Vision: Diversity as a driver of progress
Our vision is a world with a stabilised global climate system; an economy that cares for our planet and its inhabitants; and a society that considers ethics, equity, environmental quality, and wellbeing for all, as superseding efficiency and the relentless pursuit of economic growth in its economic decision making. In this spirit, the hummingbird element of ICENS lab’s logo is a symbol of protection of our planet and its inhabitants, of diversity, and openness to change. In various cultures, the hummingbird symbolises flexibility, freedom, creativity, beauty, joy, perseverance and intelligence; hence, in our interpretation, a blend of arts and science.
In this world, the economics knowledge generation system places quantitative and qualitative findings, rationality and sentiment, on an equal footing. The power of narratives and storytelling, language and ordinary reasoning, visuals, values, aesthetics and arts in shaping economies is acknowledged alongside the typical classical logical thinking. The Interdisciplinary Climate Economics for Nature and Society (ICENS) lab works to shape and expand this world.
Mission: Foster transformative change
ICENS lab’s mission is to support transformative thinking and practice that contributes to shaping and delivering low-carbon and socially just economies, and back sensible climate action. The latter is taken to mean science-driven greenhouse gas emissions reductions that are socially inclusive, cost effective, and compatible, in-as-much-as possible, with other sustainability objectives.
Its mission is to be achieved by engaging in activities involving education, learning, training, knowledge generation, the co-creation of the evidence base, networking, and the development of open-access resources, tools and practices. Close collaboration is sought with open-minded researchers, change makers and shapers, operating in the public policy, business, education, cultural, artistic, and social environments. ICENS lab strives to navigate the presence of both synergies and trade-offs, confirmations and contradictions, conflicts and resolutions, and the possibility for or lack of consensus.
Values and beneficiaries
ICENS lab was founded in March 2024 as a “community interest company” (registration no. 15562152 with Companies House, UK), which is a form of social entrepreneurship and a not-for-private profit organisation, whereby any surplus or assets are to be used principally for the benefit of the community it aims to serve. It operates at the intersection between the conceptual and the applicable, the abstract and the actionable. It not only wishes to foster knowledge about interdisciplinary pluralist economics, but also shape varying implementable answers to the climate crisis. In this vein, ICENS lab is governed by three main principles or work values:
Advancing pluralist perspectives on climate economics that go well beyond the mainstream;
Promoting interdisciplinary dialogue, including interactions with the arts, alongside the social and natural sciences;
Supporting multi-stakeholder involvement for effective and actionable answers to sustainability challenges.
ICENS lab’s activities will provide benefit to the global community, present and future, and our natural environment. The main types of beneficiaries envisaged are either impacted by climate change and its policy responses or have an active interest in shaping low-carbon and socially just economies. These include: students, teachers; local communities; civil society organisations; local and regional public officials, regulators, decision-makers; national and international officials, civil servants and public policy makers; businesses and industry; and technology innovators, amongst others.