
15 September 2022
Work together, create impact
All colleagues are invited to register their interest in a one-day networking event to explore how we can work together to make a greater impact on society.
Members of the Sustainable & Resilient Futures Network share a common aspiration: to address pressing global challenges through research and innovation that contribute to sustainable and resilient societies and environments.
Sustainability, in all its forms, is fundamental for societies to thrive. Concerns regarding humanity’s increasing destabilisation of the Earth and its resources, and of growing societal inequalities at local and global scales, remain central in current debates.
Climate change, socio-economic inequality, rights to resources and their distribution between human and non-human species, are major global issues that lie at the heart of the Sustainable & Resilient Futures agenda, aligning with and addressing the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Most specifically, the COP26 conference in Glasgow fostered intra and international commitments to achieving net zero emissions targets and protecting communities and habitats from the worst effects of climate change. These are key areas of research among Network members.
More broadly, the Network draws on expertise from across the University that seek to contribute to a more sustainable and resilient world.
All colleagues are invited to register their interest in a one-day networking event to explore how we can work together to make a greater impact on society.
The bold, rapid action needed to tackle the climate and ecological crisis presents an unparalleled opportunity for higher education institutions, argues a working paper from a group of academic experts from the COP26 Universities Network.
Professor Rajat Gupta has been involved in two panel discussions at COP26, considering the key issues for ensuring proper integration of climate adaptation in buildings and how communities can work together to play a more active role in the future energy system.
A changing climate poses significant risks to societies, non-human species and their habitats, the environment, and the economy. Recent events are a stark reminder that these systems should adapt to become more resilient to cope with climate risks. Understanding climate risks, evaluating the resilience of vulnerable systems and devising adaptation and mitigation strategies are research and consultancy areas covered under this theme.
Using resources responsibly to ensure they are available in the future is a critical aspect of sustainability and resilience. However, scarce resources and biodiversity have been depleted faster than they can be replaced or replenished. Alternative models for equitable sharing and effective use of finite resources; and reversing biodiversity loss are needed to reverse this situation. This theme also covers human and non-human access to resources; understanding the complex interactions between humans and wildlife; environmental and social impact assessment; biodiversity and resource use.
Cities & infrastructure are part of both the solution and the problem in building sustainable & resilient futures. For example, cities generate 60% of the Global GDP and 70% of the GHG emissions. Infrastructure either directly or indirectly influences the achievement of the SGDs. The way cities develop influences biodiversity. Our research aims to utilise the potential cities & infrastructure offer in reducing the impact of climate change, reversing biodiversity loss and enhancing health and well-being. Finding alternative, sustainable and resilient solutions to developing, operating, maintaining, reusing and disposing of these assets, is a key area of activity.
Societies across the Globe will need to transform their means of production and consumption for a sustainable and resilient future, in which every member is justly treated in economic, environmental, social and cultural terms. Sustainability goals cannot be fully realised without addressing the deep inequalities embedded within the global systems. This transformation relies heavily on substantial behavioural change at individual, organisational & institutional levels. Research and knowledge exchange under this theme includes theories of behavioural change, the role of institutions, e.g. religious, on their adherents’ behavioral commitments to protecting the environment, environmental and social justice, and conflict and climate change.
Good governance is a necessary pillar of sustainable development. It ensures appropriate structures of decision making are present and that decision-makers are accountable for the outcomes of their decisions. Our members are concerned with facilitating decision making across multiple sectors and scales; the trade-offs between equity, justice and fairness in decision-making, and ensuring that mechanisms exist to hold actors to account regarding decision-making, investment, action, and outcomes.
Learners of all ages need to develop knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to develop and implement solutions to complex and interconnected global challenges, including climate change, environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, poverty and inequality. Research and practice in this area follows the principles of UN’s Futures Literacy capability. They focus on empowering individuals, communities and societies to transform their current realities such that their futures are sustainable and resilient through education and skills development.
Become a member of the Sustainable and Resilient Futures network.
Could you contribute to reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals? If you could, join Oxford Brookes staff addressing pressing global challenges and contributing to the Sustainable & Resilient Futures agenda. ECRs, professional staff, research students, academic staff- all welcome!
The purpose of our network is to:
If partners outside of Oxford Brookes University are interested to work with the Sustainable and Resilient Futures network, please contact us via the email srfutures@brookes.ac.uk
Sustainable and Resilient Futures
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