WP4: What are the just transformation pathways to net zero?

WP4 seeks to identify potential just transformation pathways to net zero. This will be done by taking the ‘preferred’ scenarios from WP3 and co-designing, with key stakeholders and policy advisers/makers in each focal landscape, transformative pathways to the preferred aspirational vision for the local food-farm system. The objective is to identify net zero pathways that are fair to farmers, help restore nature and produce good quality food.

We will do this by examining, through facilitated workshops, how each landscape system can move away from current patterns of practice and behaviour to a new emerging pattern; one that can sustain and support the aspirational vision. Together we will explore inspirational practice and new innovations that can take us from the current system to the future one, whilst also looking at which elements of the current system to keep. We will analyse the current structures and policies that maintain the current food-farm system, whilst also exploring what different structures would be needed to support the aspirational future. In doing so, we will recommend the leverage points that would support a just transition to net zero for livestock farmers.

By working together in such a transdisciplinary way, we hope to mobilise agency and capital (both economic and social) across each focal landscape to bring about actual transformative change. Through this work we aim to develop lessons learnt from such a transdisciplinary research approach and to share them widely with others.