Inclusive and Prosperous Futures
Delivering environmental sustainability through a just transition that enables communities to thrive.
Inclusive and Prosperous Futures is informing the search for sustainable futures for all. Through collaborative, co-productive and interdisciplinary research we envisage an equitable sustainable future that does not negatively impact particular segments of society. We aim to overcome intersecting inequalities (e.g. geography, gender, race, class, disability, education), many of which are exacerbated by environmental crisis, to ensure a socially just and inclusive sustainable future.
Thinking more globally, and working from the micro to macro scale, we seek to include the voices and experiences of individuals and communities through to large-scale global organisations and policymakers. In doing so, we will open up diverse critical debate on how sustainable endeavours can ensure inclusivity and prosperity for all, whilst avoiding unintended consequences.
Case Studies
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One Bin to Rule Them All
Have you ever been frustrated by the complexities of household recycling? Unsure about what goes in which bin? This innovative project seeks to address these issues to improve household plastic recycling.
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Social justice
How can we make climate adaptation more socially just? Decisions on how to adapt to the impact of extreme weather events caused by climate change, such as flooding and heat waves, often rely on understanding only physical factors. Research from The University of Manchester has highlighted how we can support socially-vulnerable and climate-disadvantaged communities.
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Energy poverty
How can we highlight the growing issue of energy poverty in the private rented sector and offer solutions to help address it for those affected? The University of Manchester's development of the Energy Poverty Dashboard is bringing to light essential data that will help inform future energy policies across Europe.
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Inclusive and Prosperous Futures Challenge Lead
Dr Helen Holmes, Lecturer in Sociology, Faculty of Humanities.
Dr Helen Holmes is a Lecturer in Sociology and Sustainable Consumption. Her interdisciplinary work explores materiality, consumption and diverse forms of economy, with a focus on inclusivity and community. Dr Holmes is part of the management committee of the Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI), a member of the Morgan Centre for Everyday Lives, and a research collaborator of the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub. She is also Co-I on the UKRI Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Grant 'One Bin to Rule Them All' investigating a circular economy of plastic waste.