FAQs | Diverse Sustainability Initiative

By joining the Initiative, you publicly showcase your dedication to equality, diversity and inclusion. There is no cost to join.
Benefits of becoming a partner include:
- access to a range of free or partially funded events, both virtual and in-person
- connecting with like-minded partners across our extensive network.
Stay informed and empowered with regular updates, valuable resources and insights shared within our networks.
- A wealth of knowledge and experience by learning from the practices of other organisations within the profession.
- Feel supported every step of the way with direct access to our dedicated DSI Officer for assistance or networking opportunities with fellow partners.

IEMA (the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment) created the Initiative in March 2021.

No, committing to diversity comes at no cost. While there are opportunities to deepen involvement through contributing funding, resources, or sharing best/bad practices with fellow partners on specific projects, participation in the DSI is not contingent on financial support. Our ethos revolves around education and collaboration, ensuring inclusivity for all organisations regardless of financial capacity. We harness existing resources within our networks to maximise impact and promote shared learning.

Your commitment is unique to you and your business, please read our commitment guide before signing up. Don’t forget that we will be asking for annual updates on your commitment! Please contact us if you need any support.

After receiving your commitment, our DSI Officer, Caris, will schedule an introductory call to discuss your commitments, provide updates on upcoming events, assess available support options and address any enquiries you may have. Once finalised, your commitment will be documented on our website, formalising your status as an official DSI partner. Subsequently, you’ll be added to our communication list to receive future updates and announcements.

You’ll also be given access to use the DSI Partner logo, to showcase your commitment to driving change in the profession.

In 2017, a Policy Exchange survey identified the environment and sustainability sector as the second least diverse out of 202 professions in the UK. This is a statistic that is often quoted, but is now being addressed.

3.1% of environment professionals identify as minorities compared to 19.9% in all occupations*.

Given the rapidly changing, increasingly urban and more diverse nature of our population across all dimensions, it is imperative that the environment sector evolves and adapts accordingly. If it does not, there is a danger that it will become irrelevant, and unworthy of financial or political support by the communities with which it seeks to work in partnership on a transition to sustainability and zero-carbon.

* Race, inclusivity and environmental sustainability report conducted by NUS, IEMA and The Equality Trust.

You are a champion!

You have the power to bring attention to the issue by engaging decision-makers, whether they’re in HR, your Executive team, or beyond. Even better, you can actively carve out space within your organisation for diversity to flourish. You can advocate for your organisation to publicly commit by joining as a DSI partner.

Of course. Please contact us and we can arrange a phone call to discuss how you could get involved. We are soon recruiting DSI Volunteers to assist with event planning, social media, resource acquisition, newsletter writing and driving change. Additionally, you can provide ad hoc support by writing a blog, offering new resources, or identifying speaking opportunities. We appreciate your support!

Enhancing diversity and inclusion within an organisation is crucial because it drives innovation, improves decision-making and creates a more equitable work environment. It’s crucial to establish an inclusive environment as a foundational step before actively seeking to enhance diversity. Providing team-wide training, implementing mentoring programmes, creating an action plan and/or EDI policy, fostering support for international days and hosting regular team meetings can all contribute to embedding diversity and inclusion into the fabric of your team. When devising action plans, prioritise the needs and perspectives of underrepresented individuals, demonstrating allyship by taking proactive steps to support them rather than placing the burden on them to drive change. Take a look at the free resources on our website for additional support.

As a professional body, we don’t offer consultancy services. However, we can certainly direct you to relevant resources, recommend external support and connect you with individuals who might be able to help further. Please get in touch if we can assist in guiding you to the right support.

See our list of partners here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have a question?

Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA)