A first-of-its-kind tool has been developed in the hope of drawing attention to deep-rooted spatial and social inequities between regions, helping direct policy based on local challenges and opportunities.
Created by The Young Foundation, the GoZero Index uses more than 30 datasets to map out a clear picture of where every council in Britain is on the road to net zero. Housing, transport, health, employment and social metrics are all included.
The idea is to help replace the complex top-down approaches currently used to prescribe net zero policy, which focus on blanket decarbonisation of industry, infrastructure, energy and technology. According to the Institute for Community Studies, this blunt object route will be difficult to pull off in the timeframe (by or before 2050), and even if government succeeds there is a real risk changes will exacerbate existing socioeconomic disparities between regions.
It is hoped the Index can now support real-world decision-making. For example, by giving councils a simple overview of how multiple community obstacles might be overcome with a single policy or regulatory change, rather than individual measures which are more expensive, less efficient, or potentially even standing in conflict with one another.
‘The GoZero Index recognises that places across the county face very different starting points in the journey to low-carbon living,’ said Julie McLaren, Interim Director of Sustainability and Just Transition at The Young Foundation. ‘By making these differences visible, we can help policymakers, funders, and changemakers design interventions that are fairer, more inclusive, and more effective.’
‘It’s only by having a complete picture that we ensure we don’t further exacerbate existing inequalities, and ensure that people benefit from a greener future,’ she continued. ‘We urge people all over England to explore your area, and share it with your MP so they can make informed decisions that benefit local communities – on their very doorsteps.’
Take a look at the GoZero Index here.
Image: Wouter De Praetere / Unsplash
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