| 1. |
- Balfors, Berit, Professor, 1958-, et al.
(author)
-
Strategisk miljöbedömning för nationell transportplanering med fokus på inriktningsunderlaget
- 2019
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Denna rapport utgör ett inspel till Trafikverket i en analys om hur strategisk miljöbedömning kan användas i den statliga transportplaneringens tidiga skeden med fokus på inriktningsunderlaget. Rapporten är framtaget inom projektet ”TRAMP- Är långsiktig transportplanering och miljöbedömning kompatibla processer?” som är ett forsknings- och innovationsprojekt (FoI), finansierat av Trafikverket under perioden 2017 - 2019. Deltagande forskare i projektet är Berit Balfors och Ulrika Gunnarsson-Östling, KTH, Kristina Lundberg och Tobias Robinson, Ecoloop, Karolina Isaksson och Linnea Eriksson, VTI.FoI-projektet har planerats för att successivt leverera användbart underlag till Trafikverket. Föreliggande rapport är ett underlag inför Trafikverkets arbete med att ta fram ett inriktningsunderlag.
|
|
| 2. |
- Bradley, Karin, et al.
(author)
-
Exploring environmental justice in Sweden : How to improve planning for environmental sustainability and social equity in an “eco-friendly” context
- 2008
-
In: Projections. - 1934-9688 .- 1934-9696. ; 8, s. 68-81
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Environmental challenges, especially climate change, are highly discussed topics in the Swedish public debate, but questions about who is causing the problems and who is affected by them are seldom asked. This also applies to questions of who defines what should be regarded as acute environmental problems and what constitutes high-quality environments. This paper explores how environmental (in)justice issues can be framed in a Swedish social context, drawing from three cases: municipal promotion of eco-friendly lifestyles, large-scale infrastructure planning, and planners’ attitudes towards justice. The three cases deal not only with distributional, procedural, and substantive aspects of justice, as is common within the US environmental justice framework, but also with discursive dimensions of justice. We argue that elucidating such examples of environmental (in)justices is crucial to nuance the mainstream, consensus-oriented sustainability discourse in Sweden.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Bradley, Karin, 1975-, et al.
(author)
-
Miljörättvisa : ett nytt perspektiv i svensk planering
- 2007
-
In: PLAN – Tidskrift för Samhällplanering. - 0032-0560. ; 3
-
Journal article (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- Den senaste tiden har miljö- och klimatfrågor varit ett hett ämne i samhällsdebatten. Framförallt diskuteras hur växthuseffekten kan hanteras och hur system för utsläppsrätter bäst organiseras. Sällan ställs frågor om vilka som orsakar miljöproblem och vilka som drabbas av dem. Och vem som definierar vad som betraktas som akuta miljöproblem. Detta är frågor som uppmärksammas i forskning om miljörättvisa – ett fält på frammarsch i Sverige.
|
|
| 5. |
- Eckersten, Sofia, 1989-
(author)
-
Advancing Sustainable Transport Systems : Strengthening environmental considerations and sustainability perspectives in Strategic Choice of Measures
- 2024
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Addressing cross-cutting issues such as climate change, urbanization, andenvironmental degradation in policy and planning is key for transitioning toa sustainable society. In the work of societal and transport systemdevelopment, the integration of environmental and sustainabilityperspectives has never been more crucial. In urban areas, the interconnection between transport and land use is evident, and integrated transport and land use planning plays an important role in promotingsustainable transport systems. However, both the integration ofenvironmental and sustainability considerations in transport planning and the integration of land use and transport planning are complex challenges.This thesis explores the consideration of environmental aspects andsustainability perspectives in strategic transport planning, with a focus onthe Swedish Strategic Choice of Measures (SCM) approach and lessonslearnt from planning approaches in the Nordic countries. The thesis is primarily based on case studies of SCM processes in the Stockholm region. Empirical material has been collected through observations of SCMs involving public officials from the Swedish Transport Administration,municipalities in Stockholm Region, and Stockholm's public transportauthority, as well as through semi-structured interviews, focus groupinterviews, informal interviews and document studies, with a qualitative research approach.The thesis is a compilation of four scientific papers. Three of the papers (1,2, and 4) discuss the SCM process, and in two of the papers (2 and 4), SCM processes in the Stockholm region are used as empirical cases of howstrategic choices of measures have been made in transport and land useplanning. Paper 3 explores and draws lessons from Nordic planning instruments to coordinate transport and land use planning with the aim of promoting sustainable development. The results highlight the difference between engaging and non-engagingenvironmental aspects and advocate for a systems perspective in planning to understand connections and promote holistic solutions. Planning approaches from different Nordic countries, such as the Finnish MAL and the Norwegian Urban Growth Agreements, demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating transport and land use planning through instruments based oncollaboration between transport and land use actors. The results also identify challenges related to fragmented transport and land use planning,and that actors' vary in their engagement when addressing environmental and sustainability considerations in the SCM planning context. Effective collaboration and sustainable choices of measures relies on knowledgeable professionals being capable of interdisciplinary collaborations and innovative thinking, being part of and coordinating the planning process, i.e.SCM. The use of Integrated Landscape Character Assessment (ILCA) can provide a framework for cross-actor collaboration and has the potential to identify multifunctional solutions contributing to a sustainable societal transition. Overall, the results of the thesis emphasize the importance of integrating environmental and sustainability perspectives into transport planning to promote sustainable development.
