The New Economics Foundation (nef) has been commissioned to carry out the Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society's project on exploring how practically the social justice and climate change agendas can be ‘bridged’, and specifically to explore the distinctive role of civil society associations in the UK and Ireland in doing so.
Drawing on the working definition of civil society that informs the Inquiry’s work, the indicative questions that will frame this project include:
Civil society as the ‘good’ society
- How is social justice understood when related to climate change and the pressure on global resources?
- What has been achieved so far to practically bridge the social justice and climate change agendas (including the strengths and failings of this work, the actors involved and the role that has been played by civil society associations)?
The report will include case studies, analyse what the governments’ potential responses may be in terms of mitigation and adaptation (in relation to growing pressure on global resources and climate change) and how this relates to social justice.
Civil society as arenas for public deliberation
- What key issues/policy agendas need to be deliberated so as to practically bridge the climate change and social justice agendas?
- What are the diverse views/agendas that relate to these issues and how might they be practically addressed and by whom?
- Where are associated conversations taking place [if at all], who convenes them and what has been the involvement of civil society associations?
- What and where could be the arenas where meaningful conversations can take place and who needs to be involved?
Civil society as associational life
- What is/could be the role of diverse civil society associations (including trades unions voluntary organisations and faith based organisations) now and in the future to practically bridge the social justice and climate change agendas?
- What networks/information/infrastructure do/could exist to support this?
- Are civil society associations acting as effective social justice ‘watchdogs’ at a local and national level in relation to current and emerging political responses to resource shortages and climate change and are they appropriately represented at decision-making tables?
The findings of this project will feed into the Inquiry Commission's deliberations and final report however the report will be made availably publicly in the interest of strengthening civil society. An interim briefing paper has been developed by nef, to view this, click here.
This project will be informed by desk research, interviews and a facilitated event. We are also seeking contibutions through an online survey which will feed into the findings for this project. To find out more about this survey and to contribute to this project please click here.
The report' will be available to order hard copy or download electronically in early 2009.
For more information about this project please contact morven@carnegieuk.org.