People, Place and Energy Research Centre (PPERC)

♻️ In the face of heatwaves, drought, and growing climate challenges, should the UK be extracting more oil and gas? Professor Rebecca Willis, The University of Manchester Chair of Energy and Climate Governance, joined Channel 4 to debate what the UK’s energy future should look like as recent consultations on North Sea oil and gas fields draw to a close. Her key arguments:  • New UK oil and gas sites would conflict with our Paris Agreement commitments  • Economic strategy must align with our climate goals  • The government must make it easier and cheaper for people to take climate action 🎥 Watch the debate: https://lnkd.in/ena26Dcn  The University of Manchester Faculty of Science and Engineering | Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research #Climate | #Energy | #Heatwave | #Research

🌱 BLOG | What happen when communities are trusted as partners in climate action, rather than consulted as audiences? At the second gathering of the JUST Practice-Builders' Network, our members explored how we can move towards genuine community leadership and shared decision-making beyond Westminster, sharing their experiences across home energy, youth engagement, community ownership and more. In a new blog Leonie Taylor reflects on some of the session's key takeaways and prompts us to create spaces where these different forms of knowledge and leadership can work together. 👉 Read more: https://lnkd.in/e8GPfwFc --- The Young Foundation

“Environmental reforms are frequently perceived as top-down initiatives that prioritise decarbonisation targets over local livelihoods and energy affordability. As a result, tensions persist…” From Chapter 3 'Climate Policies and Energy Populism' of our Edited Collection 'Navigating Persistent Energy and Climate Crises: Critical Reflections' by Blin Berdoniqi Read the full Chapter 👉 https://lnkd.in/e3x-VZ-e Blin is a PhD Researcher in Geography School of Environment, Education and Development at The University of Manchester. His research examines eco-populism and energy populism, and the socio-political aspects of green transitions in the Western Balkans and other semi-peripheral post-socialist regions.

"Energy crises are not just about energy systems –they are co-produced in national scale “non-energy” policy domains that are enmeshed within broader systems and structures of inequality and injustice, with spatially variable, localised impacts” From Chapter 5 'Energy Crises Beyond Energy Systems' of our Edited Collection 'Navigating Persistent Energy and Climate Crises: Critical Reflections' by Manon Burbidge Read more... https://lnkd.in/e3x-VZ-e Dr. Manon Burbidge is a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Geography at the School of Environment, Education and Development at The University of Manchester, and a research assistant for PPERC. Her interests lie in energy injustices and vulnerabilities, migration, asylum and housing.

Recommendations #5: Investing in the ‘One Stop Shop’ From our ‘PUTTING POWER IN ITS PLACE: PPERC’s Local Power Plan Response’ policy briefing: ➡️Ensure energy and retrofit advice services have secure, long-term funding for delivery partners ➡️Create a dedicated, nationally visible advice helpline housed within GBE ➡️Develop a comprehensive, business- and community-focused energy advice service Read further details of this and the other recommendations in the full policy briefing: https://lnkd.in/eJxutHMQ Report edited by: Gareth Fearn. Contributors: Stefan Bouzarovski, Manon Burbidge, Hannah Knox, Aliki Koutlou, Giulia Mininni, Katherine Sugar, Sara Tavakoli, Lin Zhang

Recommendations #4: Connecting the Local Plan From our ‘PUTTING POWER IN ITS PLACE: PPERC’s Local Power Plan Response’ policy briefing: ➡️The Warm Homes Agency should be closely aligned with GBE Local, with consideration given to local development corporations for delivery ➡️Ensure that local authority planners given guidance on how to include community energy in local plans and policy Read further details of this and the other recommendations in the full policy briefing: https://lnkd.in/eJxutHMQ Report edited by: Gareth Fearn. Contributors: Stefan Bouzarovski, Manon Burbidge, Hannah Knox, Aliki Koutlou, Giulia Mininni, Katherine Sugar, Sara Tavakoli, Lin Zhang

Recommendations #3: Developing Skills through Community Power From our ‘PUTTING POWER IN ITS PLACE: PPERC’s Local Power Plan Response’ policy briefing: ➡️ Use the LPP, alongside other policy, to develop a more inclusive and better-targeted skills strategy ➡️ Use LPP to deliver wider co-benefits through supporting and integrating SMEs and VCSEs Read further details of this and the other recommendations in the full policy briefing: https://lnkd.in/eJxutHMQ Report edited by: Gareth Fearn. Contributors: Stefan Bouzarovski, Manon Burbidge, Hannah Knox, Aliki Koutlou, Giulia Mininni, Katherine Sugar, Sara Tavakoli, Lin Zhang

Recommendations #2: Addressing Energy Poverty From our ‘PUTTING POWER IN ITS PLACE: PPERC’s Local Power Plan Response’ policy briefing: ➡️Energy poverty should be embedded as a key funding criterion ➡️Target new local energy schemes in areas with high levels of energy poverty and debt ➡️Create a single UK-wide registry of community energy organisations ➡️GBE Local to pro-actively approach existing community groups and community centres who do not have a specific energy focus Read further details of this and the other recommendations in the full policy briefing: https://lnkd.in/eJxutHMQ Report edited by: Gareth Fearn. Contributors: Stefan Bouzarovski, Manon Burbidge, Hannah Knox, Aliki Koutlou, Giulia Mininni, Katherine Sugar, Sara Tavakoli, Lin Zhang

Recommendations #1: Bringing Power to People From our ‘PUTTING POWER IN ITS PLACE: PPERC’s Local Power Plan Response’ policy briefing: ➡️GBE take a pro-active role in identifying communities which would most benefit ➡️Establish direct and protected mechanisms for public and democratic ownership ➡️Create a bespoke regulatory framework for community energy organisations ➡️Ringfence funding for community engagement and participatory energy planning Read further details of this and the other recommendations in the full policy briefing: https://lnkd.in/eJxutHMQ Report edited by: Gareth Fearn. Contributors: Stefan Bouzarovski, Manon Burbidge, Hannah Knox, Aliki Koutlou, Giulia Mininni, Katherine Sugar, Sara Tavakoli, Lin Zhang

Amidst rising energy bills and exposure to fossil fuel price shocks, the People, Place and Energy Research Centre (PPERC) has published a response to the government's Local Power Plan, arguing that it must go further in addressing energy poverty and upskilling communities. Their paper outlines five practical recommendations to ensure the plan delivers on it's full potential, including: ✅ Bringing power to the people ✅ Addressing energy poverty ✅ Developing skills through community power ✅ Connecting the Local Plan ✅ Investing in the 'One Stop Shop' 💬 Dr Gareth Fearn, School of Environment, Education and Development at The University of Manchester, explains: "What we argue for is genuinely community owned, democratic energy projects which provide both direct returns to those facing energy poverty and debt but also opportunities to develop skills and greater community cohesion." 🔗 Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eGGxZSBr 🔗 Read the paper: https://lnkd.in/eJxutHMQ #LocalPowerPlan #EnergyPoverty #UoM