Summary

This research examines four key areas of household consumption that inhibit our ability to achieve sustainable development: transport, energy, water and food. Four themes are developed: how consumption can be measurd and evaluated; how sustainable behaviours and incentives are being developed and implemented; identifying links between consumption, health and well-being; and finally how matters of household consumption are being governed through institutional practice and participation

Funding Agency

EPA

Programme

STRIVE

Person Months

84

Summary

This research will co-create a toolkit for good practice communication between researchers, policy makers and intermediaries such as journalists and NGOs working in the fields of biodiversity, climate change and water

Funding Agency

EPA

Programme

STRIVE

Project Type

Desk Study

Person Months

8

Summary

The Stern Review (2006), which examined the economics of global climate change, brought unprecendented attention to the economy-environment interface and reiterated calls for more sustainable development. Although highly contested, sustainable development is frequently conceptualised as that which contributes to social, economic and environmental well-being for present and future generations. While many aspects of modern life are now globalised the ethos of sustainable development seeks to foster more integrated and inclusive practices that facilitate 'thinking globally, [and] acting locally'. It is in this context that social economy enterprises - defined as non-profit activities designed to combat exclusion through socially useful goods or services sold - have been identified by the United Nations, the European Union and many national governments as a mechanism through which economic growth can contribute to sustainable social development, inclusion and well-being. Within the social economy arena environmentally-focused social economy (ESE) enterprises, such as community-based recycling organisations, gardening initiatives and fuel poverty programmes, explicitly engage with all three pillars of sustainable development. While such initiatives have been experiencing a period of expansion in the European Union no systematic analysis has been undertaken of their activities, the conditions that shape those activities or the contribution they are making towards sustainable development in Ireland. In order to address this analytical deficiency this project will extend theoretical debates about sustainability and the social economy, particularly drawing out issues of scale and governance, through an empirically grounded evaluation of ESE enterprises. Methodologically the project comprises a phased multi-method research programme including a nationwide survey and mapping exercise, in-depth case study analysis and the development of a sustainability impacts procedure. The research findings will expand understanding of the sustainability-social economy interface within the current development context in Ireland and will be of interest to domestic and international academic and policy making communities.

Funding Agency

IRCHSS

Programme

Thematic Grant Award

Project Type

Applied

Person Months

36

Summary

Concerns remain in society about the risks to human health and the environment associated with waste incineration and with the toxicity of the by-products that incineration creates despite the reassurances of regulators, politicians and industry. This project examines and evaluates the ways in which debates about risks related to incineration have been conducted in Ireland in order to facilitate a better understanding of how incineration risk communication is produced and received.

Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Programme

ERTDI 2000-2006

Summary

While effective biodiversity planning involves a detailed understanding of natural processes and ecosystem functioning it is becoming increasingly apparent that successful protection and enhancement of biodiversity will also require a clear understanding of the politics of policy making and a supportive public. In order to inform management practices in Ireland key actors and publics (including children) will be engaged in discussions concerning the protection and enhancement of biodiversity. This qualitative data will provide essential information on fundamental issues of power, politics and participation in biodiversity planning and detailed analysis of the data will generate recommendations for improved mechanisms to promote positive biodiversity management.

Funding Agency

EPA

Programme

ERTDI - BIodiversity