Climate change

With the world significantly off track to limit global warming to 1.5°C, the UK must act fast to meet its commitment to achieve net zero by 2025. Any action taken to alleviate or adjust to the impact of climate change should also work to deliver equitable outcomes and economic growth.

Climate policies are a new focus for us, and we are keen to work with researchers and other partners to understand their implications on people’s lives. Our interest is different from other funders, it is in the distributional consequences of climate strategies in the UK.

This includes:

• The implications of net zero for different groups in society, as key areas such as housing, energy, and transport are decarbonised
• The risks and opportunities that climate change poses for the economy, labour market and public services
• The impact of local and regional environmental issues, including air and water quality and how these affect different groups and communities

What we’re interested in

These are particular questions we are interested in exploring. We welcome proposals that address them directly or explore adjacent issues. If your work aligns with our aims, we’d like to hear from you.

• Where might mitigation and adaptation actions risk deepening existing inequalities or create new vulnerabilities, and how can this be mitigated?
• How should we prepare for the societal and economic stresses arising from climate change, and what reforms to our systems of social protection are needed to increase resilience and ensure equity?
• How will climate change policies affect investment levels and employment in the future?
• What are the social and distributional implications of more localised environmental issues such as air and water quality – and of policies to address them?
• How can education ensure that future generations are equipped with the right knowledge and skills on climate and environment issues?