What do the public think about climate change? How do they think governments should act? These are the people who will often be most affected by policy and action, so how do we find out their views? This answer may lie in citizens’ assemblies.

Dr Andy Yuille, is an interdisciplinary qualitative social scientist (!) from the University of Manchester. He takes us through citizens’ assemblies and their role in creating understandings about people's thoughts about the environment and government policy, and how they show that members of the public can take informed, positions on difficult policy decisions.

We encounter the concept of deliberative mini-publics, and how they can reflect the broader population to ensure views of assemblies reflect those of the public at large; discuss where and at what level climate assemblies operate; and understand how they are formed and operate, and the disqualifying factors for taking part.

Andy tells us about his interest in how major decisions that affect the environment are made and his work on the Our Energy Futures panel; we look at the polarisation of society and how this affects matters; and how assemblies might be a way to build trust in government.

What actions do governments take on assembly recommendations? Do assembly members ever find out why their suggestions are (or are not) taken up? And can these assemblies be considered a successful initiative?

Plus, what do people think about changes to energy usage and demand? How do they think businesses should adapt? Did Jan behave in school assemblies? What are human assembly plants? And what is a sociologist?

The UK Parliament has an introduction to citizens’ assemblies: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/committees/climate-assembly-uk/about-citizens-assemblies/

Here are some examples of past citizens’ assemblies: https://tinyurl.com/pastcitizensassemblies

More details about the assembly Andy talked about can be found here: https://www.edrc.ac.uk/research/projects/public-support-and-engagement-for-low-energy-futures/

How can businesses – and business schools – have a positive effect on their regions? And do we need to reconsider the connections between us all?

Ellie Hamilton is Professor Emerita at Lancaster University Management School, with a lengthy background in entrepreneurship and working with businesses. She is also the co-author of a new book, Rethinking Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, with former Lancaster colleagues Dr Rhiannon Pugh and Dr Danny Soetanto.

Ellie joins us to talk about how we need to focus on the role of universities as anchor institutions in their communities; the evolution of entrepreneurship as a concept; how regional development is seen as addressing regional inequalities – but how the focus on economics can be too great; and

We consider how sustainability can be a key part of both entrepreneurship and regional development, and mull over the need to break stubborn habits; shine a light on place-based and community-based entrepreneurship that is embedded in a region; and emphasises the importance of context in any region (be it geographical or institutional) to successful development.

The importance of the input from indigenous people in planning for change comes to the fore once more; a cog model of policy shaping research shaping engagement shaping teaching shaping policy is discussed; and Ellie looks to what the future might bring.

Plus, Ellie tells us about becoming an accidental academic and how to properly enjoy retirement; Jan struggles to spell entrepreneurship – but can blame the French; and Paul laments the treatment of medieval polar bears in the Tower of London.

See Ellie’s new book here: https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/rethinking-entrepreneurship-and-regional-development-9781802201437.html

For more information on Lancaster University’s entrepreneurship research, see here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/our-departments/entrepreneurship-and-strategy/research/

How can healthcare achieve net zero? Where do sustainability considerations stand in the long list of priorities for England’s National Health Service? And could your anaesthetic be better for the planet?

Dr Cliff Shelton, a consultant and professor in anaesthesia and perioperative medicine in the NHS and at Lancaster University Medical School; and Dr Fanny Burrows, Senior Lead on Net Zero Research and Innovation in the Greener NHS Programme for NHS England (which means more than painting the walls), are two people who can provide the answers to these and many other questions.

We learn why the NHS in England has committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2045, what the implications are of this goal, and how patient care will be affected and even improved by the actions necessary to reach it.

We look at how research and innovation can help healthcare sustainability, what changes have already been made, how waste can be and has been cut, and why some anaesthetics can be bad for the environment.

Cliff and Fanny talk to us about why patients should not feel responsibility for the carbon footprint of their care; how other health services around the world are following the UK’s lead; the realities of net-zero surgery; and attitudes to net zero among NHS staff generally.

Plus, Jan relives long-jumping and rollerblading trauma; Cliff tells us about inadvertent stockpiling of laughing gas; and stuffed badgers make a welcome (albeit brief) return.

Find out more about NHS England’s approach to net zero here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/wp-content/uploads/sites/51/2022/07/B1728-delivering-a-net-zero-nhs-july-2022.pdf And this is how things look after five years: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/five-years-greener-nhs-progress-forward-look/

This is an explainer on what net zero means for anaesthesia: https://www.bjanaesthesia.org/article/S0007-0912(20)30547-X/fulltext

Read Cliff’s work on identifying and mitigating nitrous oxide waste: https://associationofanaesthetists-publications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ftr/10.1111/anae.16211 And the resultant national consensus: https://rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2024-07/Consensus%20statement%20on%20removal%20of%20pipeline%20nitrous%20oxide.pdf

Net zero versus carbon neutral distinctions are discussed here: https://www.carbonneutral.com/news/carbon-neutral-vs-net-zero