The following are a series of worked scenarios designed to demonstrate application of the Environmental Justice Cycle to hypothetical situations
THE GREEN STREETS INITIATIVE:
Scenario Example: The Green Streets Initiative
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.
EDUCATE AND EMPOWER
The local council should actively collaborate with the diverse, low-income communities to co-develop knowledge and solutions around environmental sustainability initiatives in green corridors. This approach aligns with the Inclusive Environments research, which emphasises the importance of building capacity and understanding at local levels, especially among marginalised groups such as the elderly, disabled individuals, and ethnic minority communities.
- Community Co-Design and Lived Experience Integration
- Appoint a Lived Experience Lead to work directly with residents, ensuring their voices shape the design and understanding of green corridors.
- Host listening sessions and design workshops with elderly and disabled residents to understand mobility needs, safety concerns, and cultural preferences.
- Environmental Education and Awareness
- Partner with local schools and colleges to integrate green corridor awareness and understanding into environmental education curricula.
- Develop parent and carer workshops on how green infrastructure benefits health, air quality, and community wellbeing.
- Community Events and Local Projects
- Sponsor community gardening days, tree planting events, and street art projects that reflect the cultural identity of the neighbourhood.
- Support volunteer programs for maintaining green spaces, offering stipends or incentives for participation from low-income residents.
- Use multilingual social media campaigns and printed materials to share updates and educational content.
- Attend community group meetings (e.g., faith groups, disability advocacy groups) to share information and gather feedback.
- Collaborate with health services, housing associations, and local businesses to promote the health and economic benefits of the initiative.
- Partner with environmental NGOs to deliver workshops and training on sustainability and environmental justice.
By embedding inclusive knowledge-sharing practices, the council can:
- Build trust between the public sector and the community.
- Empower residents to understand and advocate for environmental sustainability.
- Ensure the Environmental Justice Framework is upheld, leading to fairer, more transparent decision-making.
- Co-create solutions that reflect the lived realities of the community, making the green corridor initiatives more effective and equitable.
EXPLORE
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
SCOPING
The initiative aims to:
- Reduce air pollution
- Encourage active travel (walking, cycling)
- Improve public health
- Enhance urban green space and community cohesion
- Converting car-dominated streets into pedestrian-friendly green corridors
- Adding trees, seating, bike lanes, and community gardens
- Reducing vehicle traffic and emissions in targeted areas
- General public: Cleaner air, safer streets, improved mental and physical health
- Children and families: Safer play and travel routes
- Cyclists and pedestrians: Improved infrastructure
- Local businesses: Potential increase in foot traffic
- Community groups: Opportunities for gardening and social interaction
- Elderly and disabled residents: Risk of reduced car access or parking near homes
- Low-income residents: Potential concerns about gentrification or displacement
- Ethnic minority communities: If not engaged, may feel excluded from planning or benefits
- Drivers: Reduced road access or increased congestion elsewhere
- Climate action goals: Positive environmental impact
- Urban regeneration: Could lead to rising property values, affecting affordability
- Community engagement: If done inclusively, can empower marginalised voices
- Collaboration: The Lived Experience Lead and the council should co-assess impacts, especially with input from elderly, disabled, and ethnic minority residents.
- Evidence Gathering: Use data from the Explore stage (e.g., traffic studies, air quality data, community feedback).
- Proportionality: Given the scale and potential impact, a detailed Scoping assessment is warranted.
- Objective Assessment: Clearly define the goals and expected outcomes to assess both benefits and risks.
Since there is evidence of both potential positive and negative impacts on marginalised groups, the process must proceed to the next stage of Information Gathering and a full impact assessment.
Additionally, the Environmental Justice Template should be completed to document:
- Purpose and methods
- Stakeholder engagement
- Anticipated impacts
- Justifications for decisions
INFORMATION GATHERING
The Scoping stage has likely identified some general impacts of the Green Streets measure both positive (e.g. improved air quality, safer streets, better health) and potential negative impacts (e.g. displacement of car users, accessibility concerns, gentrification) of the initiative — especially for marginalised groups in the neighbourhood.
- Lived Experience Lead: The Lived Experience Lead should be able to assist in gathering information about different communities based on their understanding of the lived realities of elderly residents, disabled individuals, and ethnic minorities.
- Community Partners: Local disability advocacy groups, cultural associations, and tenant/resident groups could be involved in sharing and collecting relevant information.
- How will the Green Street initiative affect mobility and access for disabled and elderly residents?
- Will the removal of car access impact essential travel (e.g. carers, deliveries, taxis)?
- Are there concerns about safety of vulnerable groups, especially at night?
- Will the initiative lead to rising rents or displacement of marginalised groups?
- How do different groups use the streets currently, and how might that change?
- Local equality officers
- Urban planners
- Public health teams
- Community leaders and advocacy groups
- Academic partners with expertise in urban justice or transport equity
- Local demographic data (age, disability, ethnicity, income)
- Health and air quality statistics
- Previous consultations or surveys
- Transport usage data (e.g. car ownership, walking/cycling rates)
- If there’s limited data on how disabled residents use the streets, conduct accessibility mapping.
- If ethnic minority voices are underrepresented, partner with trusted community organisations to gather input.
- Plan creative engagement methods (e.g. walk-alongs, photo diaries) to reach those less likely to attend formal meetings.
- Quantitative: Demographics, transport patterns, air quality, health indicators
- Qualitative: Personal stories, community concerns, lived experiences
- Intersectional: How age, disability, ethnicity, and income combine to shape impact
This should be completed collaboratively with any Lived Experience Lead and revisited as new information emerges.
