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Projects: Projects for Region Projects in Northern Ireland involving Queen's University Belfast: EP/Y032640/1
Reference Number	EP/Y032640/1
Title	C-NEWTRAL: smart CompreheNsive training to mainstrEam neW approaches for climaTe-neutRal cities through citizen engAgement and decision-making support
Status	Started
Energy Categories	Energy Efficiency(Residential and commercial) 20%; Not Energy Related 80%;
Research Types	Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields	ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Geography and Environmental Studies) 50%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Architecture and the Built Environment) 50%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 40%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour) 50%; Other (Energy technology information dissemination) 10%;
Principal Investigator	Professor G Ellis No email address given Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering Queen's University Belfast
Award Type	Standard
Funding Source	EPSRC
Start Date	01 February 2024
End Date	31 January 2028
Duration	48 months
Total Grant Value	£521,352
Industrial Sectors
Region	Northern Ireland
Programme	UKRI MSCA
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Professor G Ellis , Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queen's University Belfast (100.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract	Achieving climate-neutral cities is an EU priority, yet faces many challenges because of the complex urban activities, and the vast range of stakeholders involved. The European Commission has identified 'participative city governance' and 'integrated urban planning' as key enablers for driving climate-neutral cities forward. Cities require enhanced capacity and ongoing support for implementation of climate-neutral solutions and assessment of how they may impact different sections of society. There is however, a lack of highly-skilled, highly-trained interdisciplinary researchers and professionals for this task, which C-NEWTRAL aims to address. C-NEWTRAL is underpinned by five key thematics (Urban Nature, Urban Mobility, Built Form, Energy, Circularity), which are integrated through two cross-scale research dimensions, linked to drivers identified by the EU: I. Citizen Engagement & Public Participation and II. City Governance & Decision-Making. This provides a framework for individual research projects examining participation and decision-making for integrating nature-based solutions in urban regeneration, active/ green/ just mobility transitions, social acceptance of energy performance standards in buildings/ neighbourhoods/ social housing, hydrosocial/ circular/ digital approaches in urban water management, and nexuses among these. Each researcher will be trained in advanced participative methods and use of governance & planning tools, supported by digital technologies - recognised by the EU as a priority, but still under-developed within city planning processes. Researchers will be exposed to secondments in local authorities, NGOs or industry. The program will provide a dynamic, intellectually-challenging, interdisciplinary training environment attracting the best international graduate candidates and fosters an enthusiastic and innovative community of researchers - effectively placed to advise on cross-sectoral strategies for achieving climate-neutral cities
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	18/10/23