CAST Briefings

CAST briefings provide a concise summary of our research and its relevancy to climate change policies within the area of social transformations.  

They align with key issues affecting social and behavioural change at scale in the public debate and provide specific policy recommendations and recommended courses of action for decision-makers. 

They are intended to be a useful resource for academics, policy-makers and decision-makers working within the area of social transformations to help build rapid consent for net zero and minimise the risk of harmful backlash. 

To stay up to date on our latest CAST briefings, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on BlueSky and LinkedIn.

CAST Briefing 35: Clamping down on fossil fuel advertising: What industry professionals want policymakers to know (and do)

CAST Briefing 35: Clamping down on fossil fuel advertising: What industry professionals want policymakers to know (and do)

January 2025

This briefing is for politicians and policymakers working on climate, media and communications.

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CAST Briefing 34: Leading by example with low-carbon behaviours: how politicians, celebrities and business leaders can stimulate behaviour change and increase trust

CAST Briefing 34: Leading by example with low-carbon behaviours: how politicians, celebrities and business leaders can stimulate behaviour change and increase trust

December 2024

This briefing is aimed at politicians, policymakers, celebrities, company bosses and leaders of all kinds.

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CAST Briefing 32: Navigating a new normal: adapting to rising temperatures in the UK

CAST Briefing 32: Navigating a new normal: adapting to rising temperatures in the UK

November 2024

This briefing is for policymakers, local authorities and governments across the UK.

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CAST Briefing 33: When, how, and why do politicians engage with climate change? A systematic review

CAST Briefing 33: When, how, and why do politicians engage with climate change? A systematic review

October 2024

This briefing is for politicians and other policymakers working on climate policy, as well as academics studying climate politics and policy making.

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CAST Briefing 30: Who holds the power? Challenges and opportunities for Citizens’ Assemblies: A briefing for policymakers and practitioners

CAST Briefing 30: Who holds the power? Challenges and opportunities for Citizens’ Assemblies: A briefing for policymakers and practitioners

July 2024

This briefing highlights some of the key design features that need to be got right – in particular, regarding who gets to decide what the CA is about and what happens as a result of CAs. This briefing is based on a CAST report: CAST Guidelines: How can citizens’ assemblies help navigate the systemic transformations required by the polycrisis?

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CAST Briefing 29: Five principles for good public engagement: How to get people involved in the climate conversation

CAST Briefing 29: Five principles for good public engagement: How to get people involved in the climate conversation

July 2024

This briefing is aimed at politicians, policymakers and practitioners working to engage people with climate action and sustainable behaviour change. It draws on CAST’s extensive evidence base, as well as wider research.

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CAST Briefing 31: How Wales can speed up decarbonisation: Insights from transport and mobility, food and agriculture, and the circular and sharing economy

CAST Briefing 31: How Wales can speed up decarbonisation: Insights from transport and mobility, food and agriculture, and the circular and sharing economy

July 2024

This briefing is intended as a resource for the Welsh Government and those interested in the policy landscape of Wales. It summarises the findings from a series of workshops, organised by CAST, to appraise and evaluate the feasibility of a series of Welsh Government policies for reducing carbon emissions. This also explored the barriers and facilitators to action.

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CAST Briefing 26: Public perceptions of climate change and policy action in the UK, China, Sweden and Brazil from 2020 – 2023

CAST Briefing 26: Public perceptions of climate change and policy action in the UK, China, Sweden and Brazil from 2020 – 2023

April 2024

This briefing note is intended as a resource for specialists, researchers, policymakers, and others interested in public perceptions of climate change in the UK, China, Sweden and Brazil.

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CAST Briefing 25: Reducing domestic water use: learning from everyday routines: A briefing for policy makers and innovators

CAST Briefing 25: Reducing domestic water use: learning from everyday routines: A briefing for policy makers and innovators

April 2024

This briefing note explores how insights from everyday life – particularly from research that investigates the diversity and complexity of people’s ordinary patterns of water use – can support impactful, systemic changes to reduce water demand and its associated energy use.

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CAST Briefing 24: ‘Moments of Change’ for Low-Carbon Behaviour

CAST Briefing 24: ‘Moments of Change’ for Low-Carbon Behaviour

March 2024

This briefing note is intended as a resource for decision-makers and other stakeholders who aim to improve the design and implementation of climate policy.

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CAST Briefing 23: How can you change sustainability behaviours in your workplace?

CAST Briefing 23: How can you change sustainability behaviours in your workplace?

February 2024

This briefing note is a resource for businesses and organisations of any size that want to help employees be more sustainable at work.

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CAST Briefing 22: Academic researchers’ perceptions of climate action in UK universities: A briefing for the university sector

CAST Briefing 22: Academic researchers’ perceptions of climate action in UK universities: A briefing for the university sector

January 2024

This briefing note is intended as a resource for all those working in the university sector.

