Overview

The ambition of 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 equitably to social and political barriers meeting the UK’s net zero agenda.

JUST responds to this challenge by working in depth with communities in five ‘left-behind’ regions of the North of England, and with a national network to turn research into action across the UK.

Our focus is on collaboration between academic 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?

Who are we?

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 our work builds. See our people and partners page for more information.