|
|
| 6. |
- Eckersten, Sofia, et al.
(author)
-
Challenges and Opportunities in Early Stage Planning of Transport Infrastructure Projects : Environmental Aspects in the Strategic Choice of Measures Approach
- 2021
-
In: Sustainability. - : MDPI AG. - 2071-1050. ; 13:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Strategic Choice of Measures (SCM) approach aims to integrate different perspectives and identify measures to adapt new infrastructure projects to their local context at an early stage of Swedish transport planning. SCM is a loosely structured framework for collaboration between actors from, e.g., municipalities and the Swedish Transport Administration, in order to facilitate the coordination of transport planning and land use planning. This paper aims to explore the consideration of environmental aspects in early-stage transport planning by analyzing the SCM approach. An explorative research approach is applied based on literature studies, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group interview. The result shows that in the SCM process, environmental aspects such as noise and air pollution generated by road traffic in urban areas, engage the actors, whereas aspects related to landscape and water were perceived as poorly addressed and received less attention. The consideration of environmental aspects in the SCM process is affected by the local and national authorities' different interests and the competences involved. To consolidate environmental aspects in early transport planning, these aspects need to be explicitly addressed in the SCM guidelines and the link between the SCM and preceding and following planning stages needs to be strengthened.
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
- Eckersten, Sofia, 1989-
(author)
-
New perspectives on Strategic Choice of Measures in Swedish Transport Planning
- 2022
-
Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Rapid changes in the global climate and declining biodiversity pronounces the need for adapting the transport system and transport infrastructure, which influence several sustainability issues and cause direct environmental impact through their use of land, as well as indirect impacts, for example, emissions of pollutants to air and water. The Swedish Transport Administration (STA) is responsible for and conducts a large part of the transport planning in Sweden and the STA endeavor to increase collaboration with other societal actors in transport planning. In 2013, the Strategic Choice of Measure (SCM) process was introduced by the STA to facilitate collaboration among multiple societal actors in the early stages of transport planning. In the SCM process many of the choices are made that will affect the development of the transport system as well as the future transport system's impact on the environment. Integrating environmental aspects at an early planning stage, such as in the SCM process, can help reduce and avoid the environmental impact of the transport system. Therefore, this licentiate thesis aims to explore the consideration of environmental aspects in the SCM process (Paper 1), and to analyze the SCM process from a systems perspective in order to illuminate the consequences of system boundaries on how environmental aspects are considered and what aspects are included or left out (Paper 2). In addition, proposals are being developed to strengthen practice (Papers 1 and 2).To achieve the aims of the thesis, interview studies, document studies and observational studies have been performed. Also, a case study of two SCM processes was conducted. This dissertation shows that there are several challenges associated with the consideration of environmental aspects in SCM processes. For example, the increased element of collaboration in the planning process implies that the coordination of the process will affect which environmental aspects are considered and in what way. Furthermore, land-use and transport planning are coordinated in the SCM process, which often leads to conflicting ideas about how an area should be developed. By finding solutions to transport and land-use related problems with synergetic effects, conflicts may be solved, and transport, land-use and environmental needs may be met simultaneously. To identify this type of measure and packages of measures in an SCM process, tools that enable the identification of links between transport, land-use and environmental aspects can be used as support.
|
|
| 9. |
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
| 11. |
|
|
| 12. |
- Fauré, Eléonore, et al.
