| 1. |
- Andersson, Elina, et al.
(författare)
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Making Research Matter More—Working with Action Research and Film in Sustainability Science
- 2017
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Ingår i: Challenges in Sustainability. - : Librello. - 2297-6477. ; 5:1, s. 24-25
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Advocacy for both critical analysis of social and environmental change and a more solutions-oriented agenda has been a central mission of sustainability science since its inception [1]. To this end, integration of knowledge across disciplinary divides and inclusion of non-academic actors into the research process have been widely promoted (e.g. [2–4]). Aspirations to link knowledge to action do not only bear on processes of knowledge generation, but also on strategies for research outreach.
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| 2. |
- Fenton, Paul, et al.
(författare)
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Identifying the “Usual Suspects” : Assessing Patterns of Representation in Local Environmental Initiatives
- 2016
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Ingår i: Challenges in Sustainability. - : Librello. - 2297-6477. ; 4:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An increasing body of literature explores the role of transnational municipal networks (TMNs) in governing sustainable development. As associations, one key task of TMNs is to represent their members through production and dissemination of information and knowledge concerning municipal action for sustainable development. Case studies, often emphasising best practice, are used by many TMNs to fulfil this task. Nevertheless, despite strong scrutiny concerning the use of case studies in “policy mobilities” research, there have been limited attempts to quantify the ways in which TMNs present and disseminate case studies and, by doing so, generate trends of presence and absence in literature on sustainable development. Assessing patterns of representation for continents, countries, municipalities and themes across nine international case study collections published by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability since 1991, this study responds to this research gap and identifies the presence of “usual suspects” in the ICLEI case study collections, along with notable absentees. By doing so, the study contributes to policy mobilities research and literature on TMNs, by encouraging reflection and further research concerning the representation patterns influencing which municipalities and what topics are presented in discourses on sustainable development.
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| 3. |
- Harnesk, David
(författare)
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A Review of 'Energy and Transport in Green Transition: Perspectives on Ecomodernity'
- 2016
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Ingår i: Challenges in Sustainability. - : Librello. - 2297-6477. ; 4:2, s. 15-16
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Recension (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The book “Energy and Transport in Green Transitions – Perspectives on Ecomodernity” deals with the societally and scientifically crucial topic of energy and climate change mitigation. The book starts by setting high ambitions as the authors attempt “to go beyond both the extremism of the anti-capitalist critique and the radical enthusiasm of techno-economic positivism” in their exploration to find ways to resolve political, economic and technological entanglements “to boost a greener economy and culture”. It aims to so through a regional comparative study that looks at mature Western economies, the rapidly developing China, and the developing economies in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors present an excellent descriptive historical review for those interested in the broader picture of energy production and automobile sector in the regions addressed. However, in an attempt to cover as much ground as possible while assuring "maximum accessibility”, the authors' explanation of the dynamics of change involved is not conveyed in an analytically convincing manner.
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| 4. |
- Isgren, Ellinor, et al.
(författare)
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Pluralism in Search of Sustainability: Ethics, Knowledge and Methdology in Sustainability Science
- 2017
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Ingår i: Challenges in Sustainability. - : Librello. - 2297-6477. ; 5:1, s. 2-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sustainability Science is an emerging, transdisciplinary academic field that aims to help build a sustainable global society by drawing on and integrating research from the humanities and the social, natural, medical and engineering sciences. Academic knowledge is combined with that from relevant actors from outside academia, such as policy-makers, businesses, social organizations and citizens. The field is focused on examining the interactions between human, environmental, and engineered systems to understand and contribute to solutions for complex challenges that threaten the future of humanity and the integrity of the life support systems of the planet, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and land and water degradation. Since its inception in around the year 2000, and as expressed by a range of proponents in the field, sustainability science has become an established international platform for interdisciplinary research on complex social problems [1]. This has been done by exploring ways to promote ‘greater integration and cooperation in fulfilling the sustainability science mandate’ [2]. Sustainability science has thereby become an extremely diverse academic field, yet one with an explicit normative mission. After nearly two decades of sustainability research, it is important to reflect on a major question: what critical knowledge can we gain from sustainability science research on persistent socio-ecological problems and new sustainability challenges?
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| 5. |
- Mohsenzadeh, Abas, et al.
(författare)
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Bioethylene Production from Ethanol : A Review and Techno-economical Evaluation.
- 2017
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Ingår i: Challenges in Sustainability. - : Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. - 2297-6477. ; 4:2, s. 75-91
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Manufg. of bioethylene via dehydration of bioethanol is an alternative to the fossil-based ethylene prodn. and decreases the environmental consequences for this chem. commodity. A few industrial plants that utilize 1st generation bioethanol for the bioethylene prodn. already exist, although not functioning without subsidiaries. However, there is still no process producing ethylene from 2nd generation bioethanol. This study is divided into two parts. Different ethanol and ethylene prodn. methods, the process specifications and current technologies are briefly discussed in the first part. In the second part, a techno-economic anal. of a bioethylene plant was performed using Aspen plus and Aspen Process Economic Analyzer, where different qualities of ethanol were considered. The results show that impurities in the ethanol feed have no significant effect on the quality of the produced polymer-grade bioethylene. The capacity of the ethylene storage tank significantly affects the capital costs of the process. [on SciFinder(R)]
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| 9. |
- O’byrne, David
(författare)
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An Approach to Justifying Normative Arguments in Sustainability Science, with Insights from the Philosophy of Science and Social Theory
- 2022
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Ingår i: Challenges in Sustainability. - : Librello. - 2297-6477. ; 10:2, s. 19-28
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper, I put forward an argument that sustainability science can make objectively grounded normative claims about what courses of action society should pursue in order to achieve sustainability. From a survey of the philosophy of science, social theory and sustainability science literature, I put forward an approach to justifying these normative arguments. This approach builds on the insight that social theories are value-laden and that dominant and pervasive social practices find their justification in some social theory. The approach: (i) focuses on the analysis of concrete cases; (ii) paying attention to the social practices that produce environmental problems and the theories that support those practices; (iii) examines alternative theories, and (iv) justifies a normative position by identifying the most comprehensive theoretical understanding of the particular case. Although the approach focuses on the analysis of particular cases it does not rely on value relativism. Furthermore, while the focus is on the role of science in producing normative arguments about society’s trajectory, it maintains space for the inclusion of the values of the public in environmental decision-making. However, while this approach aims to provide a rational basis to normative positions, it does not presume that this will lead to social consensus on these issues.
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| 10. |
- Pacini, Henrique, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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Carbon Intensities of Economies from the Perspective of Learning Curves
- 2013
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Ingår i: Challenges in Sustainability. - : Librello. - 2297-6477. ; 1:2, s. 94-103
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- While some countries have achieved considerable development, many others still lack accessto the goods and services considered standard in the modern society. As CO2 emissions and development are often correlated, this paper employs the theoretical background of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) and the learning curves toolkit to analyze how carbon intensities have changed as countries move towards higher development (and cumulative wealth) levels. The EKC concept is then tested with the methodology of learning curves for the period between 1971 and 2010, so as to capture a dynamic picture of emissions trends and development. Results of both analyses reveal that empirical data fails to provide direct evidence of an EKC for emissions and development. The data does show, however, an interesting pattern in the dispersion of emissions levels for countries within the same HDI categories. While data does not show that countries grow more polluting during intermediary development stages, it does provide evidence that countries become more heterogeneous in their emission intensities as they develop, later re-converging to lower emission intensities at higher HDI levels. Learning rates also indicate heterogeneity among developing countries and relative convergence among developed countries. Given the heterogeneity of development paths among countries, the experiences of those which are managing to develop at low carbon intensities can prove valuable examples for ongoing efforts in climate change mitigation, especially in the developing world.
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