Program 3: Engaged Communities
This project will explore and articulate visions, scenarios and pathways for a low carbon and resilient built environment in Australia. The project combines research with a range of creative engagement strategies to develop visions and scenarios for Australian cities in 2040. Research focuses on the challenges and opportunities of moving to a ‘low carbon’ future and maintaining resilience in the face of a changing climate. Through its engagement program, the project will gather stakeholder views of the dynamics of change and the possible future morphology of cities – their built infrastructure, systems of provision and lifestyles.
Program
Project leader
Prof Christopher Ryan
Project status
Complete
Project period
06/2013 to 06/2017
- Peer Reviewed Research Publications
- CRCLCL Project Reports
- Posters
- News
- Partners
Peer Reviewed Research Publications
RP3008: Journal Article: Decarbonization of cities: you’re dreaming!
Societal and technological transformation in the face of climate change will be won or lost in our cities and urban communities. This is not just because of the global urban demographic shift with more than 50 percent of the population now living in urban conditions, or because cities contribute around 70 to 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, but it is as much to do with the growing economic and political importance of cities...
RP3008: Journal Article: Identifying and addressing challenges faced by transdisciplinary research teams in climate change research
Gaziulusoy, I, Ryan, C, McGrail, S, Chandler, P, Twomey, P
'Identifying and addressing challenges faced by transdisciplinary research teams in climate change research', Journal of Cleaner Production, June 2016, Pages 55–64
Transdisciplinary research is increasingly used in projects dealing with transitions to sustainable, resilient and low-carbon societies. Transdisciplinary research projects require collaboration and coordination between researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds. Academic literature provides valuable insights on designing, facilitating, leading and evaluating transdisciplinary projects. While a substantial body of literature explores the challenges associated with transdisciplinary research, there is a scarcity of case studies exploring the challenges faced during different phases of project execution. In this paper we present a reflective account and analysis of our experiences during the first fifteen months of a transdisciplinary research project. The project is used as a case study, following a participatory action research methodology. Our findings verified the three types of challenge mentioned in the literature – inherent, institutional and teamwork related. This paper identifies a fourth type – emergent – that has not been discussed in the literature. Emergent challenges introduce uncertainty into TDR projects and are uncontrollable. Such challenges require research consortium leaders to develop adaptive strategies, and to take a mediation and leadership role in dealing with them. The article makes the following recommendations: emergent challenges require emergent strategies; funding should be more flexible to account for the nature of TDR research; TDR could be evaluated on the basis of its overall impact rather than on inflexible ‘deliverables’; academic publishing strategies must be incorporated into TDR projects; team development and co-location should be facilitated; and academic institutions should include performance and promotion criteria encouraging researchers to undertake roles in TDR projects.
RP3008: Journal Article: A resource-based view of opportunities to transform Australia's electricity sector
Biggs, C (2016) A resource-based view of opportunities to transform Australia's electricity sector, Journal of Cleaner Production, 1-15
Proponents of low-carbon transformation face an uphill battle to reconfigure incumbent energy systems against powerful interests protecting the status quo. Australia's electricity sector is an example of such a system, wedded to fossil fuels and backed by much of the country's political establishment. This paper addresses the potential for low-carbon transformation in Australia's electricity sector. It explores the complex and uncertain dynamics shaping the sector and outlines how these can be understood through the lens of strategic agency e with an eye for opportunities to drive a shift to renewables. It reviews the dynamics of change and re-stability shaping Australia's electricity sector between 2006 and 2015 and applies a resource-based view of transformative agency to analyse these dynamics. Results show the sector suffers multiple stressors and emphasise disruptive changes ‘in the pipeline’. Critically, many ofthese transformative dynamics stem from factors outside the influence of the electricity sector and its supporters. While results do not point to a clear trajectory or outcome of transformation, they indicatethe uptake of small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems by households and small business will play a defining role in the sector's future configuration. Furthermore, the exploration of transformative dynamics affecting the electricity sector through a resource-based lens shows that many opportunities exist for strategic agents to intervene in support of a disruptive shift to renewables. The paper suggests a range of mechanisms that agents could use to undermine the strength of fossil energy in the electricity sector and encourage a shift to renewables.
RP3008: Journal Article: Identifying and Addressing Challenges Faced by Transdisciplinary Research Teams in Climate Change Research
Transdisciplinary research is increasingly used in projects dealing with transitions to sustainable, resilient and low-carbon societies. Transdisciplinary research projects require collaboration and coordination between researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds. Academic literature provides valuable insights on designing, facilitating, leading and evaluating transdisciplinary projects. While a substantial body of literature explores the challenges associated with transdisciplinary research, there is a scarcity of case studies exploring the challenges faced during different phases of project execution. In this paper we present a reflective account and analysis of our experiences during the first fifteen months of a transdisciplinary research project. The project is used as a case study, following a participatory action research methodology. Our findings verified the three types of challenge mentioned in the literature - inherent, institutional and teamwork related. This paper identifies a fourth type – emergent - that has not been discussed in the literature. Emergent challenges introduce uncertainty into TDR projects and are uncontrollable. Such challenges require research consortium leaders to develop adaptive strategies, and to take a mediation and leadership role in dealing with them. The article makes the following recommendations: emergent challenges require emergent strategies; funding should be more flexible to account for the nature of TDR research; TDR could be evaluated on the basis of its overall impact rather than on inflexible ‘deliverables’; academic publishing strategies must be incorporated into TDR projects; team development and co-location should be facilitated; and academic institutions should include performance and promotion criteria encouraging researchers to undertake roles in TDR projects.
RP3008: Journal Article: Framing Processes in the Envisioning of Low-Carbon, Resilient Cities: Results from Two Visioning Exercises
2015 McGrail, S., Gaziulusoy, A.I. and Twomey, P.: 'Framing Processes in the Envisioning of Low-Carbon, Resilient Cities: Results from Two Visioning Exercises' in Sustainability, Vol. 7, No. 7, ISSN 2071-1050 (Published: 3 July 2015), pp. 8649-8683.
Visioning exercises were convened in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, to explore how these cities could become low-carbon and maintain resilience over the next 25 years. Drawing on the concept of frames—in particular Schon and Rein’s conceptualisation of a frame as a “diagnostic-prescriptive story” that is based on an underlying structure of beliefs, perceptions and appreciation—this paper seeks to: Attend to the ways that workshop participants framed the problems (of emissions reduction and maintaining resilience); surface framing processes and potential related sources of political contention; and discuss the role of visioning exercises in sustainability transitions. Five frames are identified, along with the interpretive orientations underpinning each frame, framing processes and the potential for frame conflict and alignment. The study suggests that the designers and facilitators of visioning exercises need to be attentive to framing processes, potential framing contests, and related social processes during a visioning exercise. Key implications are identified, with a focus on whether an exercise seeks to “open up” a complex issue or to agree upon a singular, i.e., consensual, agenda.
RP3008: Foreground Paper: Disruptive social innovation for a low-carbon world
This paper reviews various innovations in the sociocultural sphere – innovations that have the potential to ‘disrupt’ the current trajectory and rapidly reorient the world toward a low-carbon future.
Highlighting areas such as;
- The Fossil Fuel ‘Divestment’ Campaign
- Transition Initiatives
- Collaborative Consumption and the Sharing Economy
- Innovative Approaches to Renewable Energy: Transcending Political Paralysis
- Reconstructing Food Systems from the Ground Up
- The ‘Voluntary Simplicity’ Movement: Reimagining the Good Life
- Redefining ‘Progress’ through Alternative Indicators to GDP
- Taking Control: Direct Action, Political Protest, and Democratic Awakening
RP3008: Foreground Paper: A review of roadmaps for transitioning to a zero carbon built environment in Australia
This paper outlines and critically ‘maps’ existing roadmaps relevant to transitions to a low or zero carbon built environment in Australia. A roadmap describes the measures required to achieve goals and/or map future innovation opportunities. The three questions addressed by a comprehensive roadmap are: Where do we want to go?, Where are we now?, and How can we get there?
The review identified 13 roadmaps/plans that have been produced by: peak industry bodies (Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating); academic research groups (e.g. Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre, Institute for Sustainable Futures); private consultancies; and non-profit research groups. Some were funded by peak bodies (e.g. Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council) or by state and federal government departments.
The identified roadmaps indicate the increasing attention on lowcarbon transitions and important gaps and areas of divergence in existing analysis. The critical review draws on relevant theories of roadmapping, innovation management, sustainable urban development and governance.
RP3008: Foreground Paper: Using futures inquiry to create low-carbon, resilient urban features
This paper presents a scan of futures inquiry trends, an outline of recent advances in relevant theory, and critically reviews similar ‘transition’-focused and related projects in Europe and the United States. Five leading projects are described and examined: ‘Retrofit 2050’, ‘Urban Transition Labs’, ‘SPREAD Sustainable Lifestyles 2050’, ‘Future Car(d) Urbanism’, and ‘Futurescape City Tours’. Collectively, the projects epitomise four key trends in visioning and scenario practices.
RP3008: Foreground Paper: Pathways to a Zero-Carbon Economy
This paper provides an overview of key features of the most promising and innovative large scale low-carbon economy transition plans and strategies. The paper draws on and updates findings from the Post Carbon Pathways project which has reviewed a diverse range of ambitious large scale decarbonisation strategies, augmented by in depth interviews with leading climate and energy transition researchers and policy makers. The study identifies a range of strategies authored by governments, including those of the EU, UK, Wales, Scotland, Denmark, California and Germany, designed to achieve 2050 emissions reduction targets of between 80 and 100%. The study also identifies a range of strategies developed by nongovernment research organisations in the UK, Germany, Norway, Australia and the US that demonstrate the technological feasibility of achieving close to 100% emissions reduction in the period 2020–2050.
RP3008: Foreground Paper: Review of System Innovation and Transition Theories
This report reviews the literature on innovation and transition theory with a view to gaining a greater understanding of the nature of innovation processes, particularly those involving disruptive change and systems transformation. The report has been commissioned by the Visions and Pathways 2040 project for the CRC for Low Carbon Living. A key aim of the review is to supply insights and frameworks to assist the visioning, pathway analysis and policy work of the project.
RP3008: Emerging Approaches in Business Model Innovation Relevant to Sustainability and Low-carbon Transitions
Businesses are critical to achieving greater sustainability and the transition to a low carbon built environment. Business and businesses-related activities within the production and consumption system are among the primary causes of sustainability problems. But businesses are also a core source of innovative ideas, not only for reducing pollution and improving the efficiency of our products and production processes, but also in shaping changes in our socio-technical systems.
This report reviews new and emerging approaches used to develop business models, which might assist in realising and diffusing the technological, social and organisational innovations necessary to transition to sustainability and lower carbon. It also explores some of the limitations of the current thinking around business models, and suggests ways to refine these tools to help overcome some of the narrowness in current thinking.
RP3008: Emerging Approaches in Business Model Innovation Relevant to Sustainability and Low-carbon Transitions (1417575 PDF)
RP3008: Visions & Pathways 2040 first year report
The Visions & Pathways 2040 team are delighted to announce that their first report – the results of the project’s first year – is now available online and in hard-cover.
The report, with results from the first year of the Visions and Pathways 2040 project, is titled 'Glimpses of the future and critical uncertainties'.
It’s available online and in print, Download a copy.
CRCLCL Project Posters
Student poster 2016: RP3008 Shaping suburbia: The form and future of low rise suburbs
Student poster - Participants Annual Forum 2016 - David Bennett Shaping suburbia: The form and future of low rise suburbs
David Bennett Student Poster 2016 Rp3008 (379945 PDF)
Student poster 2016: RP3008 Contested Space - Future challenges and pathways for open space in Australian suburbs
Student poster - Participants Annual Forum 2016 - Jennifer Witheridge Contested Space - Future challenges and pathways for open space in Australian suburbs
Jennifer Witheridge Student Poster 2016 RP3008 (181235 PDF)
Student Poster 2015: RP3008 Visions and Pathways 2040
Student Poster - Participants Annual Forum 2015 - David Bennett
Shaping suburbia: the form and future of low rise suburbs
David Bennett Student Poster 2015 RP3008 (138000 PDF)
Student poster 2015: RP3008 Emerging approaches in business model innovation relevant to sustainability and low-carbon Transitions
Student poster - Participants Annual Forum 2015 - Jennifer Witheridge
Contested space: Future challenges and pathways for open space in Australian suburbs
Jennifer Witterage student poster 2015 RP3008 (307087 PDF)
News articles
RP3008: News Article: Transforming Australian cities through green, smart technologies
The CRC for Low Carbon Living Vision and Pathways 2040 Project held a workshop this week to discuss how Sydney and Melbourne can be transformed through green, smart technologies, and create a vision for what the cities will look like in 2040....
RP3008: News Article: How Melbourne and Sydney might look in 2040 - the future is yet to be designed
More than 100 top designers, building and planning experts have put their minds together to conceptualise low carbon living cities of 2040, the precursor to considering how the dreams can become a reality...
Read the full article in Architecture & Design (28 May 2014)
Workshop: Disruption and the Digital Economy
Posted 23 June 2016 - 11:31am
The Visions & Pathways 2040 project ran an expert workshop called Disruption and the Digital Economy.
It aimed to investigate how peer-to-peer models can contribute to decarbonisation and resilience, looking beyond just Airbnb and Uber.
A report summarising the workshop is now available on the project website.
Partners on this project
- UNSW Sydney
- The University of Melbourne
- City of Sydney
- Sydney Water
- Swinburne University of Technology
- Government of South Australia - Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
- HASSELL
- aurecon
- AECOM