(author)
-
Four low-carbon futures for a Swedish society beyond GDP growth
- 2019
-
In: Journal of Cleaner Production. - : ELSEVIER SCI LTD. - 0959-6526 .- 1879-1786. ; 236
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper describes how different backcasting scenarios for developments beyond traditional GDP growth 2050, in Sweden may fulfil a climate goal corresponding to keeping global warming to a maximum 1.5 degrees C with 50% likelihood. This corresponds to a 92% decrease of greenhouse gas emissions from Swedish consumption from today's level. The four scenarios illustrate different strategies: 1) collaborative economy, 2) local self-sufficiency, 3) automation for quality of life and 4) circular economy in the welfare state. The aim is to further hone and quantify the scenario narratives with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions occurring as a result of Swedish consumption, both private and public. The results show that the climate target can be met in all scenarios but this requires radical sector-specific as well as general changes, including decarbonisation, technology development, increased efficiencies, innovative practices and reduced demand. The mix of these strategies varies for different sectors and different scenarios, but all are needed to reach the climate goals. As we assume that Sweden is fossil-free 2050, particular areas of attention are diets, travel, emission intensities in other countries and the level of imports. Potential implications for other environmental goals, land use and biodiversity as well as the potential magnitude of negative emissions technologies, although uncertain and limited, that could offset some additional greenhouse gas emissions are discussed.
|
|
| 13. |
- Fauré, Eléonore, et al.
(author)
-
Low-carbon futures for a Swedish society beyond GDP growth
-
Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This paper describes how different backcasting scenarios for developments beyond traditional GDP growth 2050, in Sweden may fulfill a climate goal corresponding to keeping global warming to a maximum 1.5 degrees with 50% likelihood. This corresponds to a 92% decrease of GHG emissions from Swedish consumption from today’s level. The four scenarios illustrate different strategies: 1) collaborative economy, 2) local self-sufficiency, 3) automation for quality of life and 4) circular economy in the welfare state. The aim is to further precise and quantify the scenario narratives with a focus on GHG emissions occurring as a result of Swedish consumption, both private and public. Preliminary results show that, as we assume that Sweden is fossil-free 2050, particular areas of attention are diets, air travel, emission intensities in other countries and the level of imports.. Potential implications for other environmental goals are discussed.
|
|
| 14. |
- Fauré, Eléonore
(author)
-
Sharing the doughnut : Exploring sustainable and just futures
- 2018
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Despite decades of international discussions or summits on the need to radically reduce e.g. increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) or biodiversity loss, these are still rising. While these negative environmental trends continue, it is important to discuss alternative futures in an attempt to redirect society on a more sustainable and just path.The overall aim of the thesis is to develop images of the future and explore what sustainable and just futures might look like. The current environmental impact of Swedish consumption, both in Sweden and abroad, is shown using eight indicators of environmental pressures and resource use – illustrating where in the world the pressures or resource use occur and for which product groups. This gives us a starting point as to where we are today regarding some of the environmental challenges facing Sweden.Alternative futures that can challenge existing unsustainable trends are explored using four images of the future – so-called backcasting or long-term transformative scenarios. All of these need to fulfil two environmental and two social sustainability goals and do not rely on continued GDP growth.These images represent different strategies to reach the four selected goals.Such strategies may however have different consequences not just for these four specific goals but also for other sustainability issues and may have different implications for various groups in society. Therefore, they need to be evaluated accordingly. Existing methods to evaluate future scenarios regarding sustainability aspects are discussed in this thesis as well as the need to develop new methods to encompass all issues.A combination of methods and data is used to evaluate what it would actually mean if the scenarios were to fulfil a climate target for Swedish consumption in line with the 1.5°C. trajectory suggested as the target to strive for in the Paris Climate Agreement and in the latest IPCC report (IPCC, 2018) as regards reduction of goods consumption and altered consumption patterns in Sweden.This thesis stresses the need to clarify the assumptions made when formulating goals such as whether a perspective on intergenerational (between different generations) and intragenerational justice (within the current generation) is considered. It also underlines the need to identify and discuss potential goal conflicts that necessarily occur when considering several sustainability goals, whether they can be avoided or require potential trade-offs. It highlights the importance of making the underlying values embedded in assessment methods more visible. The intention in revealing goal conflicts, contradictions or hidden values is not to reach consensus but to ensure that the decisions are informed and made in a transparent manner.Indeed, these considerations imply moving from a first and rather vague level of meaning of the concept of sustainability where everyone can agree on a definition but no concrete and practical guidance can be gained to a second level where conflicts arise and values differ.
|
|
| 15. |
- Finnveden, Göran, et al.
