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Research at EA

Evidence underpins the work of the Environment Agency.

This includes improving the quality of the environment and reducing the impact of hazards such as pollution, floods, droughts and climate change. Our research provides the understanding, tools and techniques needed to achieve these outcomes.

The Research team’s work includes:

providing expert scientific and technical advice, reports and guidance
determining scientific priorities for the Environment Agency
making sure we have the right research in place to meet current and future needs
providing a chemical regulatory service on behalf of the UK government
identifying future issues and problems and assessing their significance
developing innovative approaches and tools to solve environmental problems
supporting incident response

Our research programmes

Joint Defra/Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Research and Development Programme

This programme is run by the Environment Agency, Defra, Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales, and aims to serve the needs of all flood and coastal operating authorities in England and Wales.

It provides the main evidence, information, tools and techniques to:

inform the development of FCERM policy and strategy
understand and assess coastal and flood risks and the processes by which these risks arise
manage flood and coastal erosion assets in a sustainable way
prepare for and manage flood events effectively

Environment Agency Air, Land and Water Research Programme

The programme has 6 themes:

catchment management – supporting river basin planning including catchment-based science and hydromorphology
land and water quality – impacts, risks and control of pollution in soil, groundwater and surface water
fisheries and biodiversity – protecting and managing aquatic species, including monitoring and diagnostic tools
regulated industry – supporting permitting and guidance with a focus on air quality and nuclear regulation
climate change – understanding the impacts of climate change and supporting adaptation and resilience in business and the environment
resource use – the sustainable management of natural resources including water supplies and solid wastes

Defra/Environment Agency Joint Water Evidence Programme (JWEP)

JWEP brings together the water-related research of Defra and the Environment Agency and provides a focus for external collaboration. This is explained in Joint Water Environment Programme (JWEP) - summary (PDF, 205KB, 2 pages) .

JWEP has commissioned a number of evidence reviews and has published a guide to the production of Quick Scoping Reviews and Rapid Evidence Assessments.

Our collaborative research priorities: 2016 to 2020

These priorities set out some of the big research questions facing the Environment Agency in delivering our duties and protecting the environment and human health. It is intended to inform external researchers and research funders of longer term priorities where we would welcome opportunities to work in partnership.

Collaborative research priorities for the Environment Agency.

Publications

Recent research reports and summaries can be found in our publications catalogue.

Older publications are held in The National Archives.

Partnerships

We work collaboratively where this can deliver shared research objectives more cost-effectively. Our partners include others within the Defra group, UK Research Councils, UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA), universities and EU-funded project partners.