Theme leads:
Summary:
CAST Theme 4: Engaging is all about making sure organisations, policymakers and practitioners get the insights they need to deliver people-focused climate solutions.
We focus less on data collection and more on synthesising CAST’s research and sharing it with relevant stakeholders.
We also work to build CAST’s varied network of partners and collaborators, and support CAST researchers to complete policy/business secondments and sit on advisory committees and boards.
The core aims of Theme 4 are:
- Identify audiences and topics where social science evidence is most urgently needed, in order to guide CAST’s research.
- Translate CAST’s research into actionable, audience-focused resources.
- Feed CAST’s insights into live policy and political debates.
Projects we’re currently working on:
Stakeholder roundtables
Project lead: Bella Zanin
Mapping and convening key individuals working on a specific issue or within a particular sector (e.g. sport). These events provide stakeholders with the opportunity to hear CAST’s insights and connect with others in the space.
Resources:
UK Government’s Public Participation Plan
Project lead: Bella Zanin
In December 2025, the UK Government published its first-ever plan for engaging people around climate change and nature. CAST has been championing such a plan for over five years, and we are delighted to have advised the Government on its development, providing our expertise on things like effective ways to communicate, engage and support people around tackling climate change. We will continue to work with the Government on implementing the plan.
Resources:
- CAST Briefing 29: Five principles for good public engagement: How to get people involved in the climate conversation
- CAST Briefing 20: How can politicians avoid a net-zero backlash? The role of public engagement: a briefing for policy makers and communicators
- CAST Briefing 43: Using citizens’ assemblies to shape climate policy: a summary of current thinking for policymakers and practitioners
- Report: A review of effective public engagement on climate and implications for Scotland | ClimateXChange (ClimateXChange, IPSOS and CAST)
Policy Champions
Project lead: Prof Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE
Providing public sector training and developing relationships with diverse politicians, civil servants, advisors and analysts, in order to grow the network of policymakers championing the use of social science insights in climate initiatives.
Resources:
COP30
Project lead: Bella Zanin
Developing resources and support for journalists, campaigners and others involved in the annual UN climate summit around engaging the public with climate change.
Resources:
- Blog post: Placing people at the heart of UK and global climate action: Reflections on the UK’s carbon plan and hopes for COP30 – CAST
- Blog post: COP30: The Quiet Rise of People Power – CAST
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.