We were delighted to host the TWIG International Workshop on Social Infrastructures and Net Zero at the JUST Centre. Using a hybrid format, the event brought together over 30 researchers and practitioners from across the world to explore how social infrastructure can drive just sustainability transitions.
Inspiring guest presentations from Dr Ceren Sezer (RWTH Aachen) and Doris de Bruijn (SlimRenoveren) highlighted innovative approaches, from participatory energy communities to neighbourhood engagement for deep retrofits. We presented our latest conceptual work on the topic along with our own Harry Quealy.
Group discussions highlighted the dynamic and inclusive nature of social infrastructure, as well as the multiple gaps in co-ordination and governance that it encounters. Participants also emphasised the political and economic challenges generated by public service cuts.
Summaries of invited presentations
Doris de Bruijn, SlimRenoveren, Netherlands
The presentation outlined the Neighbourhood Energy Compass (NEC), a guideline developed to help local authorities, housing associations, and professionals engage residents in collective energy retrofit projects to tackle energy poverty. It emphasised that people are at the centre of sustainability and that behavioural change is key to successful transitions. The NEC proposes a five-phase approach: project kick-off, preparing for engagement, engaging for action, supporting residents during renovation, and sustaining behaviour post-retrofit.
Lessons from pilot projects in France and Italy highlight the importance of trust, informal engagement, and funding engagement as core infrastructure. Overall, the NEC supports social infrastructure that fosters participation and ensures equitable, large-scale energy renovations.
Dr. Ceren Sezer, Research Group Leader, Community Collaboration Lab for Just Transitions (CCLab), RWTH Aachen University, Germany
The presentation described the Community Collaboration Lab (CCLab) at RWTH Aachen University, a transdisciplinary platform that developed methodologies and tools for co-design and capacity building to achieve just Net Zero transitions through resilient social infrastructures, focusing on university campuses and neighbourhoods as living labs. The speaker outlined social infrastructure across four dimensions (physical, relational, governance, and cultural/expressive) and argued that reaching Net Zero by 2050 required transformative societal action.
The work showcased projects such as participatory energy communities, augmented reality for collaborative design, and arts-based approaches to foster engagement and inclusivity. The presentation strengthening communities, enabling participation, and integrating spatial, organisational, and digital environments to make climate transitions both achievable and socially just.
Summaries of group discussions
Group one
The discussion focused on the role of social infrastructure in achieving Net Zero, stressing its often overlooked and mundane nature. Key themes included the importance of community connections, capacity building, and relational approaches rather than purely technical solutions. Participants questioned whether Net Zero initiatives inherently create demand for social infrastructure and how to translate climate commitments into tangible, relatable actions.
Concerns were raised about gaps in coordination, misalignment between systems thinking and decision-making, and the risk of treating people as passive rather than active participants. Overall, the group emphasised integrating social infrastructure into climate strategies to foster engagement, trust, and resilience.
Group two
This group explored how they work with social infrastructure, highlighting its relational and enabling dimensions. They discussed mapping social infrastructure, fostering connections across communities, and maintaining socio-ecological systems. Key points included the significance of social relations at multiple scales, visibility of climate action, and infrastructures that are both productive and supportive of sustainable futures.
Concerns were raised about the risk of creating compensatory infrastructures and the need to avoid excuses for governments. Participants stressed enabling participation, relational work, and infrastructures of engagement, while questioning who benefits from these systems and how they intersect with everyday life and governance.
Thank you to everyone who attended for shaping this important conversation – we look forward to further engagements in the period to come.
