The UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) is embarking upon a series of linked projects under the heading of “Infrastructure Transformation: The First 10 Years of Net Zero”. This interdisciplinary work will cut across the wide-ranging themes that UKERC already encompasses and bring insights to bear from the many disciplinary backgrounds represented in the consortium, to explore the large scale societal, behavioural, economic, and infrastructural changes needed if we are to achieve the UK target of net zero emissions by 2050.
As part of this project, the UKERC Public Engagement Observatory is collaborating with Professor Nick Pidgeon and his team at Cardiff University to take stock of the current state of thinking around the role of civil society in the net zero transition, and develop a cross-system approach that goes beyond the traditional notions of societal acceptance. Following a comprehensive literature review, a series of case studies will be undertaken on public engagement with energy and low carbon transitions, to draw out new insights on public values, the conditionality of acceptance of net zero-related infrastructure, and challenges for public engagement. This analysis will focus on 3-4 contrasting domains of infrastructural transformation relating to net zero across whole systems (for example: large scale carbon removal technologies, placed-based renewables such as onshore wind, and smart technologies in the home).
Details on other linked projects can be found here: https://ukerc.ac.uk/project/infrastructure-transformation-the-first-10-years-of-net-zero/