Info
The Geographies of Climate and Ecological Emergencies –
Sustainable communities and youth for nature’s recovery in Staffordshire
How can sustainable communities and young people join forces for nature’s recovery from the climate and ecological emergency?
Invitation
My name is Alana Wheat. I am studying for a Masters in Geographical and Environmental research at Keele University. I am kindly requesting your participation in the research study titled ‘The Geographies of Climate and Ecological Emergencies – Sustainable communities and youth for nature’s recovery in Staffordshire’.
The intention is to explore the role of communities in the climate and ecological emergencies and consider enablers and barriers that cause diverse engagement in sustainability issues in Staffordshire.
This project is being supervised by Professor Deirdre McKay.
Before you decide whether or not you wish to take part, it is important for you to understand why this research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the information carefully and discuss it with friends and relatives if you wish. Do feel free to ask the researcher if there is anything that is unclear or if you would like more information. Please take time to consider whether or not you wish to participate.
Introduction to the project from Alana for the Co-Create network. The video also won 1st prize for 'Advertising your research' from the Keele Doctoral Academy.
Research Objectives
1) To explore the role of young people in the climate and ecological emergency and their involvement in community initiatives.
2) To understand potential barriers to community groups engaging with young people and vice versa.
3) To explore community initiatives efforts towards nature’s recovery in Staffordshire.
The context of the research? What is the research project?
There is plenty of science to tell us that some of our greatest threats to life as we know it are climate change (IPCC, 2020) and the ecological emergency, with wildlife populations decreasing by around 68% since the 1970s, the planet is undergoing the 6th Mass Extinction (WWF, 2020). The research project, based in Staffordshire, West Midlands, UK, will be looking at youth engagements with climate and environmental issues, as well as looking at sustainability related community initiatives that are aiming to interact with all demographics in the local society. Due to the timing of the project, it will also assess the voluntary and community sectors contribution to the nature recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, looking at aspects of nature-based solutions during the climate and ecological crises.
Aims and objectives? What does the research project involve?
This research project aims to answer, ‘how can sustainable communities and young people join forces for nature’s recovery from the climate and ecological emergency?’ This will then be explored through three objectives. The first objective is to explore the role of young people in the climate and ecological emergency and their involvement in community initiatives. The second objective is to understand good practice or potential barriers to community initiatives engaging with young people and vice versa. The third objective is to explore community initiatives efforts towards nature’s recovery in Staffordshire.
To complete these objectives, the researcher will carry out four methods to discover information which will be used to answer the project aim. These include two online questionnaires, one focusing on young people and the other focusing on community initiatives. There is also the opportunity for public participation, firstly, through a media submission to help create an exhibition celebrating and sharing sustainability in Staffordshire, and secondly, through the mapping of sustainability initiatives, places, and green spaces.
Why is the researcher doing the project? What is the research’s potential applications and benefits? What could the outcomes be?
The researcher is doing the project to contribute towards a Masters degree at Keele University in Geographical and Environmental Research. However, the project also has wide applications and benefits ranging from engaging with the public, highlighting local issues which are possible to overlook, evidencing information streams, sharing knowledge, signposting to positive environmental community initiatives, promoting sustainable communities in Staffordshire as well as finding and scoping what is available to the public and what may be missing. These benefits may apply to a diverse range of beneficiaries including residents of Staffordshire, young people, community initiatives, councils, and the academic research community. In addition to the research project, the main outcome will be the website that will be used to share the results, knowledge on the topics of the research project, the ‘Sustainable Staffordshire’ exhibition, and the green places and spaces map.
Glossary
Climate Change – the increase in more dangerous weather events and in particular, a warmer climate (weather over a long period of time) for the UK
Community – People from diverse backgrounds who are grouped by where they live or what they are interested in, for example.
Ecosystem – All aspects of the environment which relies on each-other to live.
Green Spaces – Parks, woodland, meadows, national parks, and gardens, etc.
Human Geography – the study of place and space in relation to society.
Natures Recovery – With natural places and wildlife rapidly declining, the concept of nature recovery aims to reduce the rate of this decline by restoring and rewilding the planets natural spaces.
Nature-based solutions – Opting for natural solutions to big problems, for example, rewilding and tree planting.
Public Participation – Where the public are welcome to take part and join in.
Sustainability – conscious actions to protect the current world for future generations
Youth – young people aged 16 to 24.