CONVERSATIONS
Given that the proposed green corridors run through a diverse, low-income neighbourhood with a high proportion of elderly residents, disabled individuals, and ethnic minority communities, these groups must be considered potentially impacted. The Lived Experience Lead and organisation should prioritise engagement with:
- Elderly residents who may have mobility concerns.
- Disabled individuals who may face accessibility challenges.
- Ethnic minority communities who may have cultural or language barriers.
- Low-income households who may be concerned about gentrification or displacement.
The Lived Experience Lead should initiate Conversations to:
- Understand how the changes might affect daily routines, access to services, or feelings of safety.
- Identify any unintended negative impacts, such as reduced car access for those with mobility issues or fears of increased policing.
- Fill gaps in data that may not have been captured during the initial information gathering phase.
Given the scale and potential impact of the ‘Green Streets’ initiative, especially in a vulnerable community, extensive and meaningful engagement is warranted. This is not a minor change—it affects transport, accessibility, and public space—so the engagement must be proportionate to its significance.
To ensure equality, diversity, and inclusion, the following methods may be considered:
- Focus groups with elderly and disabled residents, possibly held in local community centres or care homes.
- Workshops with local youth and families, using visual aids and interpreters if needed.
- Pop-up stalls or walk-and-talks along the proposed streets to engage passers-by.
- Meetings with local cultural or faith groups to reach ethnic minority residents.
- Surveys in multiple languages, both online and paper-based, distributed through trusted local networks.
The council should leverage existing community engagement networks, such as:
- Local tenants’ associations.
- Disability advocacy groups.
- Faith-based organisations.
- Schools and youth clubs.
- Health and social care providers.
These networks can help co-design the engagement process and ensure it is accessible and trusted.
If a Lived Experience Lead is not yet appointed, the council may still proceed with consultation but should be transparent about the difference. Ideally, a co-production approach should be pursued to ensure that community voices are not just heard but shape the outcome.
All conversations and insights should be documented in the Environmental Justice Template, including:
- Who was engaged.
- What concerns or ideas were raised.
- How these influenced the final design of the measure.
ASSESSING IMPACT
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The council may have collected data on:
- Air pollution levels
- Traffic patterns
- Demographics of the neighbourhood (low-income, elderly, disabled, ethnic minorities)
- Public health indicators
- Community feedback through consultations
This foundational information sets the stage for assessing the impact of the proposed changes.
The Lived Experience Lead and the Council now collaboratively assess the potential effects of the Green Streets initiative on marginalised communities:
Positive Impacts
- Improved air quality: Beneficial for elderly and individuals with respiratory conditions.
- Safer streets: Reduced traffic accidents, especially helpful for disabled and elderly residents.
- Community gardens: Can foster social cohesion and provide access to fresh produce.
- Encouragement of active travel: Promotes physical health.
Negative Impacts
- Reduced car access: May disproportionately affect disabled and elderly residents who rely on vehicles.
- Potential displacement: Beautification may lead to gentrification and rising rents.
- Cultural disconnect: If design elements don’t reflect the community’s identity or needs.
Neutral Impacts
- Some residents may not use the new infrastructure (e.g., bike lanes) due to physical limitations or cultural preferences.
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This stage provides an opportunity to start to rethink the Green Streets initiative to:
- Include accessible transport alternatives (e.g., shuttle services, drop-off zones).
- Ensure community gardens and seating areas are designed with input from ethnic minority groups and disabled residents.
- Implement anti-displacement policies (e.g., rent control, local business support).
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Given the complexity, a more detailed analysis may be needed for example:
- Mobility studies for disabled and elderly residents.
- Economic impact assessments on housing and local businesses.
- Cultural relevance audits to ensure inclusivity in design.
If gaps in information on impacts of the Green Streets initiative remain:
- Conduct additional community conversations.
- Revisit traffic and accessibility data.
- Explore conflicts with other urban policies (e.g., parking regulations, housing plans).
All findings should be documented in the Environmental Justice Template, including:
- Summary of gathered information
- Identified impacts (positive, negative, neutral)
- Reflections and proposed adjustments
- Any further actions or consultations planned
ACTION PLANNING
- 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.
PUBLISH AND SHARE
Before announcing the ‘Green Streets’ initiative publicly, the final initiative and environmental justice assessment must be reviewed and approved by senior leadership within the local council. This ensures accountability and alignment with broader strategic goals.
Before announcing the ‘Green Streets’ initiative publicly, the final initiative should be shared with those potentially impacted communities (such as elderly residents, disabled individuals, ethnic minority communities and low-income households). Any positive outcomes to these communities should be shared such as:
- Improved air quality and reduced traffic noise
- Safer, more accessible streets for walking and cycling
- New green spaces for relaxation and socialising
- Opportunities for community gardening and local stewardship
Any actions to reduce negative impacts should be shared with potentially impacted communities such as:
- Providing alternative transport solutions for disabled and elderly communities
- Committing to anti-displacement policies and affordable housing protections
Any remaining negative impacts should be shared with potentially impacted communities with details on how these impacts are going to be monitored and support that is going to be provided to impacted groups (e.g. commitment to ensuring community feedback loops so negative impacts can be regularly assessed).
The Lived-Experience Lead and the council should:
- Reflect on what engagement methods worked well
- Identify gaps or missed voices
- Document lessons learned to improve future initiatives
Once the internal and community processes are complete:
- Publish the full Green Streets initiative and environmental justice assessment
- Include:
- Positive and negative impacts
- Mitigation strategies
- Community feedback and how it shaped the plan
- Share across:
- Council website and newsletters
- Local media
- Community centres and libraries
- Social media and local forums
This builds trust, shows transparency, and encourages replication of good practice.
All of this should be recorded in the Environmental Justice Template, including:
- Stakeholder engagement records
- Impact assessments
- Mitigation plans
- Publication and dissemination strategies
MONITOR AND REVIEW
It is tempting to consider that the implementation of the ‘Green Streets’ initiative—transforming car-dominated streets into pedestrian-friendly green corridors—marks the completion of the environmental sustainability effort. However, true environmental justice requires that this is not seen as the final step.
To ensure the initiative remains equitable, inclusive, and effective over time, it is vital that robust Monitoring and Review mechanisms are established. These mechanisms should be embedded from the outset and maintained throughout the life of the project.
The targeted neighbourhood is home to diverse, low-income populations, including elderly residents, disabled individuals, and ethnic minority communities. These groups may experience both unique benefits and unintended burdens from the changes. For example:
- Elderly or disabled residents may face mobility challenges during construction.
- Cultural or language barriers may have limited participation in initial consultations.
- Community gardens may not be accessible or relevant to all groups without inclusive design.
To address these concerns, the environmental justice process should be cyclical, not linear. This means:
- Regular monitoring of air quality, traffic patterns, and public health indicators.
- Community feedback loops to assess how residents are experiencing the changes.
- Regular responsive adaptation of measures based on lived experience, especially from underrepresented voices.
Any Lived Experience Lead should continue to:
- Act as a liaison between the council and the community.
- Ensure that monitoring includes qualitative insights from residents.
- Champion co-production by involving community members in ongoing decision-making around the Green Streets initiative.
The Explore stage of the Environmental Justice Framework should remain active beyond implementation of the Green Streets initiative. It can:
- Identify emerging issues (e.g. gentrification, accessibility gaps).
- Support iterative improvements (e.g. adding more seating, adjusting bike lane design).
- Ensure that the initiative evolves with the community’s needs.
All details of this Monitoring and Review process—including timelines, responsible parties, community engagement strategies, and metrics—should be clearly documented in the Environmental Justice Template. This ensures transparency, accountability, and a shared understanding of how success will be measured and maintained.
THE SOLAR FOR ALL PROJECT:
Scenario Example: The Solar For All project
Description of the proposed measure: A regional energy provider is partnering with the local council to roll out a ‘Solar for All’ initiative. The project aims to install solar panels on homes in rural communities to reduce carbon emissions and lower energy bills. The pilot area includes several villages with high fuel poverty rates, limited public transport, and aging populations.
EDUCATE AND EMPOWER
The 'Solar for All' initiative presents a valuable opportunity for the regional energy provider and local council to actively collaborate with communities to build environmental sustainability knowledge and trust. Given the concerns raised, the following community centered knowledge building around solar energy may assist:
- Engage Lived Experience Leads from rural communities, especially those affected by fuel poverty, aging infrastructure, and limited transport, to co-design outreach and education efforts.
- Host local workshops in village halls or community centers to explain the benefits, costs, and installation process of solar panels in accessible, jargon-free language.
- Create multilingual materials and hold sessions tailored to migrant agricultural workers to ensure inclusivity and understanding.
- Offer paper-based application options and in-person sign-up events to accommodate residents with limited digital access.
- Partner with local libraries, schools, and post offices to serve as information and application hubs.
- Train community volunteers to assist residents with applications and answer questions.
- Acknowledge any past infrastructure failures and clearly communicate community benefits.
- Establish a community advisory board with representation from renters, older adults, and migrant workers.
- Share regular updates around solar energy via local radio, newsletters, and social media to maintain transparency and build trust.
- Collaborate with local schools and colleges to integrate solar energy and sustainability into curricula, including hands-on learning about the panels.
- Sponsor community events like 'Solar Open Days' where residents can visit homes with installed panels and hear directly from early adopters.
- Support parent and carer education programs to extend environmental knowledge beyond students.
EXPLORE
- Lived Experience Lead and the energy provider should co-investigate how solar initiatives affect:
- Low-income households (e.g., fear of upfront costs).
- Migrant agricultural workers and renters (e.g., exclusion from homeownership-based schemes).
- Elderly residents (e.g., disruption concerns, limited mobility).
- Explore alternative solar energy models like:
- Community-owned solar schemes.
- Renters’ access via landlord incentives.
- Subsidies or grants to offset upfront costs.
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, churches, disability advocacy groups, agricultural co-operatives and cultural associations—to:
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- Promote events
- Encourage participation
- Build trust and transparency
- Partner with health and social care services to engage elderly residents.
- Acknowledge past infrastructure failures and clearly communicate:
- Project timelines.
- Installation processes.
- Long-term benefits and protections.
- Invite community members to co-design aspects of any rollout.
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
SCOPING
Scoping should be initiated during the development/review stage of the 'Solar for All' initiative. This includes assessing the environmental sustainability goals (reducing carbon emissions, lowering energy bills) and identifying potential social impacts, especially on marginalised communities in the pilot area.
- Scoping should be collaborative, involving:
- The Lived Experience Lead (e.g., someone with direct knowledge of rural fuel poverty).
- The regional energy provider and local council.
- Community representatives, including renters, migrant workers, and older residents.
- This ensures diverse perspectives are considered early.
Use data from:
- The Explore stage (e.g., fuel poverty rates, digital access levels).
- Local knowledge (e.g., previous infrastructure failures, transport limitations).
- Community feedback already gathered.
This helps determine the scale and depth of the Scoping needed.
Given the potentially significant impact on vulnerable groups, a detailed Scoping is appropriate. The purpose of the initiative should be clearly articulated:
- Purpose: To reduce carbon emissions and energy bills in rural communities.
- Means: Installing solar panels on homes.
- Expected benefits: Lower energy costs, improved sustainability.
- Potential risks: Exclusion of renters/migrants, digital barriers, installation disruption.
