Towards socially inclusive environmental policy

The transition to Net Zero marks a radical reshaping of many aspects of everyday life. It also has the potential to positively influence several social challenges: improving public health, reducing the effects of poverty, increasing wellbeing, and bringing communities together. However, these positive outcomes are by no means a given. Household on low incomes in particular are less resilient than ever following austerity, COVID 19 and the cost-of-living crisis, and the magnitude of change envisaged here risks being overwhelming.

In this talk, Lucie Middlemiss will combine conceptual work on social inclusion in Net Zero, and empirical insights from research in seven low-income communities in Leeds and Newcastle, following a series of workshops to understand their perspectives and concerns on this issue. The research team found that people’s ability to participate in net zero was shaped by the particular community they live in (due to its geographical location, local services and infrastructure), by their house (the building and its tenure) and home (the people they live with) as well as by their lack of funds. It is clear from our data that people are already acting on net zero, taking small measures that help them save money, with the support of family, community and employers. However people have big concerns about their ability to participate in the more substantial changes they can see ahead.

Lucie will reflect on policy in this field, and suggest some more productive, and socially inclusive, directions.

Lucie Middlemiss is Professor of Environment and Society, at the Sustainability Research Institute, University of Leeds. Her research on energy poverty brings together qualitative insights into the lived experience, with critical policy analysis. Recently she has broadened this focus to address the Net Zero more generally, investigating its impacts on low-income households, and articulating pathways to a socially inclusive transition. She also co-leads the Leeds Relational Energy Group, a team which developed a relational approach to understanding energy interventions, exploring how people’s relationships shape their engagement with home energy retrofit.

NB. This is a HYBRID event, with an option to join the seminar in person or virtually. We do have limited numbers for the in-person room so please only book an in-person ticket if you are planning to physically attend.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Sir Arthur Lewis Building, 32 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, United Kingdom