Skip to content

Where We Live Next: evidence hub

This Evidence Hub brings together all the written outputs that have contributed to the programme as a resource for researchers and policymakers. The commissioned projects and case studies all explore the role of place for understanding and addressing issues of environmental sustainability.

Policy publications

A place-sensitive approach for environmental sustainability

This report presents the findings and conclusions of the British Academy’s Where We Live Next policy programme. It demonstrates the benefits and challenges of attending to place when creating and delivering policies. It proposes a cross-cutting framework to enable national policy to work in place-appropriate ways, cutting through policy silos.

We provide a series of supporting evidence papers that elaborate on four features of a place-sensitive approach. The insights in these papers unpack commonalities and differences, highlighting nuances as well as the factors that might be overlooked in the policy process.

Knowledge as a critical starting point

Language and narratives that resonate and mobilises

Participation that is people-centred

Multi-level, cross-sectoral partnerships that promote collaboration  

Understanding the role of place in environmental sustainability

This report is an evidence synthesis based on commissioned work that brings together insights to help stakeholders better understand the role of place and its application to environmental sustainability. It examines how engaging with people in the places where they live leads to better and more effective and efficient policymaking in practice, reflecting the diversity of communities and local environments.

Policy insight case studies

The four policy insight case studies provide a richer nuance and depth to the themes of the programme

A summary of the case studies

People, Place, and Planet: Place-Sensitive Participatory Policy Development for a Just Transition to Net Zero

Authors: Tania Carregha, Samanthi Theminimulle

Planning for Future Generations

Authors: Dr Yael Lifshitz et al.

UK Climate Commissions and Place-Based Climate Action: Evaluating Policies, Governance, Networks and Scales

Authors: Dr Andrew Kythreotis, Dr Andrea Armstrong, Dr Candice Howarth

Warmer Homes: How can Grant Subsidy Schemes Improve Engagement with Participants?

Authors: Kate Betteridge, Francisco Calafate-Faria, Sam Johnson-Schlee

Commissioned reports

In early 2022, the British Academy commissioned six research projects that explore various facets of environmental sustainability using the lens of place

Youth, Sustainability and Democracy: How young people can shape environmental policy in urban spaces

Project Lead: Professor James Sloam, Professor Matt Henn, Dr Christine Huebner

Situating climate change: Understanding the importance of climate, place and community

Project Lead: Professor Georgina Endfield, University of Liverpool

Voices, spaces and scales of environmental governance in the South West of Britiain: Exploring climate policy and green recovery

Project Lead: Dr Sophia Hatzisavvidou, University of Bath

A trans-disciplinary approach to scaling community voices for place-sensitive policy-making through places and practices of food

Project Lead: Professor Minna Sunikka-Blank, University of Cambridge

Arts Co-Production and place-sensitive governance

Project Lead: Dr Jennifer Verson

Neighbourhood Planning: A new horizon for who decides where we live next

Project Lead: Tony Burton

Sign up to our email newsletters

Join our mailing list to explore the ideas and impact of the British Academy. Get updates on research, funding, policy, international collaborations, and events that bring the humanities and social sciences to life.