(author)
-
Policy instruments towards a sustainable waste management
- 2013
-
In: Sustainability. - Basel : MDPI AG. - 2071-1050. ; 5:3, s. 841-881
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this paper is to suggest and discuss policy instruments that could lead towards a more sustainable waste management. The paper is based on evaluations from a large scale multi-disciplinary Swedish research program. The evaluations focus on environmental and economic impacts as well as social acceptance. The focus is on the Swedish waste management system but the results should be relevant also for other countries. Through the assessments and lessons learned during the research program we conclude that several policy instruments can be effective and possible to implement. Particularly, we put forward the following policy instruments: “Information”; “Compulsory recycling of recyclable materials”; “Weight-based waste fee in combination with information and developed recycling systems”; “Mandatory labeling of products containing hazardous chemicals”, “Advertisements on request only and other waste minimization measures”; and “Differentiated VAT and subsidies for some services”. Compulsory recycling of recyclable materials is the policy instrument that has the largest potential for decreasing the environmental impacts with the configurations studied here. The effects of the other policy instruments studied may be more limited and they typically need to be implemented in combination in order to have more significant impacts. Furthermore, policy makers need to take into account market and international aspects when implementing new instruments. In the more long term perspective, the above set of policy instruments may also need to be complemented with more transformational policy instruments that can significantly decrease the generation of waste.
|
|
| 16. |
- Finnveden, Göran, et al.
(author)
-
Sustainable development goals for cities
- 2017
-
In: Connecting the dots by obstacles? Friction and traction ahead for the SRIA urban transitions pathways.
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)
|
|
| 17. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-, et al.
(author)
-
Alternativa resepraktiker? : Potentiella beteendeförändringar ispåren av COVID-19
- 2021
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- COVID-19-pandemin har förändrat resandet. Trots pandemins negativa aspekter i form av allvarlig sjukdom, dödsfall och arbetslöshet kan minskat resande bidra till att de globala hållbarhetsmålen uppnås. I arbetet mot dessa betonas behovet av att involvera olika aktörer och många organisationer har redan fastställt mål för minskad klimatpåverkan. Trots detta var substitutionen från exempelvis flygtrafik till digitala möten modest innan COVID-19. För att förstå mer om pågående resebeteendeförändringar vad gäller affärsresor och arbetspendling och dra lärdomar om möjligheten att vidmakthålla positiva förändringar utifrån ett miljö- och organisationsperspektiv genomfördes projektet “Potential for alternative travel practices? – Behavioural changes due to viruses in the short and longer-term” som den 29 april 2020 beviljade bidrag från Mistra enligt VD-beslut nr 2020-15.Syftet med projektet var att utforska, kvantitativt och kvalitativt, resebeteendeförändringar inom svenska organisationer vad gäller affärsresor och arbetspendling som följd av COVID 19-pandemiutbrottet. Samtidigt ville vi dra lärdomar om möjligheten att vidmakthålla positiva förändringar utifrån ett miljö och organisationsperspektiv och undvika negativa förändringar för framtida mer hållbara resvanor.Studien visar att resande till och från arbetet och i tjänsten förändrats markant under pandemin. Det blev tydligt att restriktionerna för fysiska resor inneburit att medarbetarna (beroende på arbetsplats och arbetsuppgift) i högre grad tillämpat flexibla arbetsformer och digitala mötesvanor och en stor andel av medarbetarna upplevde en ökad kunskapsnivå kring hantering av digitala möten. För att befästa de positiva förändringarna bör målorienterade handlingsplaner implementeras nu, annars finns en risk att pendeln svänger tillbaka till ett än mer ohållbart resande post COVID-19 eftersom pandemin inte bara inneburit en mängd digitala möten, utan också ett bilberoende.
|
|
| 18. |
|
|
| 19. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-, et al.