Use the Environmental Justice Template to explore:
- Who benefits?
- Homeowners in rural areas.
- Those with high energy bills.
- Who may be negatively impacted?
- Renters (may not qualify).
- Migrant workers (may lack documentation or stable housing).
- Digitally excluded residents (unable to apply).
- Older adults (may fear disruption or mistrust the scheme).
- Associated aims?
- If the initiative also aims to build trust or improve digital access, these could have additional impacts.
If Scoping reveals:
- Negative impacts (e.g., exclusion of renters/migrants),
- Or positive opportunities (e.g., improving digital access),
Proceed to the next stage of assessment.
If no significant impacts are found, a justification for not continuing should be documented.
INFORMATION GATHERING
The initial scoping has revealed both positive impacts (e.g., reduced energy bills, lower carbon emissions) and potential negative impacts (e.g., exclusion of certain groups, mistrust, digital barriers). This triggers the Information Gathering stage to understand how these impacts may affect marginalised communities in the pilot area.
This stage should be a collaboration between the energy provider, local council, and a Lived Experience Lead—someone who understands the lived realities of rural, low-income, migrant, and aging populations.
- Who is being excluded or underserved by the 'Solar for All' initiative
- What are the barriers to access and trust?
- Community organisations.
- Housing associations
- Migrant worker advocates
- Local health services
- Council fuel poverty reports
- Digital inclusion surveys
- Housing data
- There may be gaps in the data particularly from non-English speakers or undocumented workers. Gaps can be filled via community outreach, translated materials and trusted intermediaries.
- Even if some data is missing (e.g., specific impacts on migrant workers), this should not halt the assessment. Instead:
- Conduct targeted interviews or focus groups.
- Partner with local NGOs or community leaders.
- Use proxy data from similar regions or solar energy schemes.
- Quantitative:
- Fuel poverty rates by demographic group.
- Number of renters vs. homeowners.
- Age distribution and digital access levels.
- Migrant worker population estimates.
- Previous uptake of similar schemes.
- Qualitative:
- Resident concerns about cost, disruption, and trust.
- Experiences of renters and migrant workers with past schemes.
- Barriers to accessing digital applications.
- Community perceptions of environmental initiatives.
- Intersectional:
- How age, socio-economic status, ethnicity, and housing status intersect to shape access and impact.
- For example, older renters with limited digital access may face multiple barriers.
This should be completed collaboratively with any Lived Experience Lead and revisited as new information emerges.
CONVERSATIONS
The Lived Experience Lead should initiate and facilitate conversations with potentially impacted marginalised groups in the pilot villages. These groups include:
- Elderly residents with limited mobility or digital access.
- Migrant agricultural workers, who may face language barriers or lack secure housing.
- Private renters, who may not have decision-making power over property upgrades.
- Low-income households concerned about hidden or upfront costs.
These conversations are essential because early feedback has already highlighted real concerns—such as affordability, digital exclusion, and mistrust—indicating a risk of negative or unequal impact.
The Lived Experience Lead should initiate Conversations to:
- Understand lived experiences of fuel poverty, housing insecurity, and digital exclusion.
- Identify barriers to participation in the scheme (e.g., lack of landlord cooperation, fear of disruption).
- Fill data gaps where existing information doesn’t reflect the realities of marginalised groups.
- Rebuild trust by acknowledging past failures and demonstrating a commitment to co-production
Given the scale and potential impact of the 'Solar for All' initiative on vulnerable rural populations, the engagement should be comprehensive but proportionate. For example:
- A full co-production approach may be appropriate in areas with high fuel poverty.
- In less affected areas, targeted consultation may suffice.
To ensure equality, diversity, and inclusion, the following methods could be used:
- In-person focus groups at community centres or village halls.
- Drop-in sessions at local markets or food banks.
- Translated materials and interpreters for migrant workers.
- Paper-based application support for those without digital access.
- Attending existing community meetings (e.g., Parish Councils, tenant associations).
- Home visits for elderly or mobility-impaired residents.
Where possible, host conversations in familiar community spaces to build trust and reduce barriers to participation.
The council should leverage existing community engagement networks, such as:
- Local tenants’ associations.
- Disability advocacy groups.
- Faith-based organisations.
- Schools and youth clubs.
- Health and social care providers.
These networks can help co-design the engagement process and ensure it is accessible and trusted.
If a Lived Experience Lead is not yet appointed, the council may still proceed with consultation but should be transparent about the difference. Ideally, a co-production approach should be pursued to ensure that community voices are not just heard but shape the outcome.
All conversations and insights should be documented in the Environmental Justice Template, including:
- Who was engaged.
- What concerns or ideas were raised.
- Any gaps that remain.
- How these influenced the final design of the measure.
ASSESSING IMPACT
Having gathered all relevant information regarding the potential impact of the 'Solar for All' initiative—including community feedback, demographic data, and contextual factors—and considered the Conversation responses, the next stage is to assess the impact of the measure.
Based on the information gathered, the Lived Experience Lead and the regional energy provider/local council must co-assess whether the initiative could have a positive, negative, or neutral effect on marginalised communities, including:
- Elderly residents in rural areas
- Migrant agricultural workers
- Renters
- Digitally excluded individuals
- Communities with historical mistrust of infrastructure projects
This assessment should reflect on whether the findings align or conflict with the initial Scoping Assessment.
While differential impacts may be identified, not all differences are negative. For instance:
- Owner-occupiers may benefit more quickly, but this could be balanced by phased inclusion of renters.
- Some disruption during installation may be offset by long-term energy savings.
