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Net-zero city challenge

International writing workshop, 28-29th October 2024

Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona

 

Context

The Net-Zero / carbon neutral transition is urgent … but it’s much more than a technical task.  For success, technology and material changes have to somehow fit with economic, social, political, ecological and cultural systems – all of them complex, inter-connected, dynamic and controversial. 

This calls not only for ‘more research’ but also new kinds of research – inter/trans-disciplinary,  cognitive / emergent systems, action-oriented and co-produced

This workshop aims to explore and mobilize such research – framed as extended dimensions of collaborative thinking and action:

  • Wider community of ‘multi-helix’ stakeholders, beyond the experts and elites
  • Deeper layers of value, beyond the material and functional
  • Further horizons of change, looking beyond ‘problem-fix’ towards transformations

 

Workshop aims

  • explore the urban climate challenge & the many inter-connected gaps & barriers:
  • co-create ideas on enablers & pathways for transformation (to be followed up)

Practical outcomes: 

  • Kick-off for the special issue / co-authored book
  • Preparation for a major Horizon EU proposal
  • Build a community for continuing learning & practice

 

Outline program

28th October

  • Introductions and scoping
  • System / challenge mapping: (focused on case studies)
  • Scenario / futures mapping: (focused on case studies) writing session –

29th October

  • Enterprise / vision mapping: (focused on case studies)
  • Synergy / pathway mapping: (focused on research methods) writing session –
  • Synthesis & inter-connections: (focused on research methods) writing session –
  • Action planning & next steps

We form sub-groups to work intensively on selected themes & inter-connections 

  1. Practical case studies & applications: g. housing retrofit: urban transport: circular economy:  
  2. Research methods & perspectives: g. carbon accounting: policy analysis: social justice: social practice: ‘collective climate intelligence’ etc
The University of Manchester