Sustainable and Resilient Futures
Source: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/networks/sustainable-and-resilient-futures Parent: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research
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About us
Members of the Sustainable & Resilient Futures Network share a common aspiration: to address pressing global challenges through research and innovation that contribute to sustainable and resilient societies and environments.
Sustainability, in all its forms, is fundamental for societies to thrive. Concerns regarding humanity’s increasing destabilisation of the Earth and its resources, and of growing societal inequalities at local and global scales, remain central in current debates.
Climate change, socio-economic inequality, rights to resources and their distribution between human and non-human species, are major global issues that lie at the heart of the Sustainable & Resilient Futures agenda, aligning with and addressing the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Most specifically, the COP26 conference in Glasgow fostered intra and international commitments to achieving net zero emissions targets and protecting communities and habitats from the worst effects of climate change. These are key areas of research among Network members.
More broadly, the Network draws on expertise from across the University that seek to contribute to a more sustainable and resilient world.
News
16 March 2026
Oxford Brookes to Co-lead One of Seven National Projects to Shield the NHS from Extreme Heat
From research to retrofit: How the ARCHI project is heat-proofing the NHS for a warming climate.
29 October 2025
THERM-UK: £2.5 million grant to fight heat risks in the UK
Oxford Brookes University is excited to announce its involvement in the THERM-UK project, a £2.5 million research initiative funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
03 October 2025
Students want purpose-driven careers – but employers are failing to keep up, new report finds
Young people entering the job market are demanding careers that align with their values and contribute to tackling global challenges such as climate change – but universities and employers are struggling to keep pace, according to a new report.
15 September 2025
Madagascar’s Climate Exodus
How poverty and drought are driving deforestation in one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots.
Research themes
Climate Resilience
This theme focuses on understanding climate risks and strengthening the ability of societies, ecosystems and economies to cope with them. Research explores how vulnerable systems respond to climate change and develops adaptation and mitigation strategies that support long-term resilience.
Sustainable Resources
This area examines how to use natural resources responsibly and restore biodiversity. It includes research on fair access to finite resources, human–wildlife interactions, environmental and social impact assessment and approaches that reverse resource depletion and biodiversity loss.
Cities and Infrastructure
Cities and infrastructure shape both the challenges and the solutions for sustainable futures. This theme investigates how urban development, operations and reuse of infrastructure can reduce emissions, support biodiversity and improve health and wellbeing, while identifying resilient and sustainable alternatives for managing these systems.
Society, Justice and Behavioural Change
A sustainable future requires major social transformation and fair treatment for all communities. Research here addresses behavioural change, the influence of institutions, environmental and social justice and the links between conflict and climate change, exploring how societies can shift towards equitable and sustainable practices.
Institutions and Governance
This theme examines how decisions are made and who is accountable for them. It considers governance structures across sectors and scales, the balance between equity and fairness in decision-making and the mechanisms needed to ensure responsible action, investment and outcomes.
Education and Skills Development
Education plays a central role in building sustainable and resilient futures. Research in this area, guided by the principles of Futures Literacy, explores how learners of all ages can gain the knowledge, skills and values needed to address interconnected global challenges and shape more sustainable realities.
Our team
Professor Richard Grayson
Network Chair
Professor Iakovos Tzanakis
Network Lead
Dr Mel Nowicki
Network Lead
Work with us
Join the Sustainable and Resilient Futures network and help drive progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. If you are part of the Oxford Brookes community and want to contribute to tackling global challenges, we welcome you to become a member.