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Calls
EPSRC Energy Networks Grand Challenge – Call for Proposals
The RCUK Energy Programme, led by the EPSRC, invites proposals that address the Grand Challenge of preparing the UK’s Energy Infrastructure for 2050. Applicants are encouraged to look 20 to 40 years in the future and think what could be achieved on this time-scale if researchers from different research groups, disciplines or institutions were to work together. Grand Challenge proposals will need to show how they will: lead to a step change in current knowledge; lead to a positive societal and/or economic impact; focus on long-term goals; and, adopt a multidisciplinary approach. Four strands of interest have been identified including: flexible grids, game-changing network technologies, integrated infrastructure, and uncertainty and complexity. A number of cross-cutting themes have also been identified as being fundamental to delivering the Grand Challenge and should be considered in any application. These include: ICT-Energy Interface, storage, social understanding of key issues, ability to influence/advise policy making, and internationalisation. The Grand Challenge project(s) will be expected to work with the Supergen Hub in Networks and those proposals that are invited to interview will be asked to provide details of how they plan to interact with the Hub ahead of the panel meeting. The closing date for proposals is 4pm on 29th September 2010. More…
LWEC announces merger between three leading environmental coordinating bodies
A merger has recently been agreed between the Living with Environmental Change programme, the Environment Research Funders’ Forum and the Global Environmental Change Committee. The new partnership brings together 22 major UK public sector funders and users of environmental research to align strategic and delivery activities more effectively under one partnership. The partnership will operate under the identity of Living with Environmental Change so as to continue to ‘optimise the coherence and effectiveness of UK environmental research funding and ensure government, business and society have the foresight, knowledge and tools to mitigate, adapt to and capitalise on environmental change’. More…
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Research
World Climate Change Survey
‘Universities all over the world are not doing enough to help society to cope with the challenges posed by climate change’; this is one of the findings of the World Climate Change Survey, a research initiative aimed at identifying the general level of awareness and needs of university students relating to climate change in university programmes worldwide. Undertaken by the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany as part of the International Climate Change Information Programme (ICCIP) the survey was targeted to university students so that first-hand information on current practice could be gathered and reality-based suggestions could be made to address any identified problems or needs. The results of the survey are presented as the first chapter of the newly-launched book ‘Universities and Climate Change’, published by Springer. The survey highlights a number of information and communication needs, which should be met in order to allow better integration of climate-related issues in university curricula across the world. More…
Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University
With the world population predicted to reach nine billion by 2050, and likely increasing shortages of water, food, and energy, there is growing pressure on consumption patterns in advanced and developing countries alike. Cities around the world will need to develop comprehensive solutions to these challenges. Yet much of our thinking on sustainability remains narrow – focusing on individual problems without seeing the overall picture. Cardiff University has recently created the Sustainable Places Research Institute, which seeks to offer a fresh scientific approach to this dilemma. The institute will combine the academic talents of ten scientific disciplines, with the aim of tackling the challenges of climate change and diminishing social and economic resources. By developing further the emerging field of sustainability science, the institute will aim to ‘model’ sustainable futures based around the notion of place-based solutions, and forecast how behaviours and climate change will affect sustainable practices in the future. One of the early tasks will be to create a comparative city-region research ‘hub’ from which to embark on six interlinked research programmes. The programmes will explicitly address the question of how city-regions, which are developing under different combinations of flows and fixities, can adapt and be guided towards more sustainable places. For example, it will develop greater integrated understanding of how resource fixities such as built form, streets, housing, green spaces and natural environmental systems interact with multi-dimensional flows such as governance processes, people and communities, energy systems, communications, materials, waste and foods cycles. More…
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Events
Lecture – ‘How to make deliberative democracy practical consulting the public thoughtfully’
30th June 2010: British Academy, London.
In a democracy there are strong reasons to consult the public. Yet conventional polling only reflects the public’s impressions of sound bites and headlines on complex policy issues. Open meetings or self selected internet consultations are easily dominated by organized groups or intense interests. Focus groups are too small to be representative. This lecture aims to tell the story of a distinctive way of consulting the public—Deliberative Polling—which has been employed in sixteen countries. It represents what the public would think when it is thinking and focused on an issue. It has been used to bring wind power to Texas, to solve a budget crisis in Rome, to provide sewage treatment and other infrastructure in China, to deal with educational choices in Northern Ireland and to deal with ethnic differences in Bulgaria. James Fishkin (Director, Centre for Deliberative Democracy) will discuss these and other cases as well as the general issue of how best to consult the public. The lecture will draw on his recently published book ‘When the People Speak: Deliberative Democracy and Public Consultation’. The lecture marks the start of the British Academy Policy Centre’s project ‘New Paradigms in Public Policy’. This study will cover the challenges faced by policy-makers in Britain today and identify the assumptions currently governing policy-making, and aims to offer new alternatives in their place. The lecture will take place from 6-7pm and will be followed by a drinks reception. Please register in order to attend…
Symposium – ‘The future of local environment policy: Working towards a ‘zero waste’ economy’
14th July 2010: The Guoman Charing Cross Hotel, The Strand, London.
As part of a series of broader policy pledges, the new coalition Government recently outlined a number of key commitments on climate change and local environment policy in ‘The Coalition: Our Programme for Government’. The new Administration seeks to encourage a holistic and sustainable approach to waste prevention, promoting individual responsibility, encouraging partnership working across all sectors and utilising the potential of the third sector. As the Government sets out its roadmap for change, this symposium offers the opportunity for local authorities, waste management and recycling stakeholders to consider the next steps in working towards a ‘zero waste’ economy. Key themes to be discussed include: examining how to remove barriers to recycling and strengthen incentives to reduce waste; discussing how best to tackle littering and illegal waste activity; considering how to engage and energise the public and increase awareness of waste prevention; exploring how to minimise food waste, encouraging behavioural change through education; and, sharing innovative and sustainable solutions for recycling and waste prevention. More…
Inaugural Lecture – ‘Building capacity to foster regional sustainable development: the role of universities’
30th June 2010: Room GC108, London Metropolitan University.
Professor Walter Leal has recently taken a Senior Professorship role at the Centre for International Business and Sustainability at London Metropolitan University Business School and will be giving an inaugural lecture, ‘Building capacity to foster regional sustainable development: the role of universities’. This will be held at London Metropolitan University, Holloway Road, London, Room GC108 at the Graduate Centre, on the 30th June 2010 from 6-7pm. Drinks will be provided afterwards. Some seats are still available and invitation cards may be obtained by emailing Anne Wills.
Conference – ‘Adapting conservation to a changing climate’
11th – 12th January 2011: Charles Darwin House, London.
Natural England and the British Ecological Society are organising a two-day conference in January 2011, exploring how practical conservation measures can facilitate adaptation to climate change. There is much interest in approaches allowing conservation and climate change adaptation objectives to be met simultaneously, with what is sometimes called ecosystem-based adaptation, for example, identifying where creating wetlands can provide flood defence. This conference seeks to provide a timely review and synthesis of this area of research, as well as of adaptation within the conservation sector itself. Effective adaptation research requires a strong partnership between researchers, practitioners and policy-makers. It is essential that adaptation measures are developed on the basis of sound science, combined with a rigorous assessment of their feasibility and acceptability to society. This conference will therefore bring scientists together with policy-makers and those who are actually implementing adaptation measures. More… ().
Policy Seminar – ‘Community shares: Taking ownership local’
15th July 2010: Coin Street Community Centre, London.
The Community Shares Programme is a two-year action research project investigating how members of the public can invest in enterprises that serve a community purpose. Since its launch in January 2009, the Programme has contributed to the rapid growth of interest and activity in community investment. Such interest has culminated in a sevenfold increase in community share schemes in 2009 with 28 enterprises launching community share offers, compared to only four in the first half of the decade. In addition, at least another 50 community groups are known to be exploring the option of community investment. This policy seminar will: firstly, bring together the initial findings from the OTS and CLG backed action research into community shares led by the DTA, Cooperatives and the SROI UK Network; secondly, share community activists’ stories of their own journeys with expert research findings covering the explosive growth in the market and the challenges encountered along the way; and finally, provide the very latest thinking on a growth market for community finance and make recommendations for the future development of this market. More…
SSN Annual Conference – ‘A Step Change: Local Government leadership for a low carbon economy’
4th November 2010: Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh.
This ninth annual SSN Conference aims to present the case for enacting a ‘step change in pace’ of current work on climate change at a time of financial austerity, and will highlight and explore the value and importance of local government and public sector leadership and action in the transition to a low carbon economy. More specifically, it will: detail the implications of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act Public Bodies Duty for local authorities, Community Planning Partners and the wider public sector, and clarify their roles and responsibilities; provide sessions addressing public sector corporate emissions, housing, transport, community engagement and partnership working; provide analysis of the Scottish Government’s Report on Policies and Proposals for meeting annual targets, expected in autumn 2010; explore opportunities arising from the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Economy Strategy, expected in early November 2010; explore both the practicalities and the benefits of investing in the transition to a low carbon economy in a time of austerity; and, provide an opportunity for Scotland’s public sector to come together, explore opportunities for joint-working and share good practice. More…
Seminar – ‘Green technology: Investing in our future’
19th July 2010: Central London.
The next Fabian Society Environment Policy Seminar, ‘Green technology: Investing in our future’, will take place from 1 - 2.30pm on Monday 19th July. To achieve the kind of technological advancement needed to meet our 2050 pledges, there needs to be major changes to the pattern of investment and financial flows currently experienced. This seminar will look at what needs to happen to steer capital away from high-carbon investments and channel them towards the low-carbon economy. It will question whether existing markets have the capacity to mobilize capital at the pace required to avoid dangerous climate change and invest in a sustainable future. Speakers confirmed to-date include: David Kennedy (Chief Executive of the Council for Climate Change) and Roger Liddle (Chair of Policy Network). If interesting in attending this event, please RSVP to Gemma Stawski. This event is free to attend and registration and lunch will be provided from 12.30 pm.
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Online
EEA Interactive Water Quality Maps
The European Environment Agency (EEA) has developed a series of interactive maps presenting new water quality data from across Europe. Excessive levels of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in water bodies can cause algal blooms and an associated loss in aquatic life. In addition, their presence in drinking water requires expensive treatment. Agriculture and waste water are the key sources of nutrients in water bodies. The European Water Data Centre, managed by the EEA, presents data on water quality and quantity, and nutrient releases to the water environment. It provides a single entry point for European datasets and indicators on water, including these interactive maps, most of which have been updated with 2008 data. Some maps provide an overview of the water quality in European rivers, lakes, groundwater and coastal waters. Local data can also be retrieved through a zoom function. As a new feature, the areas designated as sensitive according to Article 5 of the EU Urban Waste Water Directive are displayed together with information on the level of urban waste water treatment undertaken at each treatment plant. More…
A biodiversity-focused ‘IPCC’
Governments have recently given the green light to an Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The independent platform will in many ways mirror the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which has assisted in catalyzing world-wide understanding and governmental action on global warming. The new body will bridge the gulf between the wealth of scientific knowledge - documenting accelerating declines and degradation of the natural world - and the decisive government action required to reverse these damaging trends. Its various roles will include carrying out high quality peer reviews of the wealth of science on biodiversity and ecosystem services emerging from research institutes across the globe in order to provide 'gold standard' reports to governments. These reports will not only cover the state, status and trends of biodiversity and ecosystems, but outline transformational policy options and responses to bring about real change in their fortunes. The green light, given by delegates from close to 90 countries, is now expected to be sent to the 65th session of the UN General Assembly, which opens in September, for its consideration to be formally established. It will then be presented for endorsement by environment ministers attending the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial at its next session scheduled for Nairobi, Kenya in February 2011. More…
Chalmers Carbon Calculator
Professor Christian Azar and Dr. Daniel Johansson, at the Division for Physical Resource Theory at Chalmers University of Technology, have built a simple climate model for online use; the Chalmers Climate Calculator. The model aims to provide an easy-to-use tool for anyone who wants to learn more about the climate problem. The online presentation lets users get a feel for how carbon dioxide emissions may affect climate in the future. Users choose scenarios for future emissions, deciding when, and by how much, emissions are cut, or whether to allow them to increase according to a business-as-usual projection. Using these inputs, the model then calculates the future atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide and the increase in global average surface temperature (other greenhouse gases are also taken into account). Users are able to see how both the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and temperature vary depending on emissions. Model users can see how temperature changes depend on how sensitive the climate is to greenhouse gases. In order to answer questions related to developed and developing nations, or questions related to deforestation, the two-region version of the model may be used. More…
Outdoors and Health Network Film
The Outdoors and Health Network is an inter-disciplinary exploratory research network lead by UHI Millennium Institute and funded by the ESRC and MRC under the Understanding Individual Behaviour Exploratory Networks (UIBEN) initiative. Over the last year researchers and public sector representatives from around the UK have been working together to examine the relationship between individuals' health and well-being and their use of the natural outdoors. Their pilot work has reviewed existing knowledge in this area and has identified gaps in the existing evidence base. Researchers have explored different methodologies for collecting data relating to people's health and outdoor exposure, the relative robustness, reliability and objectivity of results. The project is nearing conclusion and as part of their dissemination activities the network has commissioned a short film to explain the research that has been undertaken and explain the focus for future research into the connections between health and the outdoors. View the film online. The final discussion papers and other outputs will all be available shortly on the OHN website and also on the ESRC Society Today website. For more info contact Aileen Marshall.
Biodiversity Media Alliance
The Biodiversity Media Alliance has recently launched an online network in order to build bridges between journalists and the sources of information they need to tell this story well. More than 500 biodiversity experts had already joined the network ahead of its official launch on World Environment Day, including scientists, policy-makers, non-governmental organisation staff and indigenous people from some of the most biodiverse parts of the planet. The Biodiversity Media Alliance is a partnership between the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), Internews and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) which aims to boost the quantity and quality of media coverage of biodiversity around the world. The new online network will enable journalists and biodiversity experts to interact and share their news and views about biodiversity issues. More…
PEER digital atlas of ecosystem services, ‘PRESS’
The PEER institutes have combined their expertise on biodiversity and ecosystem services into a new initiative, PRESS (‘PEER Research on EcoSystem Services’), designed to deliver innovative scientific research products with policy relevance. It is also meant to facilitate interaction with national and European stakeholders from all relevant policy domains, through a multi-scale assessment that links different governance levels. Furthermore, if financing is secured on the long-term, one of the objectives is to build a European digital atlas of ecosystem services. The project is designed to strengthen the scientific understanding of relations between biodiversity and ecosystem services and improve impact assessment tools by linking mapping of ecosystem services and policy evaluation approaches through illustrative case-studies. It will deliver tests of models, evaluation of associated uncertainties and a guideline for mapping of ecosystem services. The products of the project will include a European digital atlas or information system of ecosystem services and the assessment of potential trade-offs and synergies, to fully assist the agenda of the policy process. All these products are connected to stakeholders as input for their process of setting the research agenda for the coming decade. More…
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New Publications
New Book – ‘Universities and Climate Change: Introducing climate change at university programmes’
Climate change is a matter of global concern and specific sectors of society such as universities need to engage and be active in the search for regional and local solutions for what is a global problem. Despite the fact that many universities all around the world are undertaking remarkable efforts in tackling the challenges posed by climate change, few such works are widely documented and disseminated. The book ‘Universities and Climate Change’ aims to address this gap. The book pursues three aims. Firstly, it presents a review of the approaches and methods to inform, communicate and educate university students and the public on climate change being used by universities around the world. Secondly, it introduces initiatives, projects and communication strategies undertaken by universities with a view to informing students and other stakeholders in order to raise awareness on matters related to climate change. Finally, the book documents, promotes and disseminates some of the ongoing initiatives today all around the world, with an emphasis on replicable and inspiring projects being undertaken at and by universities, aimed at encouraging a better understanding and a stronger personal involvement in climate change issues and inspiring more works in this field. More…
JRF Report – ‘Brownfield residential development in England’
What changes have brownfield housing developments brought to the most deprived neighbourhoods in England? Government policy has emphasised the importance of regenerating towns and cities and delivering new housing supply by focusing on recycling previously developed (brownfield) land. The aim of this study, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, was to examine the extent of brownfield regeneration through the delivery of new housing development and its effects on housing and socio-economic change across the most deprived neighbourhoods in England. The report examines: the trends and spatial patterns of brownfield land reuse for housing development across different English regions, including the reuse of more problematic vacant and derelict land; the differing patterns of brownfield residential development in four different types of deprived neighbourhood; and, how policy has affected these neighbourhoods' changing housing market conditions, population growth, and relative economic deprivation. More…
CRC Publication – ‘High ground, high potential: a future for England’s upland communities’
The English uplands are landscapes that provide a wealth of natural and cultural assets. They also have the potential to generate many valuable public goods and market products, supporting a low carbon future and green economy. Vibrant, secure upland communities hold the key to realising this potential. Unlocking that potential requires government to work with and support local communities and land managers. In particular this means empowering communities, increasing the supply of affordable housing, particularly for young people, and improving access to next generation broadband and mobile communications. Current support for hill farming is inadequate to sustain these assets. New funding mechanisms are required as part of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy from 2013. These would reward farmers for managing national assets in harmony with developing businesses. A new approach is needed which would balance the needs of the environment with maximising the economic potential of the uplands. Yet supporting farmers is not sufficient on its own; the communities in which they are embedded must also be enabled to thrive if these assets are to be sustained. These are the main findings of the inquiry into the future of upland communities by the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC). More…
New Briefing – ‘Making aviation pay’
This new briefing, produced by Green Alliance, recommends raising aviation taxation to remove the disparity with road fuel taxation. It estimates that the government could raise an additional £2.5 billion a year by 2013 by this means, which could be used to reduce income taxes and support economic growth. This equates to a reduction in employees’ National Insurance Contributions of over 0.5%. A recent analysis by the Policy Studies Institute, ‘A new basis for aviation taxation’, suggests that the government should reform aviation taxation at the same time as increasing its level, replacing the air passenger duty (APD) with a per-plane duty (PPD). This would give airlines a much greater incentive to reduce the environmental impact of planes. Revenue from green taxation fell in the previous parliament, but the new coalition government has committed to increasing it. Raising aviation taxation at this stage should be the first in a series of positive tax reforms that would enable less taxation of the things we want to encourage, like job creation and innovation, in favour of the things we would like to reduce and prevent, like pollution and fossil fuel use. More…
New Briefing – ‘Adapting to the impact of climate change on buildings, neighbourhoods and cities’
The Centre for Construction Innovation (North West) has produced a new briefing on adapting the built environment to the impact of climate change. This short guide has been produced for the North West Climate Change Adaptation Group. It is aimed at those decision makers - clients, planners, and designers - who affect the regulation, design, construction, maintenance and regeneration of the built environment. It provides a summary of the key impacts of future climate change at three scales - buildings, neighbourhoods and cities. The guide summaries advice on what can be done to respond to these impacts and offers national and where possible local (North West) case studies of actions taken at each of three scales addressed. More…
New Publication – ‘Climate change: a brief introduction for scientists and engineers – or anyone else who has something to do about it’
Climate change has been written about at many levels, from popular articles in newspapers, to specialized research papers in the scientific literature. This publication aims to provide a short (approximately 100 pages) technical overview, meant for anyone who has to deal with the issues involved and who has studied a science subject at secondary school or higher level. Climate change covers the whole spread of the sciences, from the physics of the Sun to the biology of oceanic plankton. Chapters consider: the science of climate change; the greenhouse gases; how people use energy; using models to forecast future climate; reducing the release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere; geoengineering as a way of counteracting climate change; energy from biomass; sources of energy that do not depend on carbon; adapting to climate change; and, economic incentives to reduce emissions. More…
