What does the Explore stage entail?
The Explore stage of the Framework focuses on deepening collaboration between organisations and communities—particularly marginalised groups—to understand the impacts of the environmental crisis and to co-develop potential sustainability solutions. Building on the sharing of knowledge and empowerment in the Educate and Empower stage, it emphasizes the importance of centring community voices in environmental decision-making through inclusive engagement methods such as workshops, liaison groups, or online hubs. This stage encourages organisations to build on existing community networks and mechanisms, and to adopt co-production principles to ensure that environmental measures are both informed by and responsive to lived experiences. It also supports ongoing review and adaptation of sustainability initiatives in partnership with the community.
Environmental justice means making sure that everyone, regardless of background, has a say in how we tackle the environmental crisis by involving community voices at the early stage of developing and designing environmental sustainability measures. This stage encourages organisations to co-explore with communities:
- The impact of the environmental crisis on marginalised groups
- Potential solutions for environmental sustainability
Organisations and any Lived Experience Lead are encouraged to work together to:
- Host community engagement events such as workshops, liaison groups, or online hubs
- Use existing community networks built during the Education and Empowerment stages
- Reach out to marginalised voices to ensure inclusive participation
Tip: You don’t always need to start from scratch—adding a standing agenda item to an existing event can be just as effective.
The Explore stage isn’t a one-time activity. It’s part of a cyclical process that helps organisations:
- Develop environmental sustainability measures
- Review the impact of current environmental sustainability measures
- Identify areas for improvement in collaboration with affected communities
- Adapt and evolve environmental sustainability initiatives based on lived experiences
Where possible, this stage should follow the principles of co-production, as outlined in the Local Voices Framework.
The Lived Experience Lead plays a central role in ensuring that marginalised community voices are included in environmental sustainability decision-making. Their responsibilities during the Explore stage of the Framework include:
- Co-exploring with organisations:
- The impact of the environmental crisis on marginalised groups.
- Potential solutions for environmental sustainability.
- Facilitating community engagement, such as:
- Workshops, liaison groups, or online hubs.
- Events that bring marginalised voices into the early design stages of environmental sustainability initiatives.
- Encouraging participation from underrepresented groups by:
- Reaching out across the local community.
- Using networks built through earlier Education and Empowerment efforts.
- Supporting ongoing review and adaptation of environmental sustainability measures by:
- Monitoring impacts with communities.
- Exploring necessary changes collaboratively.
- Promoting co-production principles in line with the Local Voices Framework.
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.
Explore Checklist
This checklist is designed to help decision-makers consider the following questions:
- What environmental challenges are most pressing for the communities we serve?
- How are marginalised groups within these communities disproportionately affected?
- Have we gathered stories or data that reflect lived experiences of environmental injustice?
- Have we identified and invited a diverse range of community voices, especially those often excluded?
- Are our engagement methods accessible (e.g., language, location, timing, digital access)?
- Are we using or building on existing community networks?
- What types of engagement (e.g., workshops, liaison groups, online forums) are most appropriate for our communities?
- Have we co-designed these activities with community members or representatives?
- Are we creating safe, respectful spaces for open dialogue?
- Are we asking open-ended questions that invite community input on both environmental sustainability problems and solutions?
- How are we documenting and reflecting on what we hear from communities?
- Are we being transparent about how community input will influence decisions?
- Do we have a plan to revisit and review community feedback regularly?
- Are we integrating community insights into developing environmental sustainability strategies and policies?
- How are we communicating back to communities about the impact of their contributions?
- Are we sharing power and decision-making with community members where possible?
- Are we aligning our approach with the Local Voices Framework?
- Have we built in mechanisms for accountability and mutual learning?
Scenario Example: The Green Streets Initiative
This scenario shows how the Explore 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 Explore stage to the ‘Green Streets’ Initiative
The local council, in collaboration with a Lived Experience Lead, should initiate a co-exploration process to:
- Understand the impact of the current car-dominated streets on marginalised groups—such as elderly residents, disabled individuals, and ethnic minority communities.
- Explore potential benefits and unintended consequences of a green corridor initiative from the perspective of these groups.
This ensures that the project is not only environmentally sustainable but also socially equitable.
To support this exploration, the council and Lived Experience Lead could organise:
- Community workshops in local halls or schools
- Pop-up listening booths on the proposed streets
- Online community hubs for feedback and discussion
- Multilingual outreach to ensure inclusivity
These events should be accessible (e.g., wheelchair-friendly venues, interpreters, childcare support) and scheduled at convenient times for working families and elderly residents.
The council can use networks built through previous Education and Empowerment efforts—such as local schools, faith groups, disability advocacy groups, and cultural associations—to:
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- Promote events
- Encourage participation
- Build trust and transparency
If the council has a direct remit for implementing a green corridor initiative, it should:
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- Hold regular meetings with the Lived Experience Lead
- Use feedback loops to bring community insights into the pre-design phase
- Ensure that design prototypes (e.g., street layouts, garden placements) are reviewed by community members before further exploration
Throughout, the council should follow co-production principles from the Local Voices Framework:
- Equal partnership between officials and residents
- Transparency in decision-making
- Shared ownership of outcomes
