Theme 1: Visioning – What could low-carbon transformed futures look like?

Theme leads:

Summary: 

In CAST Theme 1: Visioning, we are examining feasible and desirable visions for low-carbon futures – in other words, we ask: ‘what could sustainable transformed societies look like?’.

We’re diving deeper into public preferences for behaviours that might be part of low-carbon futures, such as active travel and reduced meat consumption, and how these vary within the UK and across other countries.

We make use of the data CAST produced in Phase 1, including interactive visioning workshops, policy roundtables and public perceptions surveys. We also analyse data from external sources, as well as collecting new survey data.

The core aims of Theme 1 are:

  • Re-imagine the ways society can be configured.
  • Build knowledge surrounding public perceptions of and engagement with climate change.

Projects we’re currently working on:

Public perceptions of climate change and transformative action

Project lead: Prof Wouter Poortinga

We conducted a 2025 wave of the CAST survey, which allows us to track public perceptions on climate change over time. Additional survey waves are planned for 2026 and 2027 to extend the time series. We have also scheduled targeted surveys focusing on ‘sticky topics’ (e.g. flying), where attitudes and behaviours are particularly resistant to change. By working closely with data users, we aim to maximise the usability, relevance, and impact of the data.

Embedding public perspectives and social science into policy-making

Project lead: Dr Christina Demski

Through data user workshops, we aimed to identify the needs of key stakeholders to inform CAST data collection, including priority topics and best practices of embedding social science evidence into policymaking. Policy roundtables have included discussion of research topics and evidence needs of national and devolved policymakers. Two policy roundtables held to date have facilitated discussion of research priorities and evidence needs among national and devolved policymakers.

Resources:

Partnership with environmental charity Hubbub on public engagement and behaviour change

Project lead: Prof Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE & Prof Wouter Poortinga

CAST has an ongoing partnership with award-winning environmental charity Hubbub on public engagement and behaviour change.  Building on earlier collaborations through CAST’s Impact Fund and engagement activities on sustainable diets, the partnership supports the co-development and testing of research-informed approaches to encouraging climate-friendly behaviours, drawing on Hubbub’s extensive delivery experience and CAST’s social science research expertise.

Resources:

Partnership with Ipsos on public attitudes to net zero and climate policies

Project lead: Prof Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE

CAST has an ongoing partnership with global market research leader Ipsos which focuses on survey and polling work. Building on Phase 1, where we conducted multiple surveys on public support for climate policies, the second phase of our partnership continues to identify bespoke projects we can collaborate on. Recent outputs include the Net Zero Living 2024 report on engaging the public on net zero living.

Resources:

Public engagement and visioning toolkit for deliberating sticky topics

Project lead: Dr Briony Latter & Dr Caroline Verfuerth

We are producing a ‘how-to’ guide for workshops exploring how people envisage the future in the context of climate change. This will be accompanied by case studies on the future of sustainable sport, low-carbon and equitable food systems, and low-carbon living in Wales. The toolkit aims to help users improve engagement with climate change and other ‘sticky topics’ as well as help people have meaningful and challenging conversations about how the future is going to change (and how they want it to change).

Resources:

Impacts of climate change on low carbon transport

Project lead: Alexander Shaw

By assessing heat risks to public transport and active travel in Greater Manchester, we aim to identify hotspots on the transport network that are at risk from disruption during hot weather. Outputs include journal articles and bespoke outputs produced for Transport for Greater Manchester.

Developing the CAST Data Portal

Project lead: Dr Christina Demski & Dr Mark Wilson

The CAST Data Portal is a free, publicly accessible resource for stakeholders, providing interactive access to key data on public views on climate change and climate action. The team is updating and developing the portal with the latest data from the 2025 wave of the CAST survey, ensuring it remains a timely evidence base for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore trends, compare groups, and inform engagement and policy decisions.

Resources:
  • (2024) CAST Briefing 26: Public perceptions of climate change and policy action in the UK, China, Sweden and Brazil from 2020 – 2023
    • (2024) CAST Survey infographics: Public perceptions of climate change and policy action in the UK, China, Sweden and Brazil
  • (2022) CAST Briefing 17: Public worry about climate change and energy security in the cost-of-living crisis
  • (2021) CAST Briefing 10: Public perceptions of climate change and policy action in the UK, China, Sweden and Brazil 
    • (2021) CAST Survey infographics: Public perceptions of climate change and policy action in the UK, China, Sweden and Brazil

Interested in partnering with CAST on a specific project? Discover how we can support you, or get in touch with us directly via our Contact Form to find out more about how we can work together.

Explore the other three themes of our research