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Summary information

Study title

Public Engagement for ‘Desirable’ and ‘Feasible’ Visions of Radical Lifestyle Change in the UK, China and Sweden, 2020-2022

Creator

Cherry, C, Cardiff University
Verfuerth, C, Cardiff University
Demski, C, University of Bath

Study number / PID

857026 (UKDA)

10.5255/UKDA-SN-857026 (DOI)

Data access

Restricted

Series

Not available

Abstract

This data deposit covers the Data produced within projects from CAST Theme 1: Visioning - What could low-carbon transformed futures look like? We know that if we want to tackle climate change and limit global temperature rises to within 1.5oC, a rapid transformation will be required in every sector of the economy and society. We also know that technological solutions, such as carbon capture and storage and zero-emission airplanes, are not yet proven. As such, this goal cannot be achieved with substantial cuts to the emissions associated with everyday lifestyles, such as those produced through four key areas: how we heat our homes, how we travel, the food we eat, and the things we buy. In the UK, public concern about climate change is at a record high, with 70% of people believing that drastic changes are needed in the way we live in order to tackle climate change. However, questions remain about what transformational lifestyle changes might actually look like. With the public so deeply embedded in the success of such a transformation, it will be essential that any transition is shaped by what is socially acceptable/desirable, taking account of the existing local context and community. We aimed to explore what feasible and desirable low-carbon futures might look like with members of the public in the UK, China and Sweden. Covering how futures might evolve across the four lifestyle areas (food, shopping, travel and heating), we discussed a range of options for achieving lifestyles choices compatible with a 1.5oC future and what they might mean for peoples’ everyday lives. Specifically, discussions focused on the everyday futures of food, shopping, transport and housing. Building on established techniques for engaging publics with climate and energy topics, deliberative visioning workshops were designed with the aim of providing an open space for participants to explore and engage with new, unfamiliar or challenging possibilities and reflexive discussions around...
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Topics

Natural environmentPoliticsScience and technologySociety and culturePsychology

Keywords

CLIMATE CHANGELIFESTYLE AND HEALTHFUTURE SOCIETYENVIRONMENT POLICYSUSTAINABILITYCARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONSPUBLIC OPINION2024

Methodology

Data collection period

01/12/2020 - 01/07/2022

Country

United Kingdom, China, Sweden

Time dimension

Not available

Analysis unit

Individual
Group

Universe

Not available

Sampling procedure

Not available

Kind of data

Numeric
Text
Still image

Data collection mode

We developed two complimentary future oriented approaches for exploring what desirable sustainable lifestyles might look like. The first was a more traditionally deliberative approach. We presented participants with the full set of low-carbon lifestyle cards, that detailed a range of emissions reductions strategies for each lifestyle area. After discussing each of these strategies in small groups, participants were asked to reflect overnight on what a desirable low-carbon future might look like and to choose a set of low-carbon lifestyle cards that reflected their personal preferences.The second approach took the form of a more creative visions method. In small groups, we guided participants in imagining what a low-carbon future might look like for their place and community in 2050. Participants debated what had changed in each lifestyle area, and also in society more widely, for example how infrastructure, regulations, or social norms might have changed. Participants then took part in a persona development task (Cherry et al., 2023) to develop a set of characters that live in that future and imagine the different ways they live low-carbon lifestyles in each future location. A set of low-carbon lifestyle cards was selected for each character to reflect this.While the Chinese and Swedish workshops largely followed the same process as those conducted in the UK, a few alterations were required to accommodate for their different cultural contexts. Most significantly, the heating lifestyle area was omitted from these workshops, which therefore only included discussions around the areas of food, shopping and travel. This choice was made because the substantially different heating and housing infrastructures in both China and Sweden, meant that the materials would have been inappropriate for discussion and comparison. The lifestyle cards for food, shopping and travel were translated into the local languages (Swedish and Mandarin Chinese) and the visuals on the cards were adapted where appropriate.

Funding information

Grant number

ES/S012257/1

Access

Publisher

UK Data Service

Publication year

2024

Terms of data access

The UK Data Archive has granted a dissemination embargo. The embargo will end on 30 April 2025 and the data will then be available in accordance with the access level selected.

Related publications

Not available