This event has ended
12 October 2023, 10:45am - 4:20pm
Session 1: national policy, 10.45am – 1pm
Session 2: regional policy, 2pm – 4.45pm
The climate emergency presents unprecedented challenges, demanding urgent responses from not just governments and businesses, but also from households and communities.
Existing visions for the UK’s journey to net zero fail to mitigate the potential risk of unequal impacts on different people and places. This calls for a critical reflection around how net zero policy is designed, and how we collaborate for net zero policy to be delivered, for a just transition.
On 12 October 2023, the Institute for Community Studies at The Young Foundation will preview new insights and findings, the results of a two year programme of work. Our research takes a place-based, person-centred approach to consider the multiple and intersecting ways in which net zero policies are likely to affect people’s daily lives in their communities, and how the overall policy environment plays a role in their ability to meaningfully participate. The research brings together findings from an extensive evidence review, and participatory research with people living across seven neighbourhoods in the North of England, who face different economic and social vulnerabilities.
This research has been funded by the Nuffield Foundation.
Our online launch event will discuss:
- national policy and how it can be better leveraged to support households, communities and places – particularly those most at risk of being ‘left behind’ – to participate in the UK’s journey to net zero.
- regional perspectives, exploring the different players and roles required to unlock a place-based, person-centred approach for a just transition to net zero. Attendees will also have opportunities to share their own learning and insights, and to explore what is needed in future to further develop provision.
Our developing cast of high-profile speakers and panellists includes: Climate Justice Activist Scarlett Westbrook, Alex Beer, Programme Head at Nuffield Foundation; Emily Morrison and Tania Carregha from the Institute of Community Studies; David Craine from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Georgia Spooner of Stroud District Council; Lorenza Casini at Carbon Co-op; Dr Elizabeth Blakelock from Citizens Advice, Helen Stockton at National Energy Action; and Anna Valero at LSE’s Centre for Economic Performance.
The morning keynotes and panel discussions will have a national policy focus, while the afternoon sessions will have a regional policy focus. Attendees are welcome to join the event for either the full day or for specific sessions they are most interested in.
Agenda
Morning sessions: national policy focus
10.45am: Welcome and introductions
From Emily Morrison, Interim Director of the Institute for Community Studies at The Young Foundation, and Alex Beer, Programme Head of Welfare at Nuffield Foundation.
11am: Report preview: Family and community vulnerabilities in the transition to net zero. Tania Carregha, Evidence Manager at the Institute for Community Studies, will share research findings and national policy recommendations from our two-year programme of work.
11.20am: Panel discussion
How can national policy better support household, community and place participation in the UK’s journey to net zero, for a more just transition?
Panelists include:
- Anna Valero, Policy Fellow, LSE’s Centre for Economic Performance
- Dr Elizabeth Blakelock, Principal Policy Manager, Citizens Advice
- Helen Stockton, Head of Research, National Energy Action
12.20: Q&A Delegates will have the opportunity to participate in a live question and answer session.
12.40: Closing remarks
Afternoon sessions: regional policy focus
2pm: Welcome
2.15pm: A conversation with Scarlett Westbrook, Climate Justice Activist
2.30pm: Report preview: Family and community vulnerabilities in the transition to net zero sharing the programme’s regional findings, place-based approach, and upcoming Index of Net Zero Readiness.
2.50pm: Panel discussion
A place-based, person-centred approach for a just transition to net zero: whose role is it anyway?
Panelists include:
- David Craine, Senior Economic Advisor, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
- Georgia Spooner, 2030 Community Action Officer, Stroud District Council
- Lorenza Casini, Energy Commons Team Lead, Carbon Co-op
3.50pm: Q&A Delegates will have the opportunity to participate in a live question and answer
4.10pm: Closing remarks
The Institute for Community Studies is a research and evidence centre with people at its heart. Powered by the not-for-profit organisation, The Young Foundation, we work to influence positive change, bridging the gap between communities, research, and policymaking. This work has been carried out in partnership with University of Leeds, University of York and Trinity College Dublin.
The Nuffield Foundation is an independent charitable trust with a mission to advance social well-being. It funds research that informs social policy, primarily in Education, Welfare, and Justice. The Nuffield Foundation is the founder and co-funder of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, the Ada Lovelace Institute and the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory. The Foundation has funded this project, but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation.
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