Centre partners have won funding from the Natural Environment Research Council to look at ways to increase inclusivity in Environmental Research and the Green Jobs sector. AdaptABLE: Increasing inclusivity in environmental science Harnessing the research and innovation of environmental science is key to adapting to how we live to a more sustainable and equitable way. Enabling a diverse and inclusive workforce is central to enabling the full range of talent that exists to address this need.However, environmental research in the UK is not currently representative of the UK population and ACE has recently been awarded funding by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to explore ways to address this discrepancy. This is extremely timely as the green sector offers a wealth of opportunities across disciplines and has been expanding rapidly, with global green job postings increasing by 8% annually over the past five years. This growth is anticipated to continue, with projections suggesting the creation of 13.3 million new jobs globally by 2030 that will need a diversity of strengths and capabilities. Working in partnership with the Natural Environment Research Council, AdaptABLE will showcase the varied routes that can be taken into the environmental sector at key stages of career development to support the shared vision at the heart of our consortium - how can we engage a wider diversity of people to contribute to an adaptation framework for social good? Five key partners across the Centre will develop an initial Theory of Change Framework for equality and inclusion, identifying established pathways to reach both our direct and indirect beneficiaries. The partnership for this first stage includes The University of Edinburgh, The National Museum of Scotland, Dynamic Earth, The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. These Centre Partners have a well established working relationship in shared areas of research and are therefore a natural starting point to take the work forward.The University of Edinburgh has a strong and long-standing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and is one of the largest providers of training and research in NERC remit in the UK. The National Museums of Scotland connect with over 3 million people a year. It is a unique combination of world-class collections, programmes, places and people. They routinely initiate and support engagement with under-represented groups and challenge inequalities helping to create positive societal change. Dynamic Earth is a national educational charity and the only science centre in the UK dedicated to Earth and environmental sciences. Through on-site exhibitions and learning programmes in Edinburgh and across Scotland, they empower people with understanding and empathy for the Earth, driven by a positive belief that people of all ages and backgrounds can be problem solvers of the future. Over 300,000 people visit each year including 30,000 school children with a further 15,000 engaging online. The Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh work to build a positive future for plants, people and our planet. They deliver world-leading plant science, conservation and education programmes to build knowledge and skills for both education and professional settings. Over a million people visit across 4 sites each year and via their extensive programme of in-person and online learning programmes with global reach. RSPB is the UK's largest conservation charity with over 1.2 million members. It works to restore the health and diversity of the natural world and its science serves to support people, communities, policy advisors and businesses to ensure positive outcomes for nature while transitioning to a more sustainable future. Between us we have a shared vision, professional expertise and lived experience in addressing barriers to working in the environmental sector to address our planetary and societal needs. Publication date 27 Jun, 2025
