cast.ac.uk

Our Vision

The Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) will be a global hub for understanding the systemic and society-wide transformations that are required to address climate change. At its core, is a fundamental question of enormous social significance: how can we as a society live differently - and better - in ways that meet the urgent need for rapid and far-reaching emission reductions?

People at the heart of transformations

We want to understand how people can participate in transformation in their multiple roles as citizens, consumers, parents, employees, business leaders, policy-makers. This means recognising that people can act both directly to reduce emissions – like driving less – but equally have the ability to shape wider structural change – like changing organisational practices and shaping policies.

A focus on values and co-benefits

We set out to align the positive outcomes of action on climate change with those in other domains like health and wellbeing. CAST will seek to identify low-carbon futures and actions that also provide other co-benefits - like cleaner air, lower bills, more resilient or fairer communities.

"We want to work closely with people and organisations to achieve positive low-carbon futures — transforming the way we live our lives, and reconfiguring organisations and cities."

Prof. Lorraine Whitmarsh, CAST director

Explore our four areas of focus

Find out why we are focusing on four key areas: Diet, Mobility, Material Consumption and Thermal Comfort.

Our including policy briefings, working papers, academic articles and other resources explore the science of climate action.

We believe effective change requires working with people to understand their values and needs.

People want a carrot (not stick) approach to low carbon food

This piece was originally published by Business Green and is reproduced here with their permission. Recent headlines that the UK government might slap a carbon tax on burgers and the great British banger have reignited controversy about what tackling the climate will mean for our food. The rumours of an…

Tracking the human cost of climate change: The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change

The Lancet is a heavyweight medical journal – one of the world’s most influential and highly cited. It uses its political heft to make global challenges part of the remit of medical science. In recent years, it has published scientific reviews (called ‘Commissions’) on Migration, on Sexual and Reproductive Rights,…

How has Covid-19 affected low-carbon behaviours and climate attitudes?

Measures to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic are probably the most significant disruption to lifestyles in living memory. And while the pandemic has impacted lives and livelihoods globally, it has also created an unprecedented and perhaps unique ‘moment of change’ during which many climate-relevant behaviours have been upended almost overnight….

SYNIAD 2020: Have you got an idea that could change the world?

SYNIAD is a chance for students to shine a light on their sustainability idea and make a change to the world as we know it. SYNIAD (Welsh for idea – pronounced SUN-YAD in case you were wondering) is once again being launched this year to help students become innovators by…

Our Vision

People at the heart of transformations

A focus on values and co-benefits

"We want to work closely with people and organisations to achieve positive low-carbon futures — transforming the way we live our lives, and reconfiguring organisations and cities."

Explore our four areas of focus

Browse our resources

People at the heart of change

News from CAST

People want a carrot (not stick) approach to low carbon food

Tracking the human cost of climate change: The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change

How has Covid-19 affected low-carbon behaviours and climate attitudes?

SYNIAD 2020: Have you got an idea that could change the world?

NEWSLETTER