(author)
-
Climate change scenarios and behavioural change : Navigating between heuristics of deliberative planning processes and astroturfing
- 2008
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In constructing normative scenarios images of the future are generated illustrating potential ways of living, travelling and consuming products and services where certain goals such as a reduced climate impact are fulfilled (Börjeson et al, 2006; Myers and Kitsuse, 2000). This paper analyses the sustainability framing of behavioural changes in such normative scenarios (Larsen and Höjer, 2007) and how it relates to the participatory processes used to generate the scenarios. We discuss this building on concepts of deliberative planning processes as a means to achieve legitimate, effective and sustainable futures (Connelly and Richardson, forthcoming; Hendriks et al., 2007). The theoretical arguments are combined with examples from environmental scenario construction in practice (Carlsson-Kanyama et al., 2003, Dreborg et al., forthcoming). This illustrates fields of tension arising when either sustainability or process values are veneering goals of a scenario making process. When focus is on content values such as reduced climate impact, the process values might be depreciated. On the other hand, when focus is on process values such as legitimacy, content sustainability and possibilities for actual change might be downgraded.
|
|
| 20. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-, et al.
(author)
-
Dags för miljörättvisepolitik
- 2013
-
In: Tiden. - 0040-6759. ; :2-3
-
Journal article (pop. science, debate, etc.)
|
|
| 21. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-
(author)
-
Feministiska framtidsstudier
- 2012
-
In: Att uforska framtiden. - Stockholm : Dialogos Förlag. - 9789175042527
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)
|
|
| 22. |
|
|
| 23. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-
(author)
-
Gender in futures : A study of gender and feminist papers published in Futures, 1969-2009
- 2011
-
In: Futures. - : Elsevier. - 0016-3287 .- 1873-6378. ; 43:9, s. 1029-1039
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper reviews and discusses papers related to women's studies, gender or feminist perspectives, published in the scientific journal Futures. The aim is to provide new understandings and remapping of futures studies by capturing how gender is created and understood in this field. The gender/feminist criticism of futures studies mainly relates to the field being male-dominated and male biased, which means that the future is seen as already colonised by men. When synthesising the insights from all 78 papers focusing on futures studies and feminism, gender or women, four conclusions are especially striking: (1) Women and non-Westerners are generally excluded from professional futures studies activities and so are feminist issues or issues of particular relevance for women. (2) Futures studies usually make no attempts to reveal underlying assumptions, i.e. often lack a critical and reflexive perspective, which is needed in order to add a critical feminist perspective and envision feminist futures. (3) Feminist futures are needed as a contrast to hegemonic male and Western technology-orientated futures. Feminist futures are diverse, but focus the well-being of all humans. (4) Futures studies often view women as victims, rather than as drivers for change, which means that their alternative futures are often ignored.
|
|
| 24. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-
(author)
-
Gendered development and possibilities for alternative feminist futures
-
Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Since the future is not disconnected, but rooted in the past and the present, images of futures will inevitable bear traces of yesterday as well as today’s zeitgeist. There is a risk of institutions, such as gender perceptions, being selfreinforcing. This paper looks closer at three Swedish regional growth programs to see whether those future oriented documents are gendered, in what ways and also if there are ways of working with futures studies that could enhance the possibility for a gender perspective on the future. Futures studies have a history of facilitating discussions about what future is wanted, but most often without a gender perspective. Feminist studies on the other hand belong to a critical tradition and do most often not suggest solutions. By discussing the possibility of integrating a gender perspective on the future this paper can give fuel to planning and futures studies as well as feminist research.
|
|
| 25. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-
(author)
-
Gendered Futures?
- 2010
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Since the future is not disconnected, but rooted in the past and the present, images of futures will inevitable bear traces of yesterday as well as today’s zeitgeist. There is thus a risk of institutions, such as gender perceptions, being selfreinforcing. This paper looks closer at three Swedish regional growth programmes to see whether those future oriented documents are gendered, in what ways and also if there are ways of working with futures studies that could enhance the possibility for a gender perspective on the future. Futures studies have a history of facilitating discussions about what future is wanted, but most often without a gender perspective. Feminist studies on the other hand belong to a critical tradition and do not suggest solutions. By discussing the possibility of integrating a gender perspective on the future this paper can give fuel to planning and futures studies as well as feminist research.
|
|
| 26. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-
(author)
-
Gendered Futures?
