ABSTRACT

Since our most pressing challenges require behaviour change at the collective level, this chapter considers emerging recognition of the impact that more participatory forms of governance have upon social sustainability agendas that underpin behaviour change. A growing body of research supports the idea that community and neighbourhood empowerment – giving residents the opportunity to take part in collective activities that influence the areas they live in – contributes to the well-being of residents and communities. This chapter explores the relationship between social connectivity and participation in a society, and its well-being. Given that the way our cities and towns are planned impacts upon our capacity to connect with one another, the chapter then explores, by extension, the correlation between participation in decision-making about the built environment and its impact on well-being.

The chapter also considers the value of the role that design plays as a mechanism to create a public conversation about possible futures. This is of vital importance, since evidence shows that communities who lack opportunities for residents to influence planning and development decisions, resulting in inflexible and inadequate local facilities, suffer social as well as financial costs. As a case study, the chapter looks closely at 5000+, a design-led example of participatory decision-making about the built environment in Adelaide (South Australia), with which the author was closely involved. As 5000+ is too broad to discuss in its entirety, the chapter focuses on the project’s engagement with children and young people about decisions relating to the design and planning of their surrounding environment. The conclusion suggests that the inclusion of children and young people in decision-making about their surrounding environment could constitute one of the greatest long-term behaviour change initiatives contemporary citizens could make, as an investment in our collective future and the sustained well-being of our species.