This stage should be seen as an opportunity to reflect on how the initiative could be revised or adapted to:
- Reduce negative impacts (e.g., exclusion due to digital barriers or tenancy status)
- Enhance positive outcomes (e.g., targeted support for fuel-poor households)
For example:
- Introducing offline application methods or community liaison officers could address digital exclusion.
- Ensuring tenants and migrant workers are included through landlord engagement or temporary installation models.
- Offering grants or subsidies to alleviate concerns about upfront costs.
Given the multiple elements of the initiative (technical installation, financial models, eligibility criteria), a deeper impact analysis may be warranted. This could explore:
- The intersectional impacts on older adults who are also digitally excluded
- Whether language barriers affect migrant workers’ access to information
- The long-term trust-building needed in communities with negative past experiences
If gaps in information on impacts of the 'Solar for All' initiative remain it may be necessary to consider:
- Additional community conversations or focus groups
- Whether the initiative could trigger unintended consequences, such as increased rents due to improved property values
- Whether there are conflicting policies (e.g., planning restrictions or landlord obligations)
All findings should be documented in the Environmental Justice Template, including:
- Summary of gathered information
- Identified impacts (positive, negative, neutral)
- Reflections and proposed adjustments
- Any further actions or consultations planned
ACTION PLANNING
The Lived Experience Lead and the regional energy provider/local council should collaboratively develop an Action Plan based on feedback and data gathered during initial engagement. This plan must be co-created with input from affected communities, especially those experiencing fuel poverty, digital exclusion, and housing insecurity.
The Action Plan must link to the assessment of potential impacts and:
- Identify positive impacts, such as
- Lower energy bills and reduced carbon emissions.
- Potential health benefits from warmer homes.
- Economic uplift through local installation jobs.
- Identify potential negative impacts, such as:
- Upfront Costs: Fear of hidden fees or financial burden.
- Installation Disruption: Concerns about noise, access, and safety.
- Digital Exclusion: Limited ability to apply online.
- Exclusion of Migrant Workers and Renters: Lack of eligibility or outreach.
- Community Mistrust: Due to past failed infrastructure promises.
These findings must be transparently documented in the Environmental Justice Template, with clear justification for decisions made.
- If the assessment shows positive or neutral impacts, the Solar for All 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 Solar for All initiative is going to be adapted to reduce or eliminate these impacts such as:
- Introduce offline application methods (e.g., paper forms, in-person sign-ups).
- Offer financial support or subsidies for upfront costs.
- Ensure inclusive eligibility criteria, including renters and migrant workers.
- Provide translated materials and outreach via trusted community figures.
- Schedule installations with minimal disruption and clear communication.
- Build trust through community forums and transparent reporting.
If unlawful discrimination is evident (e.g., exclusion based on nationality), the plan should be halted or revised immediately.
If there are negative impacts and the Solar for All 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.
- 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 Solar for All 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.
PUBLISH AND SHARE
Before announcing the ‘Solar for All’ initiative publicly, the final initiative and environmental justice assessment must be reviewed and approved by senior leadership within the regional energy provider and local council. This ensures accountability and alignment with broader strategic goals.
Before announcing the ‘Solar for All’ initiative publicly, the final initiative should be shared with those potentially impacted communities (such as rural residents, migrant agricultural workers, renters and older adults). Any positive outcomes to these communities should be shared such as:
- reduced energy bills
- reduced carbon emissions
Any actions to reduce negative impacts should be shared with potentially impacted communities such as:
- offering non-digital application measures
- including renters and migrant workers through landlord partnerships
- providing for transparent timelines and community-led oversight.
Any remaining negative impacts (such as disruption during installation) should be justified and shared with potentially impacted communities with details on how these impacts are going to be monitored and support that is going to be provided to impacted groups (e.g. commitment to ensuring community feedback loops so negative impacts can be regularly assessed).
The Lived-Experience Lead and the energy provider/council should:
- Reflect on what engagement methods worked well
- Identify gaps or missed voices
- Identify areas for improvement
- Document lessons learned to improve future initiatives
Once the internal and community processes are complete:
- Publish the full Solar for All initiative and environmental justice assessment
- Include:
- Positive and negative impacts
- Mitigation strategies
- Community feedback and how it shaped the plan
- Share across:
- Council website and newsletters
- Local media
- Community centres and libraries
- Social media and local forums
This builds trust, shows transparency, and encourages replication of good practice.
All of this should be recorded in the Environmental Justice Template, including:
- Stakeholder engagement records
- Impact assessments
- Mitigation plans
- Publication and dissemination strategies
MONITOR AND REVIEW
While the implementation of the 'Solar for All' initiative may appear to be a significant step toward environmental sustainability and social equity, it is essential to recognize that this is not the end of the process. To ensure the initiative truly aligns with the principles of Environmental Justice, monitoring and review needs to be embedded.
The targeted pilot area includes several villages with high fuel poverty rates, limited public transport, and aging populations.. These groups may experience both unique benefits and unintended burdens from the changes.
The initiative should be treated as a cyclical process, where:
- Data and feedback from the community inform ongoing changes
- Barriers (e.g., digital access, cost concerns) are addressed iteratively
- Successes and failures are transparently reported and acted upon
Any Lived Experience Lead should continue to:
- Represent voices from the pilot villages
- Ensure feedback loops are active and inclusive
- Advocate for adaptations based on lived realities
The Explore stage of the Environmental Justice Framework should remain active beyond implementation of the Solar for All initiative.
This will assist in ongoing monitoring and review, not just of installation outcomes but also of community impact, particularly in relation to:
- Reduction in fuel poverty
- Accessibility for digitally excluded groups
- Inclusion of migrant workers and renters
- Trust-building in communities with past negative experiences
All details of this Monitoring and Review process—including timelines, responsible parties, community engagement strategies, and metrics—should be clearly documented in the Environmental Justice Template. This ensures transparency, accountability, and a shared understanding of how success will be measured and maintained.
THE RESILIENT RIVERSIDE PROJECT:
Scenario Example: The Resilient Riverside project
Description of the proposed measure: A city council is launching the ‘Resilient Riverside’ project to address increasing flood risks along a river that runs through a densely populated urban area. The plan includes constructing new flood barriers, creating green buffer zones, relocating some homes and businesses from high-risk zones.
The area includes:
- A large population of low-income renters
- Several small, family-run businesses
- A long-established immigrant community
- A public housing estate with limited mobility access
EDUCATE AND EMPOWER
The 'Resilient Riverside' initiative presents a valuable opportunity for the city council to actively collaborate with communities to build environmental sustainability knowledge and trust. Given the concerns raised, the following community centered knowledge building around flooding and flood risk may assist:
- Hosting community-led workshops where residents can share their lived experiences of flooding, housing insecurity, and displacement.
- Involving Lived Experience Leads from the immigrant community, public housing residents, and small business owners to ensure their perspectives shape the project.
To address environmental issues holistically:
- Partner with local schools and colleges to integrate flood resilience and sustainability into curricula.
- Offer parent and carer education sessions in multiple languages to ensure accessibility for immigrant families.
- Connect with national and international networks working on urban flood resilience to bring in best practices and share local insights.
- Establish a Community Advisory Board with representation from all affected groups to oversee the project.
- Use transparent data-sharing (e.g., flood risk maps, environmental impact assessments) to inform decisions.
- Commit to long-term monitoring and accountability, with regular public reporting on progress and equity outcomes.
- Hold accessible public forums (with translation, childcare, and mobility support) to explain the project, gather feedback, and answer questions.
- Use social media and community radio to share updates in culturally relevant and accessible formats.
- Create visual storytelling projects (e.g., photo exhibitions, oral histories) to highlight the cultural and historical significance of the area.
- Sponsor a “Resilient Riverside Festival” celebrating local culture and educating on flood resilience.
- Launch a volunteer river stewardship program involving youth and elders.
- Partner with local NGOs to deliver environmental education workshops in community centers and places of worship.
- Attend tenant association and business network meetings to share updates on initiatives/issues and gather feedback.
EXPLORE
The city council should appoint or collaborate with a Lived Experience Lead—someone who understands and represents the lived realities of the affected communities. Together, they should:
- Investigate the impact of flood risks and proposed solutions on:
- Low-income renters (e.g., risk of displacement, housing insecurity)
- Immigrant communities (e.g., loss of cultural spaces)
- Small businesses (e.g., relocation challenges)
- Residents with limited mobility (e.g., accessibility of new infrastructure)
- Explore alternative sustainability solutions that:
- Minimize displacement
- Preserve cultural and community assets
- Improve accessibility and equity
To ensure inclusive participation, the council and Lived Experience Lead should organize:
- Community workshops in multiple languages
- Pop-up events in local markets or community centers
- Online hubs with accessible formats (e.g., audio, visual, translated content)
- Standing agenda items at existing neighborhood meetings
These events should be designed to actively listen to concerns and co-create solutions with residents.
- The council can use networks built through previous Education and Empowerment efforts—such as local schools, faith groups, churches, disability advocacy groups, environmental campaigners/groups—to:
- Promote events
- Encourage participation
- Build trust and transparency
- Special efforts should be made to engage:
- Residents of public housing estates (e.g., through door-to-door outreach or trusted local advocates)
- Immigrant communities (e.g., via cultural organizations or faith groups)
- Small business owners (e.g., through local business associations)
The Explore stage should be cyclical, not one-off. This means:
- Regularly reviewing the impact of flood barriers and green zones
- Assessing whether relocation plans are fair and transparent
- Identifying signs of green gentrification and adjusting plans accordingly
- Using feedback loops to adapt and improve project measures
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
SCOPING
Scoping should be initiated during the development/review stage of the 'Resilient Riverside' initiative. This includes assessing the environmental sustainability goals and identifying potential social impacts, especially on marginalised communities in the target area.
The purpose of the proposal is to mitigate increasing flood risks in a densely populated urban area by:
- Constructing flood barriers
- Creating green buffer zones
- Relocating homes and businesses from high-risk zones
This will be achieved through:
- Physical infrastructure (barriers) to prevent flooding
- Green zones to absorb excess water and improve environmental resilience
- Strategic relocation to reduce exposure to flood hazards
- Lived Experience Lead and City Council should jointly assess potential impacts.
- Engage with representatives from:
- Low-income renters
- Immigrant communities
- Small business owners
- Residents of public housing
Use data from:
- The Explore stage (e.g., flood risk maps, demographic data, housing reports).
- Local knowledge.
- Community feedback already gathered.
- Similar case studies from other cities.
Given the scale and complexity of the project, a detailed scoping assessment is warranted. The potential for significant displacement and cultural disruption requires thorough analysis.
Use the Environmental Justice Template to explore:
- Who benefits?
- Increased safety and reduced flood damage
- Improved green spaces and environmental quality
- Long-term resilience for the community
- Who may be negatively impacted?
- Displacement without adequate compensation: Low-income renters and public housing residents may face housing insecurity.
- Loss of cultural and community spaces: Immigrant communities may lose places of worship, markets, or gathering spots.
- Impact on small businesses: Family-run shops may struggle to relocate or recover.
- Accessibility concerns: Public housing with limited mobility access may not be adequately addressed in relocation plans.
- Green gentrification: Improved environmental amenities may drive up property values, pricing out current residents.
- Associated aims?
