Societal Readiness Framework

Purpose

SoRA is a framework to support reflexive assessment and improvement of Societal Readiness. SoRA has been created in collaboration with experts, innovators and policy makers. The assessment consists of four dimensions that relate to carbon reduction, social justice, social good and alignment with preferable future systems. SoRA facilitates alignment with carbon reduction targets, better integration within existing local, national and international systems, articulation of co-benefits for multiple stakeholders and localities and alignment with compelling vision of a better future.

For more information on Societal Readiness, contact l.salinas@lcc.arts.ac.uk

Process

The DecarboN8 network focused on tackling surface transport emissions. In the context of this network, Büscher & Cronshaw (2022) published the The Little Book of Societal Readiness which argues that innovation fails due to lack of attention to attention to social and ethical issues. A first framework for assessing the societal readiness of green mobility innovations was piloted by Stantec and captured in the Bridging the Gap report. Next, Service Futures Lab was commissioned to transform this framework into an accessible tool to enable reflexive assessment. Later, the UK Department for Transport supported further development of SoRA through their Transport Research Innovation Grants. The SoRA team was recipient of the Transport Research and Innovation Academic Leadership Award 2023.

SoRA was then incorporated by Connected Places Catapult as part of the business support offer for the Clean Futures programme.

Partners:

Lancaster University, SafeNetics, Alistair Kirkbride

Date:

2023 – 2024

Funder:

Connected Places Catapult, Department for Transport

Team:

Dr Lara Salinas, Maitreyee Kshirsagar, Namita Manohar, Sofia Kallimasioti, Veron Lai