- 2008
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Since the future is not a disconnected end-state, but rooted in both the past and the present [2, p. 225], images of the future will inevitable bear traces of yesterday as well as today’s zeitgeist. There is thus a risk of institutions, such as gender perceptions, being selfreinforcing. This paper looks closer at three Swedish regional growth programs to see whether those future oriented documents are gendered, in what ways and also if there are ways of working with futures studies [3] that could enhance the possibility for a gender perspective on the future. Futures studies have a history of facilitating discussions about what future is wanted, but most often without a gender perspective. This is a lack since many societal changes will have gendered consequences. It is in the present we can change the future, and even though the future will offer something we cannot think of [4], planners is one group among other influencing what direction society develops in. Even if many feminists agree upon ideas and ways of analysing today’s norms, Gemzöe [5, p. 24] writes that there are disagreements on what means are useful to reach the goal and also about how extensive changes are possible in a society. Also, it is difficult to agree upon a goal. Even though the present paper does not define a feminist utopia, it discusses the possibility of integrating a gender perspective on the future and could therefore give fuel to both futures studies and feminist research.
|
|
| 27. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-
(author)
-
Housing Design and Mobility Convenience-The Case of Sweden
- 2021
-
In: Sustainability. - : MDPI. - 2071-1050. ; 13:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A parking space is the beginning and the end of every car journey. Policies aimed at parking spaces are, thus, an effective way of affecting car travel. Policies regarding parking typically mean setting minimum parking requirements to meet the peak demand for parking. However, in several Swedish cities, as well as around Europe, attempts are made to lower the number of parking places. One way is to build homes without parking places for cars and pilot projects with zero-parking have started to materialize. This paper looks into the academic literature in the field of design and architecture to see how parking issues are dealt with. It also looks into ongoing practice by studying three pilot projects in Sweden that challenge the dominant parking norm by planning and building for a new normal-mobility convenience and zero parking. Both the literature and the cases point to little knowledge in the field. However, high demands on "creative mobility solutions" are placed on housing projects without parking places for cars. Even if the effects of sustainability are still unknown, zero parking pilot projects can narrate the possibility of another future-a future with mobility convenience instead of parking convenience.
|
|
| 28. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-, et al.
(author)
-
Just Futures?
- 2007
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Looking closer at four long-term urban development strategies for Stockholm, we found that they all intend to depict a sustainable urban development, but the images described are very different. This creates a good starting point for discussing the contested concept sustainable development. We argue that discussing sustainable development implies examining the distribution of environmental goods and bads. Thus, planners must be clear about their view on justice. In this article we contribute to the discussion and development of the concept environmental justice, how it relates to sustainable development and how it can be used in long-term planning.
|
|
| 29. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-
(author)
-
Just Sustainable Futures : Gender and Environmental Justice Considerations in Planning
- 2011
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This thesis contributes and deepens knowledge on long-term planning for sustainable development through exploring environmental justice and gender discourses in planning and futures studies. It also suggests ways of working with those issues. Environmental justice is explored through discussions with planners in Stockholm, Sweden, and through looking at images of future Stockholm and the environmental justice implications of these. These studies show how environmental justice issues can be manifested in a Swedish urban context and discuss how sustainable development and environmental justice can be increased, operationalised and politicised in planning. One key contribution of the thesis is in identifying the need to address procedural and outcomes values in both planning and futures studies. Gender discourses are explored through analysing papers published in the journal Futures and through an examination of Swedish Regional Growth Programmes. The feminist criticism of futures studies mainly relates to the field being male-dominated and male-biased, which means that the future is seen as already colonised by men, that futures studies generally do not work with feminist issues or issues of particular relevance for women, and that they often lack a critical and reflexive perspective. There is therefore a call for feminist futures as a contrast to hegemonic male and Western technology-orientated futures. The case of the Swedish Regional Growth Programmes shows that gender inequality is often viewed as a problem of unequal rights and possibilities. This liberal view on gender equality has made it rather easy for gender equality advocates to voice demands, e.g. for the inclusion of both women and men in decision-making processes, but the traditional male norm is not challenged. If a different response is required, other ways of describing the problem of gender inequalities must be facilitated. One way to open up different ways of describing the problem and to describe desirable futures could be the use of scenarios. Planning for just, sustainable futures means acknowledging process values, but also content (giving nature a voice!). It also means politicising planning. There are a number of desirable futures, and when this is clarified the political content of planning is revealed. These different images of the future can be evaluated in terms of environmental justice, gender perspective or any specific environmental aspect, e.g. biodiversity, which indicates that different futures are differently good for nature and/or different societal groups.
|
|
| 30. |
|
|
| 31. |
|
|
| 32. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-
(author)
-
Politicising planning through images of the future
- 2011
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- