About the project
Equity and sustainability
The research project Centring Families in Iceland’s Just Transition was held on October 9 at Saga, Hagatorg. examines how low-carbon energy transition can be just and equitable for families across Iceland. The goal is to understand how an equitable transition can be the reality of daily life and how the concepts of family, community and nature emerge in both culture and everyday experience across the country.
The project is sponsored by The British Academy.
Collaboration between science and society
The project builds bridges between researchers, families and policymakers. By connecting theoretical analysis with the lived experience of families across the country, an opportunity is created for collaboration and dialogue which can lay the foundations for a more equitable and realistic climate policy.
Two approaches – one goal
The analysis consists of two methods which combine in one goal:
- A cultural analysis of Icelandic literature and film from 1944 to the present explores how themes of family, nature and sustainability have evolved and shaped the nation's cultural identity.
- Voices of families in modern times, bringing together 50 households with children from across the country who share their stories through interviews, creative writing by kids and parents, and family photographs. Together, these contributions create a portrait of lived experiences shaped by diverse backgrounds and the different communities and homes in which they live.
Just transitions in
an Icelandic context
Iceland aims for carbon neutrality by the year 2040. On the international stage, emphasis is placed on ensuring that climate action is fair, and that costs and benefits are not distributed unjustly between groups. Nevertheless, the role of the family as a fundamental social unit has often been underestimated in this discussion. This project fills that gap by exploring how families experience, understand and engage in climate action, and how these experiences can shed new light on future policymaking.
Are we
looking for you?
We are seeking diverse families who have, or live with, a child under the age of 18.
All family types are welcome — every voice matters.
