海角视频

Act now: navigating through social tipping points

In the discourse around sustainability and ESG, the focus is often on ecological considerations. This usually involves optimising existing processes, reducing CO2 emissions, or using alternative resources.

However, a pure focus on system optimisation is not enough. For real change the human factor also needs to be considered. The social factor (the S in ESG) is important to not only optimise systems, but to change them holistically.

Aron Bohmann, Associate Consultant in our cities team in Hamburg, explains how social factors can be given greater prominence in sustainability considerations in order to initiate holistic change.

What are social tipping points?

Social tipping points play a central role in tackling climate change. They are characterised by the fact that 鈥減rofound social changes take place within a very short period of time and without a serious or predictable trigger鈥, according to the Future Institute, which is based on a led by Ilona Otto, Professor of Social Impacts of Climate Change at the Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change at the University of Graz. 鈥淭hese tipping points are triggered by a small but committed minority that succeeds in changing the attitudes of the majority and thus initiating far-reaching movements in all areas of society. As soon as a critical mass is convinced, it only takes a small, inconspicuous trigger to set in motion a huge dynamic that ultimately influences all areas of society.鈥

In our work in the urban context, we encounter various tipping points. Let us take a closer look at three exemplary topics that can trigger social change. How do you navigate them so that they lead into a positive direction?

Tipping point 1: Demographic change

In many residential areas, especially in monofunctional neighbourhoods, there will be changing demands on the environment in phases due to synchronous ageing processes. As a result, essential services, such as medical services and suitable education and mobility services, may no longer be a perfect fit. One example of this is Neu-Hohensch枚nhausen, on the north-eastern edge of Berlin and the youngest housing estate of the former GDR built for about 70,000 inhabitants. In the 1980s, it was one of the most modern, child-friendly and sought-after housing estates in East Berlin. Whereas back then it was mainly young families who lived there, today it is mostly older and retired residents who have different demands and needs. In monofunctional neighbourhoods such as Neu-Hohensch枚nhausen, demand changes depending on the residents鈥 stage of life. If amenities are not updated, the housing situation and living conditions deteriorate and there is a risk of the area tipping over into 鈥榙isadvantaged neighbourhood鈥.

Neighbourhoods need updates

For large housing estates such as Neu-Hohensch枚nhausen to be updated, a deep understanding of these places is necessary. Insights can be gained through demographic surveys, discussions with residents and analyses of amenities and occupancy rates. Urgent questions that need to be asked are:

  • How can large housing estates be further developed structurally?
  • How can neighbourhoods contribute to a climate-resilient city?  
  • How do they position themselves in the digitalisation process?
  • How will residents move around in the future?
  • How will they work in the future?
  • For whom should these neighbourhoods be attractive?

Solutions

To counteract residential areas reaching the tipping point into disadvantaged neighbourhoods, an integrated concept is required that considers issues such as open space, commercial and social structures, mobility, housing quality or energy efficiency and their interactions and that at the same time includes a timely action plan. Neighbourhoods (such as Neu-Hohensch枚nhausen) need to be regularly updated.

Instead of looking at the problem from a pure planning point of view, there needs to be a change of perspective that takes the human aspect into account. Measures should be developed following dialogue with residents, participatory observation of how spaces are used.

Adapting existing structures creates new spaces and amenities for both established and new groups. Other examples of a possible update are new ground floor strategies in which different needs and user groups – current as well as future ones – are considered or local exchange platforms for flats, shops, garages, or other commercial spaces. This way the changing needs and future requirements of neighbourhoods can be met.

It is already foreseeable that, due to demographic change in combination with occupancy policies, social services, medical services and spaces will be needed to support different ethnic groups.

New ground floor strategies, for instance, adapting existing structures create new spaces and amenities for both established and new groups and ways to meet their different needs. Image: 海角视频

Tipping point 2: Social participation

This point is based on the thesis that there is a growing sense of loss in terms of opportunities for social participation. There is a general disenchantment with politics attested by a 50% voter turnout in recent European elections. In view of the results of the local elections in the German federal states of Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg, the shift to the right and the resulting polarisation of the population is a matter of the utmost urgency. 

Political polarisation can be felt and dealt with locally. While there may be disenchantment at a higher level, neighbourhoods and districts are the smallest cells of exchange, effectiveness and thus political action. In these spaces, there is room for exchange between population groups. Here, chance encounters can be planned to a certain extent. This way frameworks can be created for encounters outside of one’s own filter bubble.

Solutions

By considering living environments such as Neu-Hohensch枚nhausen, it is possible recognise social trends and utilise them to support social participation.

Political action must start locally where people are if it is to be effective. It is not a generalisation to say that most people prefer to live in a good neighbourhood and therefore, may be willing to get involved. However, this requires opportunities, spaces and resources. Co-creative processes must be initiated to find out what is behind the needs of the residents and how these can be met locally.

Neighbourhoods act as the nucleus of social participation. A social mix can be positively or negatively influenced by a strategic housing policy. Places of exchange that are easily accessible, shared spaces and local meeting points (so-called third spaces) should be planned. These analogue spaces, in conjunction with corresponding chat groups are an essential component of personal interaction and opinion-forming. 

Planning before planning

If the tipping point of social participation is to be successfully tackled, fundamental decisions must be made before the actual planning. There must be an understanding of social trends, local contexts and their relationship with the spatial distribution, mobility and housing mix in phase 0. Subsequent measures to support social participation could be as follows:

Loan and exchange platforms: Items such as drills, lawnmowers and bicycles or even flats can be offered for loan or exchange on these platforms. Important here are analogue interfaces in the neighbourhood where items can be exchanged, stored or maintained and interactions promoted.

Third places: These are places that offer opportunities for exchange, such as creative or craft workshops, FabLabs where computer-controlled tools are accessible, a library of things, repair caf茅s or other meeting spaces, such as cultural caf茅s or restaurants.

Local production: Local manufacturing could receive a boost with a reorganisation of local commercial opportunities so that manufacturing and craft businesses can flexibly rent space.

Tipping point 3: Digital divide

The digital divide is defined as the drifting apart of the digitally literate and the more analogue population. Residents, especially those belonging to older generations, are being left behind and can no longer fully participate in life. Increasingly, civic services or applications now have a digital component (e.g. appointment bookings or forms) that is more practical for many residents but does not appeal to everyone equally. This problem is exacerbated by demographic change. Financially weaker groups can also have disadvantages in dealing with digitalisation. Due to the lack of suitable electronic devices or internet connections, some groups are less able to actively utilise existing digital opportunities. For example, digital school materials that are not available to everyone equally or free of charge present hurdles and could lead to someone 鈥榣osing touch鈥.

Solutions

Digitalisation also requires a human perspective. People and user intentions must be put before technological progress. Technologies have proven to be fast-moving, often accompanied by a certain dazzling effect. In this respect, it makes sense to critically analyse applications in terms of their user value. 

There is still a need for analogue interfaces for digital (civic) services, easy access to the digital world and proactive support in opening up this world for affected groups.

海角视频 has developed a series of measures that address these problems on the basis of research and with reference to local conditions:

Digital services provisions in housing construction: this is aimed at housing associations to install the internet at the same time as water and electricity.

Design guidelines: Standardisation, basic quality requirements and recognition of digital services, including things such as font size, contrast and simple language.

Digital space management: People with the task of bringing together stakeholders and making existing digital services visible. The main field of activity for this position is to support local social institutions with knowledge and networking opportunities.

Conclusion

As we can see, there is no need for quick solutions, optimisations or cosmetic interventions: long-term thinking is required. Nevertheless, visible and perceptible impulses are needed on the ground to initiate change. A rethink must take place, taking the following points into account. 

  • Understanding of the sustainability discourse 鈥 a refocus away from isolated considerations of individual pillars towards a holistic view
  • Focus on environment & people – instead of products and applications 
  • Co-creative work – different perspectives are needed
  • Empowerment instead of participation – instead of listening to voices, give them the power to change
  • Long-term perspectives – rash solutions are often not effective
  • Planning must be visible – measures must be recognised by residents

At present, we have a linear approach and are often set on a path from which it is difficult to move away. In the sustainability and ESG discourse, people must become the basis for action instead of isolated CO2 optimisations, otherwise we are back to fighting the symptom and not the cause of the problem. If we focus at the 鈥楽鈥 in ESG now, we will only see the positive effects after generations, in contrast to the 鈥楨鈥, where we can calculate and model an ROI. But with changes in our thinking and behaviour, goals can be achieved sustainably – the S is an essential vehicle for the E as well as the G.