DAY 2 of the Futurebuild Conference will explore the nature of Changing and especially ‘behaviour change’ (the second most sought topic in the 2022 Futurebuild survey after energy). We know that an urgent transition is required but how can we make the necessary changes? What does the transition involve? How can we bring others along with us?
Edge Debate #141: 11.15 – 12.15
The Big Behaviour Debate: Changing our professional and personal behaviour so we can live within planetary boundaries.
Our main challenge in responding positively to the impacts of climate and ecological breakdown is social and not technical. As the recent report from the House of Lord’s Environmental and Climate Change Committee (In our hands: behaviour change for climate and environmental goals) explained – “32% of emissions reduction up to 2024 requires individuals and households to adopt low carbon technologies, choose low carbon products and reduce carbon-intensive consumption.”
We know that we have to live within planetary boundaries if we are to have a future and that we owe a future to the young and future generations. Our responsibility to consider the ‘future’ inevitably impacts on our decision making today. We know that we must stop the increase in global heating below the 2°C agreed in Paris and that we absolutely cannot afford an increase of 2-3°C that we are currently heading towards. How can the necessary changes be welcomed as benefits and liberation and not as deprivation?
We first discussed this issue at Ecobuild in 2009 and ‘Behaviour change’ was the second most highly rated topic for discussion in a recent Futurebuild survey and we know that there is concern about ‘climate change’ amongst the general public.
FUTUREBUILD PROPOSITION No 5:
We have the capacity to change the way we work and live our lives to create a fairer world within planetary boundaries.
Chair: Dr Viktoria Spaiser, Associate Professor in Sustainability Research, University of Leeds
How a Wellbeing of Future Generations Act for England will inspire change
Daniel Zeichner, MP, Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Future Generations
Empowering young people to deliver change
Anna Burrows, Chief Executive, See It, Be It
With” traditional economics” continuing to fail in the face of our multiple current challenges, what is the new economics teaching that is needed?
Dr Christian Spielmann, Reader of Economics Education, University of Bristol
Achieving change in the built environment
Dr Niamh Murtagh, Principal Research Fellow, Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, UCL
Edge Debate #142: 12.30 – 13.15
Facing Challenges: Change management
The aim of ‘change management’ is to implement strategies for effecting change and enabling adaptation for change. This involves identifying goals and processes for making the transition.
FUTUREBUILD PROPOSITION No 6:
We will have to change the way that we do things to achieve net zero carbon at scale
Chair: David Partridge, Chairman Related Argent and Governance Board Chair, Net Zero Building Standard
How is ‘change’ to be achieved?
Elspeth Kirkman, Chief Programmes Officer, NESTA
How much change did ‘Modernise or Die’ achieve change? And what I would recommend today.
Mark Farmer, Chief Executive, Cast Consultancy
Behaviour change - voluntary, legislated, economically managed or a combination?
Andrew Simms, Coordinator of the Rapid Transition Alliance and co-director of the NewWeather Institute
Edge Debate #143: 13.30-14.15
Activism: Understanding social change
In November 2023 George Monbiot wrote: “ Nothing can now be achieved without mass
But...this is only part of the challenge. We also need to translate our demands into action,
which requires political, economic, cultural and technological change. All are necessary,
none are sufficient. Only together can they amount to the change we need to see.”
So, how do we achieve that critical mass so that people embrace change as a way to improve our lives for the long term rather than as a threat to our current living standards? How can we make change inclusive and fair for all?
FUTUREBUILD PROPOSITION No 7:
A critical mass of people can embrace change as a way to improve our lives in a way that is fair for all and for the long term rather than as a threat to our current living standards
Chair: Areeba Hamid, Joint Executive Director, Greenpeace
How to inspire mass social change
Dr Jennifer Rudd, Senior Lecturer in Innovation and Engagement, University of Swansea
Mobilising the emerging generation of leader
Nicola Kench, Director, Groundswell Ecosystems
Energising Communities with Active Buildings
Professor Mark Gillott, Chair in Sustainable Building Design, Department of Architecture & Built Environment, University of Nottingham
&
Charles Bradshaw-Smith, CEO, SmartKlub Ltd.
Edge Debate 144: 14.30 – 15.30
Wise heads: Time for reflection and inspiration for change
This is not a new discussion – we have had at least 15 sessions at Futurebuild (ecobuild) on the topic over the last 15 years. What is different is that the timescale has dramatically shortened. Jonathon Porritt warns “Who knows what lies beyond this decade? But if we haven’t dramatically changed our ways by then, genuine hope will have become the scarcest resource on earth.”
FUTUREBUILD PROPOSITION NO 8:
Changing how we do things is the critical challenge for us all.
Chair: Baroness Parminter, Chair of the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee
The benefits of living a 1.5degree lifestyle
Lewis Akenji, Managing Director, Hot or Cool Institute
Changing behaviour, increasing fairness and equity
Paul Chatterton, Professor of Urban Geography, University of Leeds; member of the Rapid Transition Alliance and author of the forthcoming How to Save the City: a guide for emergency action.
Thinking circular, changing behaviour in the built environment
Jane Manning, Director, Allies and Morrison Urban Practitioners