Understanding Society, in collaboration with the UK Data Service and The Young Foundation, is hosting a three day data dive event with the aim of undertaking research and developing policy solutions to help tackle climate change and environmental degradation. The dive is aimed at researchers and policy analysts from think tanks, charities, government departments, trade associations and higher education, who are keen to work collectively to examine interesting questions and prototype ideas and solutions across key environmental topics.
The recent landmark IPCCC report issued stark warnings of how climate change is causing disruption to the natural and human worlds. It’s estimated that households directly account for around 20% of emissions and, indirectly, much more again. It’s clear that individuals, families and communities are going to need to change the way they live, work and travel.
Understanding Society, which is divided into subject modules and observes changes in people’s lives over time, can tell us much about deep human behaviours, the influence of the social and environmental context, life events and the adaptive capacity to make a transition to net zero?
How much does our education, socio-economic status and personality matter in shaping environmental behaviours? How do people’s attitudes and behaviours vary across their lifespan and between the generations? Who is transitioning to ‘green jobs’ and who is at risk from industrial disruption? Who is adapting to more environmentally friendly modes of transport and why? How do environmental attitudes and behaviours vary across political groups and demographics and what is the relationship between climate change and political participation?
Please note that the data dive is now fully booked. You can read more about the data dive challenge here. The data dive will take place over three days: 25 November, 2 and 9 December. You can find the full programe for the three days here.
An opportunity to learn and progress ideas
In addition to gaining access to the data and each other, participants will also hear from existing users of Understanding Society on how they harnessed the power of our data. The Young Foundation will talk about their Nuffield Foundation funded work into indicators of change in community transition to net zero. A policy panel will discuss the scale and limitations of current policy ambitions and provide feedback on the findings and prototype ideas and solutions generated by the three-day event.
