Understanding family and community vulnerabilities in transition to net zero

This project built a framework for understanding and responding to how the UK’s transition to net zero will affect families, and the communities in which they live.

Why this project is important

The 2019 amendment to the Climate Change Act cemented the UK’s commitment to being a climate leader, establishing a target of being net zero on all greenhouse gases by 2050.

Research indicates that certain socio-economic and demographic groups will be disproportionately burdened during transition to net zero. Families living with vulnerabilities like low income, poor housing and lack of access to services will have a different experience to families without disadvantage.

The impact of a net zero transition will vary regionally, with particular concern for Yorkshire and the North of England. However, there is insufficient knowledge on how these different elements will interact with one another and a lack of consolidation of existing research.

What it involved

Building a comprehensive framework of the risks and opportunities that families and communities face as a result of the transition:

1. Reviewing current literature, case studies and existing data, including lived experience data where available, to establish what is known about the factors that will impact families and communities, and families and communities’ capabilities to respond.
2. Testing the framework in participatory community-based workshops to understand the lived experience of families within communities to develop a co-produced, revised framework that identifies key indicators of vulnerability or capability.
3. Further developing the framework with stakeholders across the social, welfare, economic, energy and environmental sectors, and in national and local government.

The research provided the insights to enable government, practitioners, and other relevant parties to plan for and manage a ‘just transition’. Ensuring that everyone benefits from the transition to net zero will help to ensure the UK’s success in fighting climate change.

Impact

The research is helping put families and communities at the heart of the transition to net zero. The team worked with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on the design of their public participation strategy and supported the delivery of a series of events to engage cross-sector stakeholders. Engagement with the Climate Change Committee supported greater consideration of household and community vulnerabilities in its A Well Adapted UK report. Working with the London Sustainable Development Commission and London Councils enabled the development of practical tools that help councils and social housing providers put residents first when making homes more energy efficient.