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Environmental issues and human behaviour in low-income areas in the UKResearchers Institution Summary
of Project People living in low-income communities in the UK often suffer disproportionately from direct environmental problems such as air pollution and traffic danger, while sharing concerns about wider environmental problems like global warming. Yet people living in these communities are often constrained in how they can respond. Local services are often poor, and not able to effectively tackle local environmental problems such as fly tipping and pollution. People living on low-incomes are less able to display environmental concern by, for example, buying organic food. At the same time local action in low-income communities shows much potential for positive responses to environmental problems. There are many examples of innovative solutions that achieve social and environmental benefits together. For example recycling projects that provide employment and training. Local environmental issues can engage much wider interest and involvement than sustainability issues such as rainforest destruction, and may provide an important starting point for action on wider sustainability goals. The above examples illustrate the relevance and importance of environmental issues and behaviour in low-income communities in the UK
A better understanding of these questions could make an important contribution to the programme and to policy goals such as social inclusion and sustainable development. We will review existing literature and analyse available datasets on peoples' environmental attitudes and behaviour. We will carry out interviews and group discussions in 10 low-income neighbourhoods, to fill gaps in knowledge in this relatively new and unexplored area. Background
/ Rationale The following points illustrate the particular issues, relevance and potential of this line of enquiry: Environmental pressures, and constraints on behavioural change and adaptation
Responses, and potential seeds for change?
Key
research questions
Research
approach
We will identify key themes in the data and use these to address our questions and develop hypotheses that can then be tested by further thematic analysis. We will maintain a practical focus and put the experiences, opinions and actions of people from low-income areas at the centre of our analysis. We will review relevant policy approaches, such as LA21, Community Strategies, neighbourhood renewal and sustainable development policy. We will identify how these impact on the issues and behaviours we identify, and assess the potential for policy to support environmental behaviour change. We will run a think tank event that will bring together policy makers, practioners and those living in low income areas to review policy and its impact in this area, and the potential for change. Expected outcomes
Anne Power From 1972 to 1979 she was Co-ordinator of the North Islington Housing Rights Project reversing slum clearance in favour of regeneration, securing rehousing rights for ethnic minority and furnished tenants, developing estate based management and organising tenant management co-operatives. She was appointed national consultant to the Department for the Environment's Priority Estates Project between 1979 and 1989 and helped local authorities in England and Wales to rescue run down estates. She also acted as advisor to the Welsh Office. In 1985 London University awarded her a PhD on the history of council housing and the emergence of unpopular estates. In 1991, Anne Power became founding Director of the National Tenants Resource Centre, which opened in 1995 at Trafford Hall, Chester and provides residential training for people living and working in low-income communities. Anne Power is Professor of Social Policy and Director of the post-graduate MSc/Diploma in Housing at the London School of Economics. Since 1987 she has been involved in European, American and international housing and urban problems and as a result has developed a new housing MSc/Diploma in international housing and social change. In 1997, Anne Power became Deputy Director of the ESRC funded research Centre for the Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE). She is responsible for research into change in poor neighbourhoods, the impact of poor neighbourhood conditions on families; a study of area abandonment; and evaluation of community self-help linked to training. Other research interests include European, American and international urban problems; crime; social exclusion; role of residents; design in relation to social organisation; social and management problems; central / local government relations; community involvement; sustainable development. Anne Power is a member of the government's Housing and Urban Sounding Boards, advising Ministers on housing policy and urban matters. She is also a member of the Sustainable Development Commission, chaired by Jonathon Porritt, set up to suggest ways to reconcile the needs of the environment, the economy and society. In May 2002 she was appointed Chair of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Future of Council Housing in Birmingham. She was awarded a CBE in June 2000 for services to regeneration and promotion of resident participation. Her books and publications include: Cities for a Small Country with Richard Rogers (2000), Estates on the Edge (1999); The Slow Death of Great Cities? Urban abandonment or urban renaissance with Katharine Mumford (1999); Dangerous Disorder with Rebecca Tunstall (1997); Swimming against the tide with Rebecca Tunstall (1995); Hovels to High Rise (1993); Housing Management: A guide to quality and creativity (1991); Property Before People (1987) Professor Anne
Power MBE, CBE
Jake Elster will be working as the
main researcher with Professor Power on this work, and will be the main point
of contact for enquiries about the project. His contact details are as follows:
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