Category: Articles

Research shows that lifestyle changes are key to decarbonisation strategies needed to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals. Yet many current climate models do not fully capture how behavioural changes interact with policy measures.

Our project’s research, along with the EU-funded CAMPAIGNERs, ECEMF, and PRISMA projects, has introduced methodological improvements to two major energy models- PRIMES-BuiMo and EDGE-Buildings – to better simulate the effects of household lifestyle shifts.

The findings indicate that these changes can significantly reduce household energy use and CO₂ emissions, while also lowering fuel costs, which may help prevent energy poverty. Simple measures, such as adjusting thermostats and reducing dwelling size, demonstrate strong potential for aiding ambitious climate targets. This work underlines the importance of policies that support lifestyle changes as part of the decarbonisation process.

Read the free open-access paper, “Evaluating the impact of lifestyle changes: a scenario-based analysis for Europe’s residential buildings sector” published this month.

Imagine a future where the choices we make today shape multiple paths for our societies.

MultiFutures, a ground-breaking project funded by the Horizon Europe programme, aims to do just that: broaden the scope of possible futures and open up new pathways towards a climate-neutral, equitable and resilient society. By bringing together research institution from across Europe, we aim to build on and extend the ongoing debate on sustainability beyond GDP growth and purely technological solutions – by exploring alternative economic paradigms and new policy ideas.

The central idea of MultiFutures is simple but profound: to understand how different economic and social models could lead us to better outcomes for people and the planet. Our current policy frameworks are often based on a limited set of economic assumptions, but the future could be much richer if we explore alternative ways of organising our economies and societies. That’s why MultiFutures looks beyond traditional scenarios, using instead a diverse set of ‘beyond GDP’ indicators that consider human well-being, environmental sustainability and social equity as key measures of progress.

To achieve these goals, MultiFutures is structured around four main activities.

Next, these ideas will be translated into specific, quantified transition scenarios that include new ways of measuring progress, such as well-being and equality, rather than just financial metrics.

Then, through extensive stakeholder engagement, including social simulations and anticipatory system mapping, we will co-create these potential futures with citizens, experts and policymakers, understanding their trade-offs and mitigating their potential downsides.

Finally, a large-scale survey of over 18,000 European citizens will help gauge public attitudes towards these alternative scenarios and understand how willing people are to adopt new ways of thinking
and living.

At MultiFutures, we believe in shaping the future together. Through our collaborative process, citizens, experts, and policymakers are at the heart of exploring and building sustainable futures.

The ultimate goal of MultiFutures is to provide policy-makers with a wider range of tools and visions for creating resilient and equitable societies. Instead of one-size-fits-all solutions, we aim to help decision makers understand the multiple pathways available to achieve climate neutrality, balancing the needs of our environment, our economies and our societies.

By including people’s views and exploring different paradigms, MultiFutures ensures that the choices we make aren’t just about meeting carbon budgets, but about building a future in which people can see themselves thriving.

Join us on this exciting journey to explore the possibilities of tomorrow.