nef Report – ‘Ten big questions about the Big Society’
The new economics foundation welcomes the Coalition Government’s broad vision of building a ‘Big Society’ but recognises that everything depends on how the vision is translated into policy and practice. In this report, nef offers ten questions and proposals to help fill in some of the gaps and bring out the best in the idea of a big society. Questions include: What’s the ‘Big’ idea? What’s good about it? What are the problems it is supposed to fix? Are we all up to the challenge? Can everyone participate? Do people have enough time? Can communities mend themselves? Will a smaller state make society bigger? What’s the biggest problem? What could make it work? More…
Journal Issue – ‘The UN MDG Summit, September 2010’
In advance of the UN ‘Millennium Development Goals’ Summit meeting of the general assembly in September, the Pelican Journal of Sustainable Development has produced a review and commentary on the pre-summit material (planning information and some of the working documents) that is beginning to appear on the UN MDG summit website. This journal issue provides a roadmap of this online documentation, with an emphasis on opportunities for participation. The issue also includes updates of the two supplements: ‘Advances in Sustainable Development’ (a monthly snapshot of significant recent contributions to in-depth understanding of the sustainable development process in general and integral human development in particular) and, ‘Directory of Sustainable Development Resources’ (an annotated directory of online resources on sustainable development and related issues). More…
New Book – ‘Tackling Wicked Problems: Through the Transdisciplinary Imagination’
From climate change to GM foods, we are increasingly confronted with complex, interconnected social and environmental problems that span disciplines, knowledge bases and value systems. This book offers a transdisciplinary, open approach for those working towards resolving these 'wicked' problems and highlights the crucial role of the 'transdisciplinary imagination' in addressing the shift to sustainable futures. The book seeks to provide readers with a framework and practical examples that will guide the design and conduct of their own open-ended enquiries. In this approach, academic disciplines are combined with personal, local and strategic understanding, and researchers are required to recognise multiple knowledge cultures, accept the inevitability of uncertainty, and clarify their own and others' ethical positions. The authors proceed to comment on fifteen practical examples of how researchers have engaged with the opportunities and challenges of conducting transdisciplinary inquiries. The book gives those who are grappling with complex problems innovative methods of inquiry that will allow them to work collaboratively towards long-term solutions. Review copies are now available. Please email Andrea Titus if would be interested in reviewing this book.
New Book – ‘Sustainability Education: Perspectives and Practice across Higher Education’
How do we equip learners with the values, knowledge, skills, and motivation to help achieve economic, social and ecological well-being? How can universities make a major contribution towards a more sustainable future? Amid rising expectations on higher education (HE) from professional associations, funders, policy-makers, and undergraduates, and increasing interest amongst academics and senior management, a growing number of higher education institutions are taking the lead in embracing sustainability. This response does not only include greening the campus but also transforming curricula and teaching and learning. This book explains why this is necessary and - crucially - how to do it, distilling out the curriculum contributions of a wide range of disciplinary areas to sustainability. Subject areas covered include: geography, environmental and earth sciences, nursing/health, law, dance, drama, music, engineering, media and cultural studies, art and design, theology, social work, economics, languages, education, business and built environment. More…
New Book – ‘Climate Change Risks and Food Security in Bangladesh’
Managing climate variability and change remains a key development and food security issue in Bangladesh. Despite significant investments, floods, droughts, and cyclones during the last two decades continue to cause extensive economic damage and impair livelihoods. Climate change will pose additional risks to ongoing efforts to reduce poverty. This book examines the implications of climate change on food security in Bangladesh and identifies adaptation measures in the agriculture sector using a comprehensive integrated framework. The framework aims to provide a useful guide to design policy intervention strategies and investments in adaptation measures. More…
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Jobs and Training
Jobs and Training opportunities around the Sustainable Development Research network (including a new position on the SDRN Co-ordinating Team) are now updated frequently on the ‘Jobs and Training’ page of the SDRN website…
The SDRN Mailing is a moderated information resource and dissemination service for SDRN members. You can make use of this service by sending any information for inclusion in the mailing to Sarah Bell.
To join or leave this list, please email Sarah Bell or visit the JISCmail website.