Joined-up Sustainability Transformations (JUST)

The unique ambition of the Centre for Joined-Up Sustainability Transformations (JUST) is born from evidence that the context for research on low carbon living (LCL) has changed in recent years: there is an urgent need to translate insights from the wealth of technical and behavioural research into win-win pathways that respond more effectively and sensitively to social and political barriers to meeting the UK's net zero agenda. JUST will respond to this challenge by working with communities in five 'left-behind' regions of the North of England (NofE) and non-academic practice partners to co-produce joined-up strategies for meeting net zero ambitions while simultaneously redressing problems caused by socio-economic inequality.

The overall aims of JUST's programme of research are to investigate: (i) What works, when, where and for whom - and what could work - to facilitate the development and implementation of joined-up interventions for a just transition to LCL? (ii) How, where and with whose participation can sustainability transformations be accelerated in ways that combine sustainability with justice for citizens in places that benefit least from dominant economic and political systems? (iii) What lessons for just sustainability transformations can governments, businesses, and communities learn from place-based, co-produced action research?

Our objectives are to:

conduct, commission and scale research into what works where in LCL approaches, generating context-specific evidence and insight for overcoming complex challenges;
develop novel methodologies for generating evidence about what works where, why and for whom;
develop, trial and evaluate tools for informing decision-making and meeting place-based needs, working collaboratively in five areas in the NofE and matched places elsewhere in the UK;
build capacity needed for sustainability transformations within communities, organisations and sectors;
inform and influence public debate on the net zero transition, moving it beyond current tensions and resistances towards the productive joining-up of decarbonisation and social justice.
Our interdisciplinary team will use an innovative mix of data science and participatory action research methodologies to undertake studies that observe and map existing LCL initiatives as well as studies that intervene and co-produce new initiatives with practice partners in communities. Both types of study will be analysed through an intellectual framework of six interlocking themes that build on team members' expertise: principles of justice; policy, governance and change; built and social infrastructure; social and solidarity economies; democratic innovations; and methodological innovation.

JUST's twin focus on justice and LCL puts impact, social inclusion and reciprocity at the heart of all research and engagement activities. We are a team from five universities with extensive experience of researching at the intersections of sustainability and social justice. We have existing research relationships with communities and organisations in the study regions on which the Centre's work will build. Our impact lead, from the Institute for Community Studies, will coordinate collaboration with eight other core project partners (Institute for Government, Local Government Association, Welsh LGA, Sustainable Scotland Network, British Chambers of Commerce, NHS Confederation, Citizens UK and the Runnymede Trust) to maximise benefits to all participants. We will support capacity building and decision-making towards LCL by producing a JUST toolkit of seven tools to identify and meet the socio-economic-related LCL needs of any location in the UK. Open-access digital resources, training workshops, and an executive education course will ensure the relevance and application of the research across the UK and internationally.