Charlotte Ford
Research student, School of Geography and Planning
- fordcl@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 6015
- Glamorgan Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA
Overview
Qualifications
MSc Sustainability, Planning and Environmental Policy, Cardiff University (2015)
BA (hons) Geography, University of the West of England (2014)
Memberships / Affiliations
Member of the Environment Research Group
Member of the Urban and Regional Governance Research Group
Member of the Understanding Risk Research Group
Affiliated with the Sustainable Places Research Institute (PLACE) at Cardiff University
Member of the Regional Studies Association
Member of the Early Career Network for Innovations in Climate Governance (INoGOV)
Member of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
External Activities
Geography and Planning PhD Representative 2016/2017
RGS-IBG Postgraduate Midterm Conference Organizing Committee for Cardiff 2017
RGS Climate Change Research Group Treasurer
Research
Research interests
I am broadly interested in the multi-scalar governance of climate adaptation.
I am also interested in Welsh Government efforts and Policy interventions to tackle climate change, namely the Well-being of Future Generations Act (2015)
Teaching
- Climate Change and Environmental Policy Module (Masters level)
Thesis
What Space for Place in Wales? Bridging Risk Perceptions and Policy Priorities in the Spatial Governance of Climate Adaptation
This research has a multi-disciplinary focus, drawing mainly from the disciplines of geography, psychology and political science. It aims to examine the diverse interrelationships between risk and climate governance with respect to the psychological distancing of climate adaptation through policy networks in Wales. To do this I will utilise a range of theoretical concepts from across the aforementioned disciplinary fields including the politics of scales and networks, collaborative governance, social capital, integral theory and construal level theory.
My methodological enquiry will use the case study lens of Public Service Boards (PSBs) in Wales, empirically examining the role played by PSBs in climate adaptation policy across multiple scales of governance. The research will address three main research questions:
1) How have the risks of climate change and adaptation responses been framed across policy scales in Wales? (from national, regional to local)
2) How are the risks of climate change and responses percieved amongst Public Services Boards and the wider population?
3) Do Public Services Boards have the "tool-kit" for successful adaptation delivery across scales?
As such the research methods include semi-structured interviews with members of Public Service Boards and Welsh Government officials appointed by the Well-being and Future Generations Act (2015), followed by an online survey disseminated across the 22 local authorities in Wales to examine risk perceptions and climate change adaptation efforts. Throughout, I plan to use the Q-methodology in these stages of research using visualisations of climate risks relatable to the context of Wales to explore how differing risks resonate with individuals. Simultaneously, discourse analysis of various policy documents and climate guidance across tiers of governance ranging from the international to the local level will be examined to explore how the severity of climate risks are portrayed, who is impacted and ultimately who is responsible to act.
Supervisors: Kirstie O'Neill (School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University), Lorraine Whitmarsh (School of Pyschology, Cardiff University), Andrew Kythreotis (School of Geography, Lincoln University)
Funding source
ESRC and Welsh Government
