By 'information environment' we mean the environment that is managed for most of the users who join a local network and access many (often web-based) resources. It is in contrast to a 'grid' environment where users wish to execute/run a process or operate something remotely via grid middleware.
The JISC characterises the 'information environment' as
"the set of network or online services that support publishing and use of information and learning resources."
Clearly, this near-definition could be contrived to include grid-like objects. However, we are using the term deliberately to indicate 'learning resources' in contrast grid-like and processor-intensive resources that usually support research as opposed to traditionally-oriented learning.