ethnic minority residents), the plan should be halted or revised immediately.
- If there are negative impacts and the Green Streets initiative cannot be adapted to reduce or remove these, justification for continuing should be recorded and actions developed to support potentially impacted communities should be developed (e.g. working with disabled communities to provide alternative means of access).
- Each action in the plan should be assigned to a named accountable person with a clear timeline.
- Senior management within the council must retain ultimate accountability.
- A monitoring and review process should be established to track progress and adjust as needed.
All findings, decisions, and actions in relation to the Green Streets Initiative should be recorded in the Environmental Justice Template, including:
- Outcomes of the Impact Assessment.
- Actions taken to minimise negative and maximise positive impacts on marginalised groups.
- Evidence of community involvement and feedback integration.
