Governing Sustainable Futures: Supporting Devon Communities to Navigate Sustainability Challenges
Resource Futures and Devon Communities Together are partnering with the University of Exeter on a research project Governing Sustainable Futures which aims to look at how we can support communities in future to be able to work more collaboratively together, when challenging sustainability issues that may cause division and anger arise.
The project aims to understand why people agree or disagree about sustainability and environmental challenges in their communities. The project is considering four areas: Low Traffic Neighbourhoods / Coastal Erosion / Renewable Energy / Environmentally Friendly Diets.
The project aims to develop and test new ways to approach the conflicts that often arise. The plan is to develop approaches that can promote greater levels of participation and working together in our communities. This is particularly for Devon, but with wider applicability elsewhere. The goal is then to create guidance and best practice that helps us all to find constructive ways to debate and tackle sustainability issues at a local level.
The project will do this by carrying out discussion groups and workshops with local people – decision-makers, organisations, members of the public and community groups.
If you are interested in getting involved, the first discussion groups are planned in May and will focus on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. Changes to how traffic moves through neighbourhoods can make life easier for some and harder for others. Invites are for anyone who is interested in better understanding how these changes may affect those living in low traffic areas and how everyone involved can communicate together in a clearer more constructive way.
Date in May/June 2026 to be confirmed:
These “flashpoints” matter both locally and nationally, highlighting key challenges in governing sustainability transitions and underscoring the need to understand how they arise, are framed, and how they can be addressed collaboratively within communities.
If you are interested in participating, please complete the GSF Project Selection Form. Exeter University researchers will then contact you directly. There is a £30 participant payment or gift voucher available for anyone who participates.
