Decision Making, Institutions and Cultures
Overview
Lens 2 explores how decisions are shaped across production and consumption systems, and why change can be difficult to deliver in practice. It focuses on the institutions, policies, business models and social dynamics that influence how emissions are produced and reduced.
Our Approach
Transforming production and consumption requires changes not only in technology, but in how decisions are made across government, industry and society.
This lens examines the political, economic and social context in which these decisions take place, including:
- Policy incentives and regulation
- Business models and industry practices
- Social norms, behaviours and expectations
These transformations are often contested, with winners and losers, particularly in the short term. Understanding where support and opposition arise—and why—is critical to delivering effective change.
We analyse:
- How production and trade decisions are shaped
- How consumption patterns are influenced by social and economic factors
- How public and stakeholder perceptions of fairness affect outcomes
This work is grounded in the wider context of:
- Cost-of-living pressures
- Shifting political landscapes
- Low business investment and global uncertainty
Our Ambitions
We aim to ensure that production and consumption transformations are politically feasible and practically deliverable.
Our key ambitions include:
- Embedding political and institutional insights into policy design and evaluation
- Identifying sources of support and opposition across sectors and society
- Supporting fair and inclusive transitions, particularly in labour markets and consumption impacts
- Building capacity for ongoing political economy analysis
- Supporting coalitions for change across government, industry and civil society
Delivering Impact
We combine research and engagement to understand and influence real-world decision-making:
- Mapping actors, interests and power dynamics across supply chains
- Analysing policy environments and institutional structures
- Drawing lessons from past and current policy interventions
- Working with government on industrial strategy and circular economy policy
- Developing future scenarios for sustainable production and consumption
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