Living within a One Planet reality: the contribution of personal Footprint calculators

During the last 50 years, humanity's Ecological Footprint has increased by nearly 190% indicating a growing unbalance in the human-environment relationship, coupled with major environmental and social changes. Our ability to live within the planet's biological limits requires not only a major re-think in how we produce and distribute 'things', but also a shift in consumption activities. Footprint calculators can provide a framing that communicates the extent to which an individual's daily activities are compatible with our One Planet context. This paper presents the findings from the first international study to assess the value of personal Footprint calculators in guiding individuals towards sustainable consumption choices. It focuses specifically on Global Footprint Network's personal Footprint calculator, and aims to understand the profile of calculator users and assess the contribution of calculators to increasing individual awareness and encouraging sustainable choices. Our survey of 4245 respondents show that 75% of users resided in 10 countries, 54% were aged 18–34 years and had largely used the calculator within an educational context (62%). The calculator was considered a valuable tool for knowledge generation by 91% of users, and 78% found it useful to motivate action. However, only 23% indicated the calculator provided them with the necessary information to make actual changes to their life and reduce their personal Footprint. The paper discusses how and why this personal Footprint calculator has been effective in enhancing individuals' understanding of the environmental impact of their actions, framing the scale of the problem and empowering users to understand the impacts of different lifestyle choices. Those individual-level and system-level changes needed to generate global sustainability outcomes are also discussed. Similar to other calculators, a gap is also identified in terms of this calculator facilitating individuals to convert new knowledge into action

Understanding low-carbon housing retrofit within a wider nexus of practices

Low-carbon retrofit of owner-occupied housing will make a significant contribution to reducing UK CO2 emissions. However, despite placing the home within its social context, there remain concerns that existing practice theory studies on this topic fail to adequately conceptualise ‘large’ phenomena such as retrofit. In response to this gap, this research adopts a novel nexus-of-practice approach to understanding home improvements. Drawing on thirty-one in-depth interviews and walk-through tours with owner-occupiers in Bristol, a rigorous line-by-line coding and analysis of the relationships between components of practice is undertaken. Particular attention is given to: connections between home improvement practices and the wider nexus of practices; how these connections can increase adoption of low-carbon retrofit measures; and the implications of these for the role of the architect. The findings reveal indirect relationships between low-carbon retrofit measures and other home improvement practices. They also illustrate that professional competences associated with low-carbon retrofit measures are poorly connected to the wider nexus. These connections have implications for policy seeking to encourage higher levels of low-carbon retrofit, and contribute to architects’ ability to recognise and seize opportunities to maximise the environmental benefits of owner-occupier home improvement projects

Understanding teleological influences on owner-occupier home improvements: implications for encouraging low carbon retrofit

Despite widespread recognition of the need to decarbonise existing housing stocks, there remain limitations in the way this problem is theorised and addressed. Practice theory has sought to move away from the individualism and assumptions of rational-choice that have underpinned previous studies, but has still relied on comparisons of accounts of practices between individuals. Furthermore, these practice-based studies have encountered their own challenges with regards to adequately conceptualising ‘large’ phenomena such as retrofit, as well as addressing issues of variations in practitioner competence, and tractability. Drawing on 31 in-depth interviews and walk-through tours with affluent owner-occupiers who were currently, or had recently undertaken home improvement projects, this thesis examines why, and how some of these projects incorporated low carbon retrofit measures, while others did not. The relationships between the components of practice, both within and between practices are examined to identify how they connect to the wider nexus of practices that extends beyond the home. Particular attention is given to understanding the connective power of teleological influences on home improvements (RQ1); the connections between these teleological influences, home improvement measures and competences (RQ2); and the implications of this enhanced understanding for encouraging higher rates of retrofit (RQ3). Furthermore, the thesis employs a methodology that facilitates adoption of the home improvement measure as the unit of analysis, rather than the individual. It is proposed that this is not only more appropriate to the ontological assumptions underpinning practice theory, but also to specialisations within the construction industry. In conclusion, this thesis proposes a series of teleological constellations (i.e. structures of practices connected by shared goals) that provide a theoretical tool to further our empirical understanding of how low carbon home improvements fit within the wider nexus of practices. These connections, in turn, have implications for the way in which policy seeks to induce higher levels of low carbon retrofit in order to help meet national CO2 reduction targets and contribute to addressing global climate change

EU transition trade prospects for key Welsh sectors

This report was produced for Welsh Government as part of a project “Understanding the implications of Global Trade and Decarbonisation post Brexit.” Understanding the risks and opportunities for Welsh trade during the EU transition implementation period and in the period that follows is vital to inform Welsh Government’s discussions with the UK Government. Changes to Welsh trade patterns could also impact on greenhouse gas emissions, and consequently on Welsh Government’s duty towards sustainable development

EU transition trade prospects for key Welsh sectors

This report was produced for Welsh Government as part of a project “Understanding the implications of Global Trade and Decarbonisation post Brexit.” Understanding the risks and opportunities for Welsh trade during the EU transition implementation period and in the period that follows is vital to inform Welsh Government’s discussions with the UK Government. Changes to Welsh trade patterns could also impact on greenhouse gas emissions, and consequently on Welsh Government’s duty towards sustainable development

Intersections between home improvements and health: An owner-occupier’s perspective

The impact of energy efficient housing interventions on occupant health, both positive, and negative, is well documented, both in the evaluation of programs such as Decent Homes and Warm Front , and in clinical studies . In light of the UK’s legally binding target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80% by the year 2050 , there is a desire to increase the number of energy efficient domestic retrofits, making understanding the relationship between these home improvements and occupant health imperative. This paper will discuss the limitations of the existing research in this field, before demonstrating through empirical research that intersections between health and domestic energy use can be viewed amongst an alternative population of householders, and within a broader, non-linear constellation of practices. To conclude, the implications of these findings for simultaneously reducing domestic carbon dioxide emissions and improving occupant health will be discussed

Understanding home improvements within the wider nexus of practice: Implications for encouraging owner-occupier low carbon retrofit

In the context of global climate change and UK government targets to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 80% before 2050, low carbon retrofit of the existing UK housing stock, which is responsible for more than a quarter of UK energy use, is imperative. Whilst grants and subsidies addressing fuel poverty in vulnerable households have resulted in increased energy efficiency of housing amongst these populations, incentive schemes, such as the GreenDeal, aimed at more affluent households have demonstrated low levels of uptake. Drawing on 31 in-depth interviews and walk-through tours with affluent owner-occupiers undertaking home improvement projects, this thesis examines why, and how some of these projects incorporated low carbon retrofit measures, while others did not. Using a practice theory approach, the relationships between the components of practice, both within and between practices are examined to identify how they connect to the wider nexus of practices that extends beyond the home. Furthermore, the thesis employs a methodology that allows the relationships between the material home, teleo-affective structures and competences, to be examined using the home improvement measures themselves as the unit of analysis, rather than the individual. It is proposed that this not only more appropriate to the ontological assumptions underpinning practice theory, but also to specialisations within the construction industry which are focussed around specific home improvement measures rather than specific types of owner-occupier. In conclusion, this thesis proposes a series of teleological constellations that provide a theoretical tool to further our empirical understanding of how low carbon home improvements fit within the wider nexus of practices that make up social life. These teleological constellations provide an alternative dimension through which the nexus of practices can be understood, revealing connections between practices that appear otherwise temporally and spatially dispersed. These connections, in turn, have implications for the way in which policy seeks to induce higher levels of low carbon retrofit in order to help meet national CO2 reduction targets and contribute to addressing global climate change