About the Centre for Sustainable Practice and Living

The Centre for Sustainable Practice and Living (CSPL) is a collaborative initiative between the University of Stirling’s Management School and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. It was launched by Dr Aileen McLeod MSP, Scotland’s Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform on 5th June 2015, World Environment Day.

As a new interdisciplinary research centre it aims to become one of the leading research and knowledge exchange centres globally studying the many dimensions of sustainability. CSPL brings together the public sector, academic research, business and environmental organisations to work collaboratively with sectors and communities towards a more sustainable future and a low carbon economy.

Our purpose

The core purpose of the Centre is to inspire and empower organisations and communities to develop new pathways to achieve sustainability in ways and in contexts which are most relevant to them.

The Centre provides a unique platform to engage actively with stakeholders and prospective partners to better understand each other’s needs, aspirations, tensions and opportunities, and through collaboration and partnership to make real and tangible progress in creating a more sustainable Scotland.

Our model

The Centre is a ground-breaking initiative, so part of our aim is to develop the most effective models for achieving our objectives. But we are starting with a wealth of existing experience, and our current model includes:

  • Sustainability current awareness events and briefings
  • Consultancy assignments
  • Scenario workshops
  • Research projects
  • Executive education programmes in sustainability and leadership
  • Taught post graduate programmes in sustainability and leadership

Our projects

The activity of the Centre includes a portfolio of projects in the sustainability arena. A selection of current and past projects is listed below.

Current projects include:

  • 'Multiple stakeholder multiple benefit narratives in the forestry and timber sector' (for CONFOR)
  • 'Linkages between environment and sustainable economic growth' (for SEPA)
  • 'Community empowerment and engagement – finding a way forward' (for SEPA)

Past projects include:

  • 'Rewiring the Scottish Economy to deliver a sustainable, low carbon future – an initial  analysis' (for Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group). ScotlandReport.
  • 'Stirling Sustainable Food City Visioning Workshop' (for the Soil Association).

A virtual network

Although physically based at the University of Stirling the Centre is also a virtual network of experts across the public, academic and NGO sectors throughout the UK and beyond.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency
The 2050 Climate Group