This event aims to bring together change-makers, including community organisers, practitioners, and academics to discuss how we can advance sustainable transport policy in the UK, recognising transport as a system extending from the hyper-local, to regional and national. Against a backdrop of increasing politicisation and uncertainty over transport policy, the aim is to share and explore methods, tools and analysis (developed through funding from the Centre for Energy Demand Solutions) which could help us take steps towards meaningful action. The event will be participatory, aiming to act as a mechanism for building relationships across stakeholders, and enabling further discussion and action in the lead up to the next general election and beyond. To sign up, please visit our Eventbrite page.

10:00 Arrival (with refreshments)

10:20- 10:30 Welcome and Introductions

Dr Louise Reardon and Dr Timea Nochta (University of Birmingham)

10:30-11:15 Understanding Local Action in a Changing National Context

Prof. Greg Marsden (University of Leeds)

A presentation will explore what the national policy and fiscal position means for local policy action and delivery on the ground, drawing on insights from research across the UK, followed by discussion.

11:15-12:00 Systems Thinking for Understanding the Decarbonisation Challenge

Dr Louise Reardon

This session will share systems maps of the local transport decarbonisation challenge created by stakeholders in Birmingham and Cambridge. Participants will be able to interrogate the maps and the value of systems thinking, exploring the similarities and differences in challenges identified across places and their implications for sustainable transport action.

12:00-12:45 Lunch (provided)

12:45-13:30 Supporting Action through the Place Based Carbon Calculator

Dr Malcolm Morgan (University of Leeds)

This session will introduce the CREDS Place Based Carbon Calculator, a tool that estimates per person carbon footprint at a local scale and has been used by local authorities and communities to understand where their carbon footprints come from and how to reduce them. Participants will have the opportunity to inform future development of the tool and share their thoughts on how it could be used.

13:30-14:15 Identifying Change-Makers Towards More Sustainable Travel

Dr Timea Nochta (University of Birmingham)

This session will share networks analysis of the types of organisations involved in shaping sustainable mobility across places (from community groups to government departments), the relationships between them and the implications for generating sustainable transport action. Followed by discussion.

14:15-14:30 Coffee break

14:30-15:15 The Power of Community Organising for Climate and Transport Action

Julian Todd (Climate Action Network West Midlands and Nocomoto Ltd.)

This session will reflect on the role and challenges of advocating for community perspectives and systems change within transport policy. A brief presentation, followed by a set of provocations will open up a discussion of what an agenda informing the next general election might look like.

15:15-15:30 Thank you and close

Towards a Whole Systems Approach to Sustainable Transport