- Urban renewal: May unintentionally lead to gentrification.
- Environmental enhancement: Could benefit health and wellbeing but must be inclusive.
- Economic development: Risk of uneven distribution of benefits.
If Scoping reveals:
- Negative impacts, or
- Positive opportunities
Proceed to the next stage of assessment.
If no significant impacts are found, a justification for not continuing should be documented.
INFORMATION GATHERING
The initial scoping has revealed both positive impacts (e.g., reduced flood damage and increased safety) and potential negative impacts (e.g., displacement of residents and accessibility concerns). This triggers the Information Gathering stage to understand how these impacts may affect marginalised communities in the target area.
A Lived Experience Lead should be appointed or consulted to co-design the information gathering process.
Community Partners may be accessed: Engage local organisations, tenant unions, immigrant advocacy groups, disability rights groups, and small business associations.
Council Departments should be consulted: Planning, housing, social services, and environmental teams should contribute existing data and insights.
- How will relocation affect low-income renters and public housing residents
- What cultural/community spaces are at risk?
- Will green buffer zones lead to increased property values and displacement?
- Are flood barriers accessible to people with limited mobility?
- What are the communication barriers for non-English-speaking residents?
- Local universities or research centres (for socio-economic and environmental data)
- Community leaders and advocacy groups
- Council’s equality and diversity officers
- Health and social care providers
- Demographic data from the council
- Housing and tenancy records
- Local business registries
- Previous environmental impact assessments
- Community feedback from earlier stages
There may be gaps in the data particularly around intersectional impacts on race, disability, income and housing status. Gaps can be filled via:
- Real-time feedback mechanisms (e.g. community forums, digital platforms)
- Independent assessments of compensation adequacy
- Mapping of informal networks and support systems
- Use of participatory methods to fill gaps (e.g. storytelling, community mapping)
- Provisional judgments where data is lacking, but flag uncertainties
- Transparency about limitations and assumptions
- Quantitative:
- Census data
- housing statistics
- business revenue
- flood risk maps
- Qualitative:
- interviews
- community workshops
- lived experience testimonies
- cultural value assessments
- Intersectional:
- How age, socio-economic status, ethnicity, disability, immigration and housing status intersect to shape access and impact.
- Are certain groups more vulnerable to displacement or exclusion?
- Are there compounding barriers to accessing information or support?
This should be completed collaboratively with any Lived Experience Lead and revisited as new information emerges.
CONVERSATIONS
The Lived Experience Lead should initiate and facilitate conversations with potentially impacted marginalised groups in the target area. These groups include:
- Low-income renters, who may face displacement without adequate compensation.
- Small, family-run businesses, at risk of relocation and economic disruption.
- Immigrant communities, who may lose cultural and community spaces.
- Residents of public housing estates, especially those with limited mobility access, who may be disproportionately affected by construction and relocation.
These conversations are essential because early feedback has already highlighted real concerns—such as affordability, digital exclusion, and mistrust—indicating a risk of negative or unequal impact.
The Lived Experience Lead should initiate Conversations to explore concerns around:
- Displacement
- Loss of cultural spaces
- Inaccessible project information
- Green gentrification fears
Then targeted Conversations must be held to explore these issues in depth. These discussions will help uncover unidentified vulnerabilities and fill gaps in data.
Given the scale and potential impact of the 'Resilient Riverside' initiative, the scale and depth of engagement should reflect:
- The complexity of the flood mitigation measures.
- The potential severity of impact on marginalised groups.
- The importance of maintaining community trust and cohesion.
Conversations should be:
- Inclusive: Using interpreters, accessible formats, and culturally sensitive approaches.
- Flexible: Held in community spaces, homes, or local businesses rather than council offices.
- Diverse in method: Including focus groups, workshops, one-on-one meetings, or attending existing community and council meetings.
The council should leverage existing community engagement networks, such as:
- Local tenants’ associations.
- Disability advocacy groups.
- Faith-based organisations.
- Schools and youth clubs.
- Local environmental campaigning groups
- Health and social care providers.
These networks can help co-design the engagement process and ensure it is accessible and trusted.
If a Lived Experience Lead is not yet appointed, the council may still proceed with consultation but should be transparent about the difference. Ideally, a co-production approach should be pursued to ensure that community voices are not just heard but shape the outcome.
All conversations and insights should be documented in the Environmental Justice Template, including:
- Who was engaged.
- What concerns or ideas were raised.
- Any gaps that remain.
- How these influenced the final design of the measure.
ASSESSING IMPACT
Relevant data has been collected regarding:
- Flood risk levels and urban planning needs.
- Demographics: low-income renters, immigrant communities, small businesses, and public housing residents.
- Community concerns: displacement, cultural loss, accessibility, and gentrification.
Conversations have highlighted:
- Fear of displacement without fair compensation or relocation support.
- Loss of cultural and community spaces, especially for long-established immigrant groups.
- Inaccessible communication about the project, particularly for non-English speakers and those with limited digital access.
- Concerns about green gentrification, where environmental improvements may lead to increased property values and rent, pricing out current residents.
Based on the gathered information and community input, the Lived Experience Lead and the City Council should co-assess the impact of the proposed changes:
- Positive Impacts:
- Improved flood protection and climate resilience.
- Creation of green spaces that could enhance urban health and biodiversity.
- Negative Impacts:
- Potential displacement of vulnerable residents and businesses.
- Risk of cultural erasure and loss of community cohesion.
- Accessibility challenges for disabled residents in public housing.
- Economic pressure from gentrification.
- Neutral Impacts:
- Some infrastructure upgrades may not directly affect community dynamics but could still influence long-term urban development.
This stage should be seen as an opportunity to reflect on how the initiative could be revised or adapted to:
- Reduce negative impacts (e.g., potential displacement of vulnerable residents and businesses)
- Enhance positive outcomes (e.g., improved flood protection and climate resilience)
For example:
- Minimising displacement through inclusive relocation plans and fair compensation.
- Preserving cultural spaces or integrating them into new developments.
- Ensuring accessible and multilingual communication about the project.
- Implementing anti-gentrification safeguards, such as rent control or community land trusts.
Given the complexity and breadth of impacts of the initiative (displacement etc), a deeper impact analysis may be warranted. This could explore:
- Economic modeling of rent and property value changes.
- Social impact studies on displaced communities.
- Accessibility audits for public housing and green zones.
If gaps in information on impacts of the 'Resilient Riverside' initiative remain it may be necessary to:
- Conduct additional community conversations, especially with underrepresented groups.
- Assess interconnected impacts, such as transportation changes or school relocations.
- Identify conflicting measures, like commercial development plans.
All findings should be documented in the Environmental Justice Template, including:
- Summary of gathered information
- Identified impacts (positive, negative, neutral)
- Reflections and proposed adjustments
- Any further actions or consultations planned
ACTION PLANNING
The Lived Experience Lead and the city council must collaboratively develop an Action Plan for the flood resilience measures. This plan should be co-created with affected communities, especially:
- Low-income renters
- Immigrant communities
- Small business owners
- Residents of the public housing estate
The Action Plan must link to the assessment of potential impacts and:
- Identify positive impacts, such as
- Increased safety from flooding
- Creation of green spaces
- Potential for improved infrastructure.
- Identify potential negative impacts, such as:
- Risk of displacement
- Loss of cultural hubs
- Economic strain on small businesses
- Accessibility issues for disabled residents.
These findings must be transparently documented in the Environmental Justice Template, with clear justification for decisions made.
- If the assessment shows positive or neutral impacts, the Resilient Riverside 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 Resilient Riverside initiative is going to be adapted to reduce or eliminate these impacts for example:
- Displacement concerns: Offer fair compensation, guarantee relocation within the community, and legal support.
- Accessibility: Ensure new infrastructure meets mobility standards.
- Green gentrification: Implement rent controls or community land trusts to prevent displacement.
If unlawful discrimination is evident (e.g., targeting immigrant communities disproportionately), the plan should be halted or revised immediately.
If there are negative impacts and the Resilient Riverside 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. For example, if relocation is necessary, the plan must explain why, and outline support mechanisms (e.g., compensation, relocation assistance).
- 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 Resilient Riverside 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.
PUBLISH AND SHARE
Before announcing the ‘Resilient Riverside’ initiative publicly, the final initiative and environmental justice assessment must be reviewed and approved by senior leadership within the city council. This ensures accountability and alignment with broader strategic goals.
Before announcing the ‘Resilient Riverside’ initiative publicly, the final initiative should be shared with those potentially impacted communities (such as low-income renters, small family-run businesses, immigrant communities, residents of the public housing estate).
Any positive outcomes to these communities should be shared such as:
- Improved flood protection
- Creation of green spaces
- Long-term safety and resilience
- Potential job creation during construction
Any actions to reduce negative impacts should be shared with potentially impacted communities such as:
- offering non-digital application measures
- including renters and migrant workers through landlord partnerships
- providing for transparent timelines and community-led oversight.
Any remaining negative impacts (such as relocation, loss of cultural spaces) should be justified and shared with potentially impacted communities with details on how these impacts are going to be monitored and support that is going to be provided to impacted groups (e.g. commitment to ensuring community feedback loops so negative impacts can be regularly assessed).
The Lived-Experience Lead and the city council should:
- Reflect on what engagement methods worked well
- Identify gaps or missed voices
- Identify areas for improvement
- Document lessons learned to improve future initiatives
Once the internal and community processes are complete:
- Publish the full Resilient Riverside initiative and environmental justice assessment
- Include:
- Positive and negative impacts
- Mitigation strategies
- Community feedback and how it shaped the plan
- Share across:
- Council website and newsletters
- Local media
- Community centres and libraries
- Social media and local forums
This builds trust, shows transparency, and encourages replication of good practice.
All of this should be recorded in the Environmental Justice Template, including:
- Stakeholder engagement records
- Impact assessments
- Mitigation plans
- Publication and dissemination strategies
MONITOR AND REVIEW
While the implementation of flood barriers, green buffer zones, and relocation plans may appear to complete the environmental sustainability goals of the “Resilient Riverside” project, it is essential to recognize that true environmental justice requires ongoing monitoring and review. This ensures that the project remains responsive to the needs of affected communities and adapts to emerging challenges.
The targeted area includes several areas with a large population of low-income renters
several small, family-run businesses, a long-established immigrant community, a public housing estate with limited mobility access. These groups may experience both unique benefits and unintended burdens from the changes.
The initiative should be treated as a cyclical process, where:
- Data and feedback from the community inform ongoing changes
- Barriers (e.g., displacement) are addressed iteratively
- Successes and failures are transparently reported and acted upon
Any Lived Experience Lead should continue to:
- Represent voices from the target areas
- Ensure feedback loops are active and inclusive
- Advocate for adaptations based on lived realities
The Explore stage of the Environmental Justice Framework should remain active beyond implementation of the Resilient Riverside initiative.
This will assist in ongoing monitoring and review, not just of implementation outcomes but also of community impact, particularly in relation to:
- gentrification
- accessibility
- relocation
All details of this Monitoring and Review process—including timelines, responsible parties, community engagement strategies, and metrics—should be clearly documented in the Environmental Justice Template. This ensures transparency, accountability, and a shared understanding of how success will be measured and maintained.
