Pathways to Wellbeing—Low Carbon Challenge to Live Virtuously and Well: Participatory Design and Education on Mitigation, Adaptation, Governance and Accountability

Abstract

y and water security. These issues were discussed and raised at a previous conference on sustainability hosted with Universitas Nasional in 2015, Jakarta where I presented a plenary paper. This issue was also addressed by delegates from the West Java Provincial Government who attended a 10-day leadership workshop at Flinders University. Workshops at the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Religion and Ministry of Social Affairs in 2013 and 2014 and workshops with members of the Indonesian Research Consortium in 2016 have resulted in establishing the basis for this research. This research is in several stages and this is stage one in Indonesia. The objective is to develop a way to enhance the management of carbon footprints by participants. This chapter discusses the following: ∙ Design and preparation for a participatory action research project based on engagement with staff at Universitas Nasionale, Padjadjaran, Indonesian State Islamic University and West Java Provincial Council and Wirasoft, Sydney. ∙ Processes to date that have involved developing a research consortium with universities and Wirasoft. The participatory process supports the design of a Participatory Action Research Programme to be implemented in three stages across Depok (a highly urbanized area with a diverse population), Jatinangor (an area that is becoming increasingly suburban) and Cianjur (a food production area). The fourfold aim of this PAR research in public policy and administration is to: ∙ Develop and pilot processes for public education and engagement to address the rights and responsibilities of ecological citizens through participatory public education. The approach to the research will be to pilot the engagement software and to test the understanding that people have of social, economic and environmental challenges before and after using the software. ∙ Work with people to find local solutions and to explore what works, why and how and what does not work why and how. It will do so by exploring the following hypothesis: The greater the level of public participation (a) the greater the understanding of UN Development Goals, (b) the greater the personal application of the goals. ∙ Address the low carbon challenge by finding ways to regenerate the way we live in cities and to be mindful that the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals do not go far enough to prevent food, energy and water insecurity in unliveable environments. It addresses and considers food, energy and water security by enabling people to engage in local governance at the local level. ∙ Extend the previously funded research by the Local Government Association, entitled: “Decision Making Software to address mitigation and adaptation to climate change” (Ethics Protocol 5262) (The research was conducted from 2010 and completed in 2012 and the results were published in 2014 in the form of two Springer volumes. The results of the de-identified data have been published by Systems Research and Behavioural Science and by Springer. McIntyre-Mills, J. 2012a “Anthropocentricism and wellbeing: a way out of the lobster pot?” Syst. Research and Behavioural Science. Published online in Wiley Online Library. (wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/sres.2131 (A ranking ABDC Australian Business Deans Council Journal Quality List). McIntyre-Mills, J and de Vries, D. 2012b. “Transformation from Wall Street to Well-being” Syst. Research and Behavioural Science First published online: 10 OCT 2012 DOI: 10.1002/sres.2133 (A ranking ABDC Australian Business Deans Council Journal Quality List). McIntyre-Mills, J. with De Vries and Binchai, N. 2014, “From Wall Street to Wellbeing” Springer, New York, 253 pp. ISBN 978-1-4899-7465-5). McIntyre-Mills, J. 2014b, “Systemic Ethics and non-anthropocentric stewardship” Springer, New York, 270 pp.). Thus the research will: ∙ Deepen our understanding of how people perceive local climate challenges and experiences. ∙ Explore the social influences habits and a range of behaviours that potentially shape consumption. ∙ Test the kinds of face-to-face and digital public engagement that could encourage people to explore ways to live simply and well. The research is low risk and the data will be collected by Assoc. Prof Janet McIntyre and co-researchers. The research will be conducted through focus groups, interviews hosted via the participating organizations and a web-based survey.