Tracking environmental harm in real time

Kate Marks, Deputy Director, Digital Services at the Environment Agency, talked about a new digital service they’ve just launched for reporting environmental incidents.

This project introduces a new digital service for reporting environmental incidents to the Environment Agency (EA). It aims to shift reporting away from the current phone-only system towards an accessible, online platform that allows the public to report incidents in real time, upload photos, and provide accurate location data. The goal is to improve data quality, response times, and community engagement.

The current phone-based reporting system presents significant barriers. Poor mobile signal in rural areas, hearing, speech, or language challenges, and limited time to call during incidents all make it difficult for some people to report environmental harm. This leads to underreporting, delayed responses, and inefficient use of EA resources.

The new service will make it easier and faster for people to report environmental issues. It will provide more inclusive access for those with disabilities or language barriers and give citizens greater confidence that their reports are being heard and acted upon. Success will be measured by how routinely the service is used, the speed and accuracy of reporting, and improved environmental outcomes through quicker EA responses.

There are challenges to overcome. Ensuring the service is truly accessible and user-friendly, encouraging adoption among the public and stakeholders, integrating it with existing EA workflows and data systems, managing expectations around response times and outcomes, and aligning funding streams are all key considerations.

When asked what they would change about data in government, one team member highlighted two priorities: visibility and interoperability. More of the “dark data” could be put to use if it were easier to see, access, and use with the right permissions.