Inequalities are the avoidable, unfair and systematic differences in health and wellbeing between different groups of people. It is a government priority to reduce these inequalities.  Understanding how net-zero interventions, including changes in housing, affect different groups of people is essential to ensure improvements are fair and benefit everyone equitably.   

This cross-cutting theme addresses impacts on inequalities across all hub activities, and evaluates how solutions can be adjusted to reduce existing inequalities by better supporting people who are most in need.   

To do this, we are using ‘ecosocial theory’ that helps us understand how social and environmental factors interact alongside policy to shape people’s health. To achieve this, we are working closely with stakeholders to develop and refine a conceptual model to examine solutions from an environmental and health justice perspective.  This whole- system approach helps us understand the many different factors that create inequalities, identifying and supporting action at different levels.  

This work is supported by a PhD studentship at the University of Edinburgh, applying the framework to real retrofitting programmes.  

We are applying our new model to identify the factors that can be improved to reduce inequalities and to guide the development of solutions designed to have the greatest impact in reducing inequalities.