Sustainability transitions: rethinking everyday practices, identities and livelihoods

Lead Research Organisation: University of Leicester
Department Name: Geography

Abstract

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Publications

10 25 50
 
Description There was a high level of demand for all events in the seminar series (bookings ranged from 48 for the first seminar to 29 for the final, two-day event) and places were offered to all who booked. Feedback from participants demonstrates that they appreciated the opportunity to hear interdisciplinary perspectives on sustainability transitions, the dialogue between academics and 'activists', and the networking opportunities afforded by the events. While valued by many participants, the attempts to foster dialogue between practitioners, activists and academics were not always successful (see http://manchesterclimatemonthly.net/2012/05/01/event-report-low-carbon-transitions-relevant-lessons-from-the-1970s-crisis/). This prompted Mason, Brown and Pickerill (2013) to reflect further on how specialist language, economics, and different understandings of what constitutes 'useful knowledge' can serve as barriers to dialogue and effective collaboration.

The seminar series inspired participants researching different aspects of sustainability to re-evaluate the potential for using the concept of 'transition' in their work: "the series stimulated me to think more deeply about transitions" (Robyn Dowling); and, "the seminar actually made me more aware of the potential of the transition concept and raised the visibility of the term and approach in my own research," (James Evans). Several of the co-applicants have since published work that critically engages with the concept of 'transition': North and Longhurst (forthcoming) have questioned the potential and limits of 'transition' as a form of eco-localisation within the Transition Towns movement; while (Brown, Kraftl, Pickerill and Upton 2012) have theorised 'transition' as a process of 'holding together' the potentially conflicting aspirations of diverse social actors in a time of crisis. In advance of the third seminar, a discussion paper was circulated (Hodson, Marvin and Smith 2012) which examined the similarities and differences between the sustainability innovations enacted during the financial and energy crisis of the 1970s and those being developed today. They posed pertinent questions about who benefits from experimentation with 'alternatives' in periods of crisis.

A key theme running through the seminar series was around questions of identity/difference, and related issues of equality and social justice within sustainability transitions. Brown (Anderson et al. 2012) has theorised that identity politics, as it has developed in the last four decades, must be understood in the context of the era of high carbon consumption. Seminars 2, 4 and 5 provoked participants to re-consider the notion of resilience in the Transition Town movement, to think transnationally about societal transitions, and to question the classed/racialized norms that are embedded within 'sustainability transitions' practices. The intersections between individual, collective and societal transitions are at the core of follow-up research planned by Brown, Mason, North, Pickerill and Amanda Smith.

In addition to the planned research mentioned above, the seminar series has enabled new collaborations between (and beyond) members of the core group. North and Amanda Smith co-organised a session on 'Urban Resilience' at the 2012 Royal Geographical Society conference. Brown and Pickerill are organising a workshop with researchers from the Public Interest Research Centre to explore potential collaboration around PIRC's work on the power of personal 'values' in social change.
Exploitation Route The co-applicants are embedded in local, regional and national initiatives about environmental justice and sustainability. They will continue to work with practitioners and local communities to translate critical social science research into effective policy and practice that addresses social, cultural and everyday economic factors in sustainability transitions.
Sectors Communities and Social Services/Policy

Energy

Environment

Government

Democracy and Justice

URL http://sustainabilitytransitions.info/
 
Description The co-applicants and many of the participants in this seminar series are embedded in local, regional and national initiatives about environmental justice and sustainability. They continue to work with practitioners and local communities to translate critical social science research into effective policy and practice that addresses social, cultural and everyday economic factors in sustainability transitions. For Gavin Brown, Kelvin Mason, Peter North, Jenny Pickerill and Amanda Smith the discussions about diverse forms of transition that were fostered by this seminar series has led to further work exploring the ways in which political engagement and activism changes across the lifecourse. They are pursuing these ideas through a variety of small research projects at present. In particular, Kelvin Mason (who no longer works in academia), advised by Gavin Brown and Peter North has led a Heritage Lottery Fund project to record an oral history of members of the Campaign Choirs Network. For the most part, the members of these political street choirs are aged 50 - 70 and have rich stories to tell about activism and campaigning across the lifecourse. This work has resulted in a book, Singing for Our Lives, due to be published by HammerOn Press in June 2018.
First Year Of Impact 2014
Sector Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Energy,Environment,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections
Impact Types Cultural

Societal

 
Description Funding Award
Amount £1,000 (GBP)
Organisation Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2014 
End 10/2015
 
Description Small grant scheme
Amount £1,000 (GBP)
Organisation Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2014 
End 08/2015
 
Description The Lucas Plan: What can it tell us about democratising technology today? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact This commentary piece, written for The Guardian builds on discussions arising from the third seminar in the series about lessons from the 1970s. Thirty-eight years ago, a movement for 'socially useful production' pioneered practical approaches for more democratic technology development. This article discusses some of the lessons from that time.

The Guardian
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://www.theguardian.com/science/political-science/2014/jan/22/remembering-the-lucas-plan-what-can...