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What are the Transition Labs?
4 April 2023
A brief overview of the Unit's partnership with North Star; which convenes stakeholders across a region or sector to achieve climate action.
Who is听North Star Transition?
North Star Transition is an organisation which aims to change how听human-social-economic systems operate so that they听enable听humanity and the environment to thrive.
It was founded on the principle that听鈥榰nlikely allies鈥� in areas such as finance, agriculture and听industry听could collectively identify sector-specific听solutions to climate problems, and ultimately bring about听systemic change.
This applies to regions and nations too - where, for example, nature, food and wellbeing are siloed from one another other.
What are Transition Labs?
'Transition labs鈥� are the mechanism through which unlikely allies can meet and work together. The Lab offers听a platform for individuals who are invested in the future of an area or a sector to engage, and to resolve the disconnect between the human, social and physical systems.
North Star's Director, Jyoti Bannerjee, explains:
The aim of a Transition Lab is to bring together unlikely allies across听disciplines and cultures to reframe problems, identify obstacles to change,听and create novel听solutions.
The听CAU provides听facilitation expertise听to the Transition Labs,听with a focus on steering participants towards a solution-based approach. This method听bridges the differing priorities of participants and issues facing their sector or organisation.
Live Transition Labs
There are currently four transition labs in progress:
Each lab aims to create practical solutions in their area,听which can then be scaled-up or used听as a framework to implement wider systemic change.
听The key difference between these transition labs and other platforms is the focus on system change. Through a process that maps the flow of resources and finance, and an identification of the current barriers, solutions can be aligned across the different sectors of society.
Looking to the future
Throughout 2023, the CAU will continue to听co-create the transition lab process, bringing our听unique insights on听behavioural and systemic change as well as techniques that听help facilitate professional discussions.
In the first two quarters of the year, our focus will be on the Wye-Usk transition lab in Wales. Over a series听of workshops, we will听bridge the gap between institutional investors and the need for green听finance to听make听agriculture regenerative.听