A new series of webinars from the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) launches on 14 December with a session on Covid-19’s impact on environmental data management.

The Green Data series of online events replaces the EIC’s physical Green Data conference, which usually takes place in London during the winter. The free-to-attend webinars will focus on Covid-19's impact on environmental data management, innovation and green economic recovery and environmental data and the future of planning.

Joining EIC and sponsor, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), will be a range of experts and high-level speakers who will share their insight around the key topics. Tickets for all the events are free as a result of the NERC’s support.

The first event in the series, Covid-19’s impact on environmental data management, will feature a panel of Dr Kevin Turpin from Jacobs, Nigel Jones from Extrium, Mott MacDonald’s Sarah Pyatt and Dr Andrew Engeli from the Department of Health and Social Care. The pandemic has led to an urgent need to analyse, use and combine different data sets to gain a rapid understanding the spread and impact of the virus and its impact on a breadth of social and environmental factors. This event will look at the challenges and opportunities for the way environmental data is used and managed.

The second event on 14 January 2021 will look at Innovation and a green economic recovery and ask how the industry can nurture and support innovative in the environmental business sector to create the 'green jobs' that are needed. The webinar will also ask how public sector and environmental businesses can work together to create the right framework for innovation.

The final event in the series, Environmental data and the future of planning on 24 February 2021, will examine how a data-driven planning system can meet expectations for a simpler planning process that will boost post-pandemic growth and better reflect local community aspirations. What is the role for environmental data and how can it be integrated holistically into the UK's new geospatial strategy?

Commenting on the new series of webinars, Matthew Farrow, director of policy at ACE and EIC, said: “Of course we would have preferred to build on the success of previous editions of our Green Data conference and meet in person, but given the circumstances this is a great way to keep the conversation going.

“As shown by the breadth of the programme we have put forward, environmental data’s importance is increasing. The pandemic has changed the ways in which data is analysed and used across the public sector. Furthermore, the role of green data in helping both the Covid response and the longer-term growth agendas - for example around building back better and planning reform - will affect many companies in the sector.” 

Click on the links below to book a free place at the Green Data webinar series.

Covid-19’s impact on environmental data management - 14 December 2020 at 2pm. 

Innovation and a green economic recovery - 14 January 2021 at 12pm. 

Environmental data and the future of planning - 24 February 2021 at 12pm.