Sustainability
Sustainability challenges are interconnected and complex, cutting across lifestyles, demographics and place.
The Challenge
Sustainability relates to much of the data we curate within HASP. The choices we make, from buying locally produced food or reducing car usage, can enhance the sustainability of a place.
Through our data we seek to support transitions to renewable energy, reductions in food waste, and the accessibility of efficient public transport systems.
While promoting sustainable places involves urban planning that prioritizes green spaces, energy-efficient buildings, and resilient infrastructure.
Balancing these elements requires innovative solutions and insight generated from high quality data. Addressing these challenges holistically can lead to more sustainable environments and more equitable places.
HASP’s Approach
HASP will support research which investigates and helps to improve the sustainability of places, with a particular focus on lifestyle, food and mobility behaviors.
In the food domain, we work with retail partners to understand consumer behavior and preferences and how they relate to sustainable consumption patterns.
In the mobility domain, data-driven insights will inform urban planning decisions, such as the development of bike lanes, pedestrian zones, and public transport networks, promoting sustainable and active modes of transport.
At the heart of the HASP approach is the identification of spatial inequalities which present barriers to the development of sustainable places.
Encouraging more informed food choices in Leeds
Around 10% of the UK’s carbon emissions can be linked to the food we eat or waste, with every part of the journey from farm to fork contributing to its overall environmental impact.
Researchers from HASP and the Consumer Data Research Centre have been working collaboratively with partners across the city to tackle climate change by making it easier for residents and organisations to make informed food choices, support more sustainable food production, and reduce food waste.
Project outputs include a carbon footprint calculator for food venues and caterers and ‘Planet Plates’ – an interactive and educational game for primary school children
Projects
Improving measures of perceived access to local amenities
Improving access to local amenities by active travel is an important phase in enhancing the sustainability of urban mobility.
By enhancing the presence of and connectivity to essential amenities it is possible to reduce the necessity of car-based travel, and enhance opportunities for active travel, which in turn have benefits to health.
This concept is the basis of considerable national government investment in active travel infrastructure, and a focus of many local government initiatives. Yet accessibility measures are still relatively crude.
This PhD project will expand existing approaches to better consider how neighbourhood amenities and distances are perceived by citizens.
Understanding the rise of vegetarianism
High levels of meat consumption pose significant health risks, including increased incidence of chronic diseases, and major environmental concerns such as greenhouse gas emissions.
Efforts to reduce meat intake have seen limited success, often overlooking the impact of social factors such as peer influence, cultural contexts, and lifestyle behaviours.
This research, developed by the Consumer Data Research Centre, applies spatial microsimulation modelling to generate a population-level dataset that captures the social and lifestyle factors associated with meat consumption across England.
