SuScit Mailing = July/August 2008

SuScit=20 Mailing 2008

CONTENTS:

1-SuScit=20 Project update:

a-=20 SuScit Project Advisory Group =96 Meeting = Soon for Final=20 Recommendations.

2-Research:

a-=20 DEFRA: Understanding and Influencing Pro-environmental=20 Behaviour.

b-=20 United=20 Kingdom=20 Energy Research Centre (UKERC).

3-Publication:

a- Joseph=20 Rowntree Foundation Report: The Value of New = Public=20 Transport in Deprived Areas: Who benefits, How and=20 Why?

b-=20 Involve and the National Consumer Council (NCC): Deliberative Public = Engagement:=20 Nine Principles.

c-=20 Ministry of Justice: National Framework for Greater Citizen=20 Engagement.

d-=20 DEMOS Report: State of Trust-=20 How=20 to Build Better Relationships between Councils and the=20 Public.

e- Community=20 Development Foundation Publication: Faith Communities Pulling=20 Together:

4-Events:

a-=20 NESTA=20 Conference: Innovation Live.

b-=20 SDRN Annual Sustainable Development Research Conference=20 2008.

c-=20 Islington Council: Highbury Fields School Eco activities=20 Week.

d-=20 Participation Works Workshop: Ready Steady Change,=20 London.

e.=20 Fabian Society: Child Poverty Challenge=20 Conference.

f-=20 Gendersite Event: Gender and the Built=20 Environment.

5-Policy:

a-=20 Department for Communities and Local Government: The=20 Thames=20 Gateway Delivery Plan.

b-=20 DfES: The Children's Plan: building brighter = futures.

6-News:

a- London=20 Sustainable Development Commission Launches Sustain 72, the First = Private Sector=20 Housing Sustainability Community.

b-=20 Greater London=20 Authority: London=20 Waste and Recycling Board Team Announced.

c-=20 Danish = Island Achieves Impressive = Renewable=20 Power Self-sufficiency Target.

7-Funding:

a-=20 NESTA: The=20 Ashden Awards for Sustainable = Energy.

b-=20 Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform's (BERR's): Sciencewise-funded=20 Project to Assess the Public Perception of Industrial=20 Biotechnology.

8-Training=20 and Jobs:

b- Capacity=20 Global: Fundraising Workshop for Community = Projects.

c- The=20 Foundation for International Environmental Law and Capacity Global = Course:=20 Understanding Environment, Poverty & = Globalisation.

1-SuScit Project=20 Update:

a- SuScit Project Advisory = Group will=20 meet up at the end of 2008:

The=20 SuScit Project Advisory Group (PAG) is = comprised of a=20 group of experts in Sustainability and related fields and provides = advice and=20 information to the SuScit project team. Since the PAG meeting last = autumn the=20 project has successfully implemented the action research phase of the = SuScit project in the Mildmay area=20 of Islington, with excellent levels of involvement from the local = community, and=20 research and practitioner communities alike. The SuScit team=20 researchers are now in the process of writing up the workshop and = engagement=20 process and developing recommendations for the EPSRC and other research = funders. = The=20 team is also planning a final meeting of the PAG in November this year, = to=20 discuss project outcomes and final recommendations. =

2-Research:

a-DEFRA: Understanding and = Influencing=20 Pro-environmental Behaviour:

Defra=92s Public = Understanding of=20 links between Climate Change and Energy and Food consumption in the = Home is=20 the organisation=92s ongoing research programme into behaviour change = for=20 sustainable consumption and production. The research aims to provide = insights=20 into consumer behaviours, attitudes and aspirations for sustainable = consumption.=20 It will provide a greater = understanding for policy makers on the relationships between the = different=20 aspects of sustainable consumption. The findings from the research = will=20 inform, amongst others, a Behaviour Change Strategy, and the Sustainable = Consumption and Production Action Plan.

Find out more: http://r= andd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=3DMenu&Module=3DMore&Location= =3DNone&Completed=3D0&ProjectID=3D15623

b- = United=20 Kingdom Energy Research = Centre (UKERC)=20 and PSI: Low Carbon Society Modelling Research.

The Research and = Co-ordination=20 Programme of the UKERC is designed around themes which address = plainly-defined=20 problems and areas within the energy sector, with insights from = engineering, the=20 natural sciences, social sciences and economics. The intertwined nature of these = themes=20 provides a framework for research which is truly interdisciplinary and = captures=20 the systemic nature of the energy problem. PSI is leading the crosscutting = theme of=20 Energy Systems and Modelling.

Find out more: http://www.ukerc.a= c.uk/Latest%20Research.aspx

3-Publication:

a-Joseph Rouwntree Foundation Report: The Value of New = Public=20 Transport in Deprived Areas: Who benefits, How and=20 Why?

An assessment of the = value of=20 new transport services to people living in deprived neighbourhoods in=20 England, from authors=20 Karen=20 Lucas, Sophie Tyler, Georgina Christodoulou.

