As a project team, we have agreed how we will carry out our work, to aim for positive environmental and social impacts. We have considered these areas in particular:
Our main environmental impact, as a project, is from travel. We consider the need to travel, and whether aims can be achieved in other ways, such as online meetings. We have a presumption against air travel, with train travel expected for all European destinations. We helped to develop, and now use, Lancaster Environment Centre’s Travel Decision Tree, which guides decision-making about travel and alternatives to travel, as well as the wider Sustainability Strategy.
More widely, we have worked with the University to develop and implement their climate strategy, with a target of net zero emissions by 2035.
We encourage involvement from women, given that they are underrepresented in the energy and climate field. We have over 50% female representation on the advisory group, and for speakers at events. We engage with women’s networks, including Powerful Women and She Is Sustainable. We actively support Lancaster Environment Centre’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Forum, and consider how our project can contribute to improved EDI.
In our research plan, and particularly in our deliberative work with citizens, we use best practice guidelines developed by Involve to make sure our processes are fair and inclusive.
We want to work with local communities and schools, and each member of the project team has a target of at least two outreach events per year.
Photo credit: Shared Futures