Our approach to driving change
At the heart of our research is a commitment to a healthier, fairer and more sustainable future for everyone.
Our Theory of Change outlines how our research expertise and activities become tangible outcomes and lead to our long-term vision. This framework guides our work, ensuring we deliver real-world impact.
You can access the theory of change as a PDF and read a written explanation below.
, 82kb)Our research expertise: the foundations of our work
Our research expertise spans a broad spectrum of climate, environment and sustainable development challenges. Our activities focus on five key areas:
- Investigating and addressing air pollution through research on Air Quality, Climate and Environmental Change
- Engaging the public in scientific research via Inclusive Citizen Science
- Examining and improving environmental policies and practices through Critical Environmental Governance
- Exploring the link between Environments, Human Health and Wellbeing
- Promoting responsible resource use through our work on Sustainable Consumption and Production
Facilitating our journey
Our position at the University of York means our work is founded on rigorous research. This academic foundation underpins our publications, methods and data which inform policy and practice. Inclusive values inform all areas of our work, ensuring we strive for accessibility and actively seek out diverse perspectives. Our robust support processes facilitate high-quality research, high-quality communications outputs and effective stakeholder engagement.
Turning knowledge into action
Our dedicated research technical support experts have enabled our strong track record in open tool development: vital resources which provide solutions and can help influence behaviours. Training and education – for students at the University of York, as well as external stakeholders – is also an important component of our work, complementing our activities to build capacity across sectors. With dedicated communications and operations teams, we ensure our work is accessible, impactful and contributes to transformative action.