Impact case study database

The team’s research into Citizen Social Science demonstrates that bridging the gap between citizens and young people with scientists, policymakers and other experts, enables better-informed decision-making that can positively influence policy and its implementation at local to global levels. Grounded in globally recognised climate science expertise, the team has used its research to influence local policy decisions, enhance knowledge and awareness of the role that citizen social science can play in tackling climate change, and inform climate conversations around the world.

Influencing local policy decisions

A collaboration between the City of Lincoln Council, Siemens, Transition Lincoln and the team of researchers at University of Lincoln has led to establishment of the new Lincoln Climate Commission (LCC, https://www.lincolnclimate.org.uk/), co-founded by Kythreotis and advised by Hanna and colleagues. Since being launched in 2019, the Commission has drawn directly on research presented by the University of Lincoln research team – both on climate change and flood risk and on citizen social science – to lobby the City Council to adopt a net zero carbon target by 2030, as well as thinking of new ways to make a more climate-resilient Lincoln, both of which have been successfully incorporated into council policy. As Lincoln City Council Leader, Councillor Metcalfe, has said, “As LCC Chair, I feel that the scientific evidence and expert judgement presented by University of Lincoln researchers, including recent research results on climate change and flood risk by Profs. Hanna and Macklin and "citizen social science" led by [Dr. Kythreotis], has influenced the City Council in adopting a net zero carbon target by 2030, as well as thinking of new ways to make a more climate resilient Lincoln.” [5.1] Kythreotis has also liaised with the Place-Based Climate Action Network ( https://pcancities.org.uk/), resulting in the LCC becoming one of just eleven full members of the UK network of PCAN climate commissions.

The team’s research also influenced the development of the Diocese of Lincoln Environmental Policy, launched by the Diocese of Lincoln on 1 September 2019 as part of our co-run Moana Conference. The Rt. Revd. Dr. David Court, Acting Bishop of Lincoln, wrote that “The University of Lincoln was consulted and excellent sense checking provided through the expertise of Professor Edward Hanna and Rebecca Forster who supported the writing of the policy Introduction and refining of the twelve goals…Learning from [the] Moana [Conference] has resulted in carbon footprint questions being integrated into planning of further diocesan events

and hospitality.” [ 5.2].

Enhancing knowledge and awareness of the role citizen social science can play in tackling climate change

Drawing on our collective research, and working in collaboration with Bishop Grosseteste University and local representatives of the Church of England – for whom limiting the impacts of anthropogenic climate change is essential to their faith – the research team was approached in 2018 by the then Bishop of Lincoln (via the UoL DVC Prof. Toby Wilkinson) to co-organise and host an international conference on addressing human-induced climate change, called “Moana Water of Life? Navigating Climate Change for Planetary Health”. BGU were co-organisers of the conference and resulting book [5.3]. The conference, held in August/September 2019, brought together around 150 diverse stakeholders from the UK, USA, Polynesia and New Zealand, including physical and social scientists, religious leaders, ‘green’ businesses, students and members of the general public. As well as exploring the new model of citizen social science with this diverse group of participants, the conference also focused on engaging with the delegates and their views on the issues. The team used questionnaires, a ‘conversation wall’ and a photographic art exhibition by Project Pressure ( www.project-pressure.org) to prompt delegates to question their preconceptions on how they deal with climate risks to planetary health and individuals’ lifestyles. This is evidenced by quotes from participants including: “What all the presenters have shared has challenged the churches that it is time to work together to combat climate change…we are here to try to save the world”; “A lot of ideas and influences for the ongoing work with a climate strategy for the church of Sweden”; “I am a primary teacher and have been inspired to do more work with the children around making connections with, and having respect for, our planet.”; and “I have remembered why I embarked on this journey in the first place” (Conference feedback sheets, **[5.4]**). These quotes bolster the concept of Citizen Social Science as a tool to engage disparate and diverse communities, including major religious organisations, in addressing the climate emergency. Further conference feedback includes: "The Moana: Water of Life conference was distinctive in many ways…One singular trait that stands out, with the perspective of time and geographical distance, was the way the conference conversation revealed the multi-faceted nature of climate change/emergency, that scientists, faith-motivated individuals and members of the local community can interpret climate change in vastly different ways, yet reach the same conclusions concerning the urgency for addressing our planet’s needs, for humankind and the planet. This melding of very different voices and perspectives was rich and multi-layered, and the cross-over of these worlds, and the conversations that we had, were truly unique in space and time." [5.5]. Dr. Emily Colgan (Trinity Theological College) wrote “The Moana: Water of Life conference (and the subsequent publication)…was groundbreaking…it was a huge privilege to participate in this project and the ripples of this work continue to spread and impact communities around the world” [5.6].

Informing climate conversations around the globe, through the communities of the Anglican Church

The connection with the Anglican Community came through the “Moana Water of Life…” Conference, creating an opportunity for the team’s research to reach into one of the biggest global communities of more than 85 million people worldwide. The conference was cited as an ‘example of good practice’ in the General Synod GS 2159 “Climate Emergency and Carbon Reduction Target” background paper to the February 2020 Church of England policy to adopt a Net Zero Carbon emissions target of 2030, relative to a much more conservative and arguably inadequate original target date of 2050. The Rt. Rvrd. Dr. David Court, Acting Bishop of Lincoln, wrote: “The reasoning for the policy update referenced our learning from Moana conference…It is likely that the shared knowledge for Moana contributed to the receptiveness of ambition within this vote.” The Metanoia Festival Organising Committee wrote that *“without Moana, Metanoia [Festival, to be held in Grantham in October 2021,* https://trinitygrantham.weebly.com/updates/metanoia-climate-festival-dates ] would not have happened, the influence of the Moana Conference has already been significant” [5.7]. Following the conference, Hanna co-edited a resulting first-of-its-kind book, “Science, Faith and the Climate Crisis” (Emerald; June 2020) which uniquely explores the climate science-faith interface. This book brings together conference contributions with reflections by leading academics (including a chapter by Mercer and Kythreotis on Citizen Social Science), religious leaders and other conference delegates and with a foreword from the Archbishop of Canterbury (Justin Welby), who also opened the Conference. In his Foreword, Archbishop Welby wrote: “This book illustrates how when different voices are listened to carefully, new perspectives, opportunities and solutions can begin to be found” [5.3] . The team has been able to use this book and a resulting online brochure available at https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/media/responsive2017/collegeofscience/schoolofgeography/research/Science,,Faith,and,the,Climate,Crisis.pdf to encourage and provide materials for churches to lobby their congregations and governments for meaningful action on climate mitigation and adaptation, with a focus on using the scale of the Anglican community to effect change. For example, Bishop Marc Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California, has added the book to a list of climate action resources shared with a group of about sixty climate-conscious bishops of the Episcopal Church in the USA. Bishop Andrus has said “Given the monumental, indeed unprecedented scale of threat posed by human-caused climate change, the Lincoln University led conference ranks high on my list of responses…Science, Faith and the Climate Crisis provides insights and information that can help this global body of religious leaders [attendees of the next Lambeth Conference – decadal meeting of global archbishops] engage the climate crisis more effectively.” [5.8]

While progress has been slowed by Covid-19, which has pushed back the timing of the Lambeth Conference by two years to summer 2022, the impact outlined above has made our team determined to continue its work on the role that citizen social science can play in dealing with climate risks.