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CAST Briefing 19: Managing Water Demand in a Changing Climate

CAST Briefing 19: Managing Water Demand in a Changing Climate

October 2023

This briefing note is intended as a resource for academics and stakeholders in the water industry who are exploring options for managing water resources in the context of a changing climate.

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CAST Briefing 18: Motivating low-carbon behaviours in the workforce – Insights from Cornwall Council

CAST Briefing 18: Motivating low-carbon behaviours in the workforce – Insights from Cornwall Council

October 2023

The briefing note is intended as a resource for local authorities and other organisations wanting to encourage low-carbon behaviours in their workforce to help meet internal carbon reduction targets.

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CAST Briefing 17: Public worry about climate change and energy security in the cost-of-living crisis

CAST Briefing 17: Public worry about climate change and energy security in the cost-of-living crisis

November 2022

The briefing note is intended as a useful resource for academics, decision makers and other stakeholder who are interested in public responses to climate change, energy security and affordability.

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CAST Briefing 16: What advice do climate change advisory bodies provide to policymakers? Results from the first longitudinal analysis of the UK Climate Change Committee’s policy recommendations.

CAST Briefing 16: What advice do climate change advisory bodies provide to policymakers? Results from the first longitudinal analysis of the UK Climate Change Committee’s policy recommendations.

November 2022

This briefing is intended as a resource for academics, decision makers and other stakeholders who are interested in the advice provided to policymakers by climate change advisory bodies.

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Travel attitudes and behaviours in Cardiff 2021: Results from the first wave of the Cardiff Travel Survey conducted in May-July 2021 

Travel attitudes and behaviours in Cardiff 2021: Results from the first wave of the Cardiff Travel Survey conducted in May-July 2021 

September 2022

This briefing note is intended as a resource for academics, decision makers and other stakeholders who aim to improve the design and implementation of climate policy.

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CAST Briefing 13: Coronavirus and Climate Change in the United Kingdom: Perceptions, Policies and Trade-Offs

CAST Briefing 13: Coronavirus and Climate Change in the United Kingdom: Perceptions, Policies and Trade-Offs

February 2022

This briefing note is intended as a resource for academics, decision makers and other stakeholders who are communicating climate change post-covid.

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CAST Briefing 11: Policy feedback and climate change

CAST Briefing 11: Policy feedback and climate change

January 2022

This briefing note is intended as a resource for decision makers and other stakeholders who aim to improve the design and implementation of climate policy.

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CAST Briefing 10: Public perceptions of climate change and policy action in the UK, China, Sweden and Brazil.

CAST Briefing 10: Public perceptions of climate change and policy action in the UK, China, Sweden and Brazil.

November 2021

This briefing and associated infographics are intended as a useful resource for practitioners and researchers who are interested in public climate change opinions and societal responses to climate change.

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CAST Briefing 09: UK public support for net zero policies

CAST Briefing 09: UK public support for net zero policies

October 2021

This briefing is intended as a useful resource for practitioners and researchers who are interested in public climate change opinions and societal responses to climate change.

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CAST Briefing 08: UK perceptions of climate change and lifestyle change: results from CAST’s wave 1 survey on public perceptions of climate change and the four areas of diet, transport, heating and consumption

CAST Briefing 08: UK perceptions of climate change and lifestyle change: results from CAST’s wave 1 survey on public perceptions of climate change and the four areas of diet, transport, heating and consumption

March 2021

This briefing and associated infographics are intended as a useful resource for practitioners and researchers who are interested in public climate change opinions and societal responses to climate change.

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CAST Briefing 07: How are universities planning to tackle emissions associated with flying and food?

CAST Briefing 07: How are universities planning to tackle emissions associated with flying and food?

March 2021

This briefing note is intended as a resource for university sustainability teams and anyone interested in emissions reduction in workplaces and higher education.

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CAST Briefing 05: Tracking the effect of Covid-19 on low-carbon behaviours and attitudes to climate change

CAST Briefing 05: Tracking the effect of Covid-19 on low-carbon behaviours and attitudes to climate change

December 2020

This is part of a series of CAST Briefing Papers which are intended as an accessible resource for researchers and practitioners working on societal responses to climate change.

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CAST Briefing 04: How has Covid-19 impacted low carbon lifestyles and attitudes towards climate action?

CAST Briefing 04: How has Covid-19 impacted low carbon lifestyles and attitudes towards climate action?

August 2020

This briefing is intended as a resource for both academic and non-academic teams engaged in climate change mitigation and adaptation planning, particularly those interested in societal responses to climate change.

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CAST Briefing 02: Public opinion in a time of climate emergency

CAST Briefing 02: Public opinion in a time of climate emergency

September 2019

This briefing is designed as a resource for professionals whose work includes the communication of climate change, and for those with a wider interest in the public understanding of climate change.

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