We are pleased to be appointed as a lead supplier on 10 lots under Defra’s new Environmental Science Research, Development and Evidence (ES RDE) Framework, and as a subcontractor on a further four.
The ES RDE is a framework for scientific research and development and monitoring that runs from 1 February 2026 until 2034. It provides Defra and its agencies with access to Eunomia’s expertise in delivering robust, policy-relevant evidence to support some of the UK’s most complex environmental challenges – from the design and evaluation of regulation, to implementation, monitoring, and impact assessment.
The framework can also be used by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Our work spans:
- Circular economy, waste and resources policy
- Natural capital, biodiversity and land-use change
- Net zero pathways, carbon accounting and evaluation
- Economic analysis, appraisal and post-implementation review
Across these areas, our focus is on turning evidence into practical insight that supports effective policy design and delivery. Organisations can commission support from Eunomia via direct award or mini-competition across a wide range of areas including:
- Food Science
- Farming
- Air Quality and Noise
- Flood and Water
- Marine and Fisheries
- Resource and Waste
- Forestry Research
- Biodiversity (International and Domestic).
We also remain available via Defra’s current RDE Framework while this remains open, with the Socio-Economic sublot (4.1) running until the end of January 2026, and other sublots Floods and Water (5.1), and Waste Lots (7.1+7.2) running until the end of May.
Our Head of Natural Economy Yvonne Rees said: “Defra’s RDE Framework has been highly successful in giving the Defra Family direct access to support from Eunomia and our collaborators. I hope that incredible expansion from the 4 sub-lots we are leading on the current RDE Framework will extend the range of support we can offer.
The new ES RDE framework will allow the Defra Family to continue working with us, and the extended group of respected individuals and organisations we have partnered with to deliver further impactful work. In addition to our work on waste and resources, we’re now advising on topics across the natural economy area, using skills we have been developing with other clients – an opportunity our multi-skilled team is very much looking forward to embracing.”