Three projects and a Fellowship have been awarded through the third and final round of the PCAN Fund.

The aim of the PCAN Fund is to support projects that promote and increase understanding of place–based climate action in the UK. The Fund provides small grants for both research and the development of policy and practice.

The 2021 funding round total award is for £110,000 and follows previous funding rounds of £105,000 (five awards) in 2019 and £160,000 (six awards) in 2020.

Projects 

Building an understanding of how local citizens perceive the co–benefits of climate action (Neil Jennings, Imperial College, London) 

This project will use mixed methods research to understand which co–benefits of climate action resonate most with citizens and how this varies with different demographics. The evidence will be used to provide guidance to local authorities on how the public perception of co–benefits may influence the way in which they communicate climate action to their residents.

Enabling place–based climate action to address consumption–based emissions (Anne Owen, University of Leeds) 

This project will support local delivery of national climate targets and help local authorities to reach their net–zero pledges through an interactive website for the dissemination of consumption–based accounts (CBA) for every local authority in the UK. The CBAs will be broken down into major areas of consumption including energy, public and private transport, food, consumables and services.

Building a rural resilience network in Northern Ireland, raising awareness of climate risk and resilience options and preparing for a just transition for the agricultural sector (Jade Berman, Climate Northern Ireland)

Working with a number of stakeholders including (UFU, Lakeland Dairies, CIEH, QUB and Cardiff University), this project aims to measurably raise awareness of climate risk and adaptation within rural and agricultural communities in NI, improve baseline evidence (including gap analysis of climate risk and resilience research needs, and the costs and opportunities of a resilient just transition), co–develop communications and co–create a rural resilience network that will share best practice.

Read more about the other projects

here.