Regeneration = strategies for=20 deprived areas are currently under review. To date there has been little = if any=20 direct evaluation of the contribution of transport services to local=20 regeneration. This study = evaluates=20 the benefits - both monetary and quality of life - of transport services = to the=20 people who use them and to the local practitioners responsible for the = wider=20 regeneration of these neighbourhoods.

Key findings and a = pdf version of the full report can be downloaded = for free=20 from the JRF website at http://ww= w.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/details.asp?pubID=3D966

b- Involve and the = National=20 Consumer Council's (NCC):=20 Deliberative Public=20 Engagement: Nine Principles:

The document was = authored by=20 Diane Warburton at Shared Practice with the support of Involve, NCC and = Lindsey=20 Colbourne at the Sustainable Development = Commission. A=20 series of stakeholder discussions that took place between November 2007 = and=20 April 2008 contributed enormously to the content of the document. Involve and NCC see these principles precisely as a first step and = vow to=20 continue receiving feedback from stakeholders, with a view to possibly = revising=20 the principles in the future.

To download the=20 paper: http://www.inv= olve.org.uk/deliberative_principles

c- Ministry of Justice: National = Framework=20 for Greater Citizen Engagement:

A = discussion=20 paper presenting the government's commitment to look at new ways of = involving=20 the public in debates and decision-making on national = issues. =

The Governance of = Britain Green=20 Paper = sets out=20 the government's bid for the next stages of constitutional renewal. = A key theme running through the = Green=20 Paper was the importance of reinvigorating democracy. This paper proposes a framework = for=20 greater citizen engagement, using innovative methods such as citizens' = summits=20 and juries to inform national policy-making.

To read the=20 document: http://www= .justice.gov.uk/docs/citizen_engagement.pdf

d-DEMOS Report: State of=20 Trust-=20 How to Build Better = Relationships=20 Between Councils and the Public.

Authors: Faizal Farook, Melissa = Mean, Phil=20 Spires.

The publication argues = that a=20 public service reform agenda based on localism, co-production and = community=20 empowerment, seems to be consensus from all parties. However, alarmingly low levels = of public=20 trust in politics and democratic institutions are a risk to effective=20 partnership between citizen and state.

To download the=20 paper: http://www.demo= s.co.uk/publications/stateoftrust

e- Community = Development=20 Foundation Publication: Faith Communities Pulling=20 Together:

The Community = Development=20 Foundation launched a paper on the Government's new Framework to bring = people=20 with different religions and beliefs together.

To find out more, = visit: http://www.cdf.org.uk/pooled/articles/BF_DOCART/view.asp?Q=3D= BF_DOCART_303997

4-Events:

a- NESTA = Conference: Innovation=20 Live.

Date: 12 November=20

Location: Queen = Elizabeth II=20 Conference Centre, London

NESTA is organising a = joint=20 conference with the NHS Institute for Innovation & Improvement and = NHS Live=20 exploring what=92s new in the field of health innovation. =

To register for the = event,=20 visit: http://www.= nesta.org.uk/innovation-live-12-november/

b- SDRN: Annual = Sustainable=20 Development Research Network Conference 2008: =91Sustainable = Development: New=20 Issues, New Challenges=92

Date: 11=20 September

Location: RSA,=20 8 John Adam=20 Street, = London = WC2N=20 6EZ

More: http://www.sd-res= earch.org.uk/post.php?p=3D781

c- Islington Council:=20 Highbury = Fields = School - Eco activities=20 Week.

Date: 13-19 October=20

Location: Highbury = Fields=20 School.

A = week of eco=20 activities and energy efficiency tasters, including films, bike rides, = local=20 grown fruit and vegetables, and eco make-up. =

For more details call = 020 7288=20 2115 or email jmhodson@highbur= yfields.islington.sch.uk

d- Participation Works = Workshop: Ready Steady Change,=20 London

Date: 4 September, = 10am-4:30pm=20

Location:=20 London

To register for this = event,=20 visit: http://www.eventbrite.= com/event/115741185

e- Fabian Society: Child Poverty Challenge=20 Conference.

=93Child Poverty = Challenge: is it=20 the Warmth or the Wealth=94 is a Conservative Party Conference hosted by = the Fabian Society.

Date: 30 September,=20 6pm

Location:=20 Birmingham

Find out more: http:/= /fabians.org.uk/events/events/fabian-tory-cpcfringe=

f- Gendersite Event:Gender and the=20 Built Environment:

=91People working in = the built=20 environment often do not consider or are unaware of the needs of women, = which=20 represent the majority of the world's = population=92.

Date: 2=20 October

Location: Octagon, = Queen Mary=20 Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Campus.

Find out more: http://www.gendersite.org/

5-Policy:

a-Department=20 for Communities and Local Government: The=20 Thames=20 Gateway Delivery Plan:

The Thames Gateway = Delivery Plan=20 announces the details of a spending programme from 2008=962011 to = accelerate=20 regeneration in the Thames Gateway, while showing where resources are = needed=20 longer term. It also = realizes the=20 commitment to support the vision with clear cross-Government priorities = and=20 funding. It provides a = background=20 for making the best use of public investment, local ownership, big = project=20 expertise and private sector entrepreneurship.

Read the Plan Excutive summary: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/thamesgateway/pdf/564701.pdf=

b- DfES:=20 The = Children's=20 Plan: building brighter futures:

The Government aims to = make this=20 country the =91best place in the world for children and young people to = grow up.=92=20 The Children=92s Plan = shows how the=20 Department for Children, Schools and Families is planning to achieve = that. The plan=92s main priority is = to place the=20 needs of families, children and young people at the centre of the = Department=20 every action.

More information = on:http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/publications/childrensplan/down= loads/The_Childrens_Plan.pdf

6-News:

a-=20 London Sustainable = Development=20 Commission Launches Sustain 72, the First Private Sector Housing = Sustainability=20 Community:

Sustain 72 is=20 London=92s=20 first private sector housing sustainability community. It was officially = launched on the=20 4 July,=20 2008 at=20 City Hall, with an array of participants such as representatives from=20 London councils, the Third = sector,=20 energy suppliers and fuel poverty groups. The initiative is called = is=20 Sustain 72 as 72%=20 of London=92s homes are in private occupancy, and as 40%=20 of London=92s carbon emissions are produced by existing housing stock, = it is very=20 important to start addressing the build environment towards a more = sustainable=20 approach.

Find=20 out more: http://www.londonsdc.org/documents/press/sustain_72_press_rel= ease_FINAL.pdf

b-Greater=20 London authority: London = Waste and=20 Recycling Board Team Announced:

Aiming to boost = recycling in the=20 capital, The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and London Councils have = announced=20 the team who will sit on the recently-created Waste and Recycling = Board. The Board was formed as a = means to bring=20 together those involved with London=92s waste management = system in=20 order to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill. The Mayor announced in May that = he would=20 Chair the Board, which will have a budget of =A360million =96 the Mayor = has also=20 pledged up to =A324million of additional London Development Agency funds = to=20 support the work of the Board.

For=20 further information, visit: http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=3D18314

c-=20 Danish = Island Achieves Impressive = Renewable=20 Power Self-sufficiency

The=20 Danish government set the windswept = Island of = Samso a challenge back in = 1997: to=20 achieve self-sufficiency with renewable energy power in 10 years. The challenge has been largely = funded=20 through local taxes and individual investments, in one of=20 Europe's wealthier countries = --=20 Denmark's GDP per capita was = more than=20 $35,000 in 2006. The = islanders have=20 met the target and, in the process, created a global showcase for one of = the=20 prize export industries in Denmark: the wind-turbine=20 industry.

For=20 more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL2862419820080818=

6-Funding:

a-=20 The Ashden Awards for Sustainable=20 Energy.

The=20 Ashden Awards support innovative = sustainable-energy=20 projects run by local authorities, businesses, and charities/community=20 organisations.

Winners will receive = =A330,000 in=20 prize money for project development, with a second prize of =A315,000. = There is=20 also a special category for schools.

Find=20 out more on: http://www.ashdenawards.org= /our_work

b-=20 Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform's (BERR's):=20 Sciencewise-funded Project to = Assess the=20 Public Perception of Industrial Biotechnology:

The=20 Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Growth Team (IB-IGT) is run by = BERR's Bio-science and Chemicals Unit. Aiming to help address one of = the major=20 challenges facing today's society - limited resources of raw materials = and=20 energy - BERR is now seeking an expert contractor or consortium to carry = out a=20 public dialogue exercise to ascertain public views, aspirations and = concerns=20 regarding the use and potential development of industrial biotechnology. = The=20 results of this dialogue will be considered alongside the views of other = stakeholders and will help to inform recommendations made by BERR on = future=20 industrial biotechnology policy.

Timetables, Invitation = to Tender=20 and the relevant documents are available at http:= //www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk/cms/tender-opportunities

7-Training and=20 Jobs:

a- Capacity Global: = Fundraising=20 Workshop for Community Projects:

Capacity Global is = offering a=20 free, half-day workshop for residents who aspire to develop or are = already=20 involved in community projects.

Date: 23 October,=20 10am-12:30pm

Location: Mildmay Community Centre.

The event will present = the=20 information needed to put together winning proposals for raising money = for=20 community projects. To book a place, call Iara=20 Iudicissa on 020 3117 0102 or = e-mail: iara@capacity.org.uk.=

b- The Foundation for=20 International Environmental Law and Capacity Global Course: = Understanding=20 Environment, Poverty & Globalisation:

Date: 15-17=20 September

Location:=20 Ruskin = College,=20 Oxford.

The course is run in = partnership=20 by Capacity Global and the Foundation for International Environmental = Law and=20 Development and aims to explore the connection between poverty = alleviation and=20 environmental protection and look at solutions in the local, national = and global=20 context. The course is = free for=20 anyone receiving benefits or who do not have formal=20 qualifications.

To book a place, = please call:=20 020 3117 0102 or e-mail: Odiri@capacity.org.uk