Participant comments and reflections on planet 2050

Some of the thoughts and observations of planet 2050 participants can be viewed here.

Planet 2050 Workshop October 26-31st, Lund Sweden

At the end of some leave in October, I have been invited to attend a workshop called the Planet2050 in Lund, Sweden, from the 26th to the 31st.

http://www.theplanet2050.org/

While there, I’ll be sharing insights and lessons from EPA’s Rising Above Hot Air workshop on Tuesday September 30th.

That said, frankly, I am humbled by the attendance list, and need some help from people back home. I will be writing up a day journal of the workshop on a blog, summarising and reflecting on proceedings. I am inviting comments and responses from interested people, which I’ll try to share at the workshop, and after.

The aim of the workshop is to

(i) describe a number of desirable futures for Earth between the years 2030 and 2050;

(ii) explore pathways to move from the present situation toward those futures; and

(iii) identify more immediate constraints to, and opportunities for, moving human environment systems onto the more desirable pathways.

Each participant has been asked to provide a short vision statement for a desirable future and pathways there, which I attach for your information.

The organisers intend a book to come out of it, amongst other communications.

 

 

What assures consumers on climate change

This study was conducted by the NetBalance Foundation on behalf of EPA Victoria, amongst others.

Oil and house pricing vulnerability study

This study by researchers from Griffith University compares 2001 and 2006 census data to identify areas of high and low vulnerability to oil and housing prices in major capital cities. The index is then mapped using a GIS. Its a relatively simple calculation of car ownership, journey to work, mortgages and income, so does not include secondary impacts such as cost of living more generally, but the maps are interesting none the less.

American Psychological Association on environment

A bunch of interesting snippets from a newspaper report on the August 2008 (US) APAs conference on environment and behaviour.

Victorian Utility Consumption Survey 2007

This is a study focusing on Victorian concession holders’ use of utilities (energy and water), produced by the Department of Health. It is noteworthy for this blog as having a significant focus on the impacts of energy prices, and thus climate change exposure of low-income households. There is a lot of data, and full technical / social scientific details available.

Greenlight report 2008

The Greenlight report is a review of the attitudes and behaviour of Victorian’s towards the environment and sustainability, with a particular focus on household and transport behaviours. Running for the first time in 2008, and planned to run annually, it has the potential to mirror the NSW ‘Who Cares Study’ over time. Unlike that report, it does not (yet?) cover indications of the level of knowledge and understanding, nor as wide a range of behaviours and civic participation. It has largely been produced by Sustainability Victoria with the support of the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

‘Who cares about water and climate change’

This is a 2007 supplementary study on public water and climate change perceptions, building on the longrunning (1992) and comprehensive ‘Who Cares About the Environment’ study by the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change.