RESOLVE Seminar: discussion with

Dr Nick Eyre (Oxford University ECI) and

Simon Roberts OBE (Centre for Sustainable Energy), 31.10.2011

RESEARCH ON LIFESTYLES, SOCIETAL VALUESAND ENVIRONMENT

IAN CHRISTIE, CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY

The seminarRESOLVE http://resolve.sustainablelifestyles.ac.uk/

–The programme and its goals–Research highlights–Some reflections on

RESOLVE–Responses from Nick and

Simon–Open discussion

ESRC programme RESOLVE: aims of the research

The overall aim of RESOLVE is to develop a rigorous understanding of the links between lifestyle, societal values and the environment. RESOLVE will work to provide robust, evidence-based advice to policy-makers in the UK and elsewhere who are seeking to understand and to influence the behaviours and practices of ‘energy consumers’. Director: Prof. Tim JacksonCES, University of SurreyFunding: ESRC

• home insulation

• energy efficient lights

• turning down the thermostat

• buying local

• re-using and recycling

• flying less

• cycling more…

• from changing the way we live to keeping out the draughts..

In search of ‘energy consumers’

• working out which aspects of our lives the impacts arise from;

• addressing the social psychology of lifestyle and lifestyle change;

• understanding the social and cultural context of modern lives and values;

• identifying the potential for lifestyle change;

• identifying the impacts of change on lifestyle;

• interdisciplinary work

• exploring the implications for policy

Research Challenges

Developing an evidence base

Lifestyle Scenarios (H1)

Governance and Policy(H2)

Carbon Mapping(V1)

Psychology of Energy(V2)

Sociology of Lifestyles(V3)

RESOLVE Themes

RESOLVE in PicturesV1. Lifestyle Mapping

V2. Social Psychology

V3. Sociology of Lifestyles

H1. Lifestyle Scenarios

H2. Governance and Policy

• develop and test a robust, pragmatic ‘carbon mapping’ framework;

• explore patterns and trends in ‘direct’ and ‘indirect’ energy demand in different lifestyle sectors and segments;

• decompose structural, technical and socio-demographic patterns and trends;

• explore the impact of fiscal interventions on final demand

V1. Lifestyle Mapping

• understand the social psychology of lifestyle and lifestyle change;

• explore normative and affective motivations in energy-related behaviours and practices;

• elaborate and test a ‘threatened identity’ model of change and resistance to change;

• test the success of different ‘interventions’ in changing energy-related behaviours

V2. Social Psychology

• understand the social and cultural context of modern lives and values;

• explore the social demographics (gender, class, age, ethnicity etc) of energy lifestyles;

• examine the socio-cultural construction of modern identity and lifestyle narratives;

• elaborate and test a ‘threatened identities/meanings’ model of change and resistance to change.

V3. Sociology of Lifestyles

www.CartoonStock.com

H1. Lifestyle Scenarios

Proof that the world is getting warmer……..and more fashion conscious

• explore emerging trends in direct and indirect energy consumption, as well as in energy-related lifestyles, attitudes and behaviours;

• ‘longitudinal’ empirical case studies in lifestyle change: monitoring energy/carbon, psychological and social variables

• evaluate and test a range of ‘sustainable lifestyle scenarios’;

H2. Policy and Governance

• explore historical and emerging trends in environmental, energy and social policy in the UK and abroad;

• examine and test policy options to foster sustainable energy behaviours and practices;

• research the drivers of (and limits to) success in community-based social change;

• elaborate long-term governance implications of the climate challenge.

RESOLVE Research HighlightsMapping and Scenarios (V1/H1)

– modelling frameworks• quasi-multi-regional IO econometric model• SELMA: Surrey Environmental Lifestyle Mapping Analysis• integration of these models in summer 2009 to support

scenario generation for GHG emissions linked to lifestyle patterns

• structural time series modelling: economic/societal factors in consumer demand

• small area estimation– applications

• Kyoto progress / policies for Copenhagen process• carbon attributed to functional needs• study of rebound effects• exploration of consumer trends• household level tools

– scenario development• reference scenario• scenario framework

RESOLVE Research HighlightsPsychology and Sociology (V2/V3)

– Quantitative studies• Food and identity: meat consumption• Young people: wellbeing and materialism• Mindfulness and consumerism• 21st Century Living • BarEnergy

– Qualitative studies• Sustainable Lifestylers • Life histories• Everyday life and the Environment (ELATE) • Demanding goods: producers and consumers• Case studies of committed groups

RESOLVE Research Highlights

Policy and Governance (H2)– Policy

• UK energy policy historical review• international policy : Copenhagen applications

– Community Engagement • 3 local authorities• Local Authorities and Communities conference • Community Action on Climate Change (Peters, M et

al eds., Low Carbon Communities, E Elgar, 2010) • Energy Policy (special issue 2009)

Lifestyles and consumption – Quantitative (21st Century living) – Qualitative (ELATE) – Econometric (consumer trends) – Consumption perspective on carbon emissions

RESOLVE: Some links to policy and practice

• Sustainable Consumption and Production / Pro-Environmental behaviours / SLRG - DEFRA

• BERR/OFGEM – Smart Metering• SDC – Prosperity without Growth• House of Lords: report on behaviour

change and policy• Behavioural Insights team in Cabinet

Office• Rebound effects: SLRG

RESOLVE: some reflections • Lifestyles are more than the sum

of consumption practices• Lifestyles are about the patterns

of feedback and influence between identity, values, life-stories, life-stages, practices and habits and the wider systems in which we are embedded

• So...‘Nudge’ is necessary - but very far from sufficient

• Individualised approach to ‘behaviour change’ won’t work

• making ends meet; • managing the household;• locked into routines;• building relationships;• anxious about status;• hungry for experience;• pursuing dreams and

aspirations;• searching for meaning

• helping to ‘create the social world and find within it a creditable place’

Lifestyles: stories, settings, values

What’s a lifestyle?

STRUCTURES

CAPACITIESIDENTITY

CONSTRAINTS FROM EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND ‘LOCK-IN’ TO SYSTEMS

OF PROVISION, PLACES, PRACTICES, HABITS

DESIRES, ASPIRATIONS, VALUES: OFTEN AT ODDS

WITH WHAT WE ARE ‘LOCKED INTO’ IN EVERYDAY LIFE

PRACTICES BASED ON ‘LIFESTYLE SUPPORT SYSTEMS’

- MAINSTREAM AND ‘ALTERNATIVE’

DEVELOPING A LIFESTYLE FOR LOW-CARBON CONSUMPTIONGOES AGAINST THE GRAIN AND BRINGS AMBIVALENCE

- ‘THREATENED IDENTITIES’

Challenges for policy and alternative ‘lifestyle support systems’

• Lock-in to systems of provision

• Rebound effects• Escalation effects• Identity threats• Income and

distributional issues in low-carbon shifts

• Tim Jackson:– ‘Structure beats agency’– ‘Scale overwhelms

efficiency’

Challenges for policy and alternative ‘lifestyle support systems’

• Policies need to be applied consistently at multiple levels: new structures, at scale, to support agency

• Structural signals: energy and basic systems of provision; distributional fairness

• Business incentives - support for sustainable business models

• Community level - new forms of energy governance and investment

• Households and citizens: beyond Nudge / information

• Mindfulness, moments of change, rewards, recognition

Building on RESOLVE• SLRG and SPRG• Lifestyles, practices• DEFRA and ESRC

funding• Rebound effects• Lifestyles and

moments of transition as points for interventions

• Community-based schemes for sustainable living

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Thanks for your attention

• And thanks to all the RESOLVE researchers and administrators

• See RESOLVE conference presentations from June 2011:

• http://resolve.sustainablelifestyles.ac.uk/events/conferences/2011

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