*CANCELLED* Place-based Sustainability Transitions

PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR LATER IN THE YEAR.

Traditional sustainability and circular economy discourses and practices often overlook the nuanced dynamics of specific locales. A place-based perspective ensures that sustainability and circularity approaches are not only environmentally sound but also culturally resonant, economically viable, and socially equitable within local contexts. By tailoring strategies to local conditions - leveraging unique resources, aligning with cultural norms, responding to economic circumstances, and adhering to regional policy frameworks – organisations, entrepreneurs, and innovators can foster more sustainable, inclusive, and effective transition strategies. Business and innovation – together with communities and policymakers – potentially play a unique role in enabling system-wide changes towards sustainability and circularity. It is particularly apt to explore a place-based approach in Cornwall, given the unique challenges and opportunities faced by peripheral regions. Universities, as important anchor institution, must be at the heart of such place-based initiatives, helping to bring about rapid and just transitions towards sustainability and circularity in the regions surrounding them.

This think-tank, co-organised by the ESI and the Sustainable Futures department of the Business School, invites colleagues from across the Penryn campus and beyond to join this half-day workshop. Focusing on the theme of ‘place-based sustainability transitions’, our aim is to build an interdisciplinary team that can respond to funding, publication and impact opportunities. More than ever before, there is a need to build interdisciplinary languages and understandings to develop concepts and actionable change approaches that will be able to make a real difference to communities, businesses and policymakers in specific locales. We are eager to build a joint agenda for interdisciplinary research and engagement that will allow us to work across departments, disciplinary boundaries, so that we can respond to emerging opportunities not only in Cornwall but beyond.