Transitions in practice: climate change and everyday life

Shove, E (2017). Transitions in practice: climate change and everyday life. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: Economic and Social Research Council. 10.5255/UKDA-SN-850629

Data description (abstract)

This climate change leadership fellowship addresses the need for new ways of framing problems of climate change, consumption and demand. To date, governments have sought to improve the efficiency with which contemporary 'standards' of everyday life are maintained. It is now clear that policy and governance actors have to go further and that systemic transitions in practice - in patterns of sociability and mobility, and of comfort, cleanliness, food provisioning and leisure - are also required. The fellowship aims to: 1. Develop understanding of how complex systems of practice and consumption emerge, persist and disappear - and with what consequence for the spatial and temporal ordering of daily life and the potential for mitigating or adapting to climate change. 2. Extend the range of social theoretical input to climate change policy by generating and encouraging new forms of academic and non-academic interaction. 3. Discover how social scientific analyses of systemic transitions in practice have shaped climate change policy and governance in other countries and contexts - and what lessons can be learned for the UK. Designed around a programme of research and writing, the fellowship involves running conferences, setting up a social-change climate-change working party and supervising two associated studentships.

Data creators:

Creator Name	Affiliation	ORCID (as URL)
Shove E

Sponsors:

ESRC

Grant reference:

RES-066-27-0015

Topic classification:

Natural environment
Society and culture

Keywords:

climate change, consumption

Project title:

Transitions in practice: climate change and everyday life

Grant holders:

E Shove

Project dates:

From	To
1 October 2008	31 March 2012

Date published:

11 Sep 2012 11:12

Last modified:

11 Jul 2017 13:36

Coverage and Methodology

Collection period:

Date from:	Date to:
1 October 2008	31 March 2012

Country:

United Kingdom

Data collection method:

These 13 interviews were undertaken as part of the transitions in practice: climate change and everyday life fellowship. The cool biz initiative (outlined below) represents an effective policy intervention in everyday life and the purpose of the research was to learn more about the history and aims of this programme and how it has worked out in detail. Respondents were selected by the Japanese interviewer/interpreter.
In 2005 the Japanese government introduced the Cool Biz programme. Cool Biz was designed to reduce CO2 emissions relating to the use of air conditioning and promote public awareness of environmental issues. The decision was made not to heat or cool government buildings between 20 and 28 degrees C. Staff were encouraged to wear lighter clothing in the summer – and in particular men were encouraged to remove jackets and ties in response. Companies were encouraged to follow suit. Fashion shows featuring Cool Biz styles were held, and department stores were involved. The then Prime Minister, Mr Koizumi took the lead, not wearing a tie and promoting the campaign in various ways.
These interview transcripts record the experiences of a selection of business people who had to adjust to the new Cool Biz style, and the views of commentators (these were people in a position to provide an overview of the programme). The interviews were conducted in Tokyo in 2010 by/with an interpreter, and only fragments of the conversation were interpreted and have been available for transcription.
The transcripts have been edited to ensure anonymity.

Observation unit:

Individual

Kind of data:

Numeric

Type of data:

Qualitative and mixed methods data

Resource language:

English

Access and Administration