Societal challenge

To understand the role of government, business and society in enabling all to live with environmental change.

The Societal Challenge aims to understand how society (individuals, communities, business and government), both within the UK and internationally, is likely to alter as environmental change progresses.

Within this the importance of the natural environment is an absolute priority: for example understanding the links and feedback between the natural environment, ecosystem services and human well‐being. By considering how these links change and develop in the face of major environmental change the Societal Challenge will identify new social, environmental and economic opportunities.

In addition the Challenge aims to support a transition to a green economy for business, government, civil society, communities and citizens. A green economy can be seen as an economy where value and growth are maximised across the whole economy while managing natural assets sustainably. The green economy will be supported and enabled by a thriving low carbon and environmental goods and services sector. Environmental damage will be reduced, while increasing energy security, resource efficiency and resilience to climate change.

By considering the societal drivers towards a green economy and understanding the challenges that will emerge the Societal Challenge Group will identify ways in which decision‐making at local, national and international levels can take this thinking into account.

Core themes for the societal challenge:

1. Political economy and decision making
2. Economic and environmental change
3. Fairness and equity
4. Risk, conflict and security
5. Behavioural change, communication and engagement
6. Human well-being and social impacts
7. Transformations

Workshop

On 12 May 2011, the societal challenge group held a workshop: the first step in developing a strategic framework to achieve clarity on the desired outcomes of using new and existing a knowledge and the smartest route to achieving this. The workshop involved business leaders, policy‐makers, regulators, research managers and non-governmental organisations.

The full report from the workshop is available in the attachements below.

The societal challenge steering group

The steering group will ensure that the UK gets the tools, knowledge and foresight needed to address the social challenge. The group is chaired by Rachel Muckle from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The group will

• review the identification and engagement of relevant research, policy, business and society communities.
• develop a vision for success for funders, policy, business and society and a strategic framework and implementation plan for the challenge.

What does this challenge mean for business?

The issue

The way in which human behaviour shifts in response to environmental change is critical to development of practical solutions.

Business threats

• Consumers reject products/brands not seen as sustainable, whatever the evidence.
• Localism agenda threatens global supply chains.

Business opportunities

• More localised production and consumption.
• Products that allow consumers to take control of their own environmental footprint.
• New work patterns.

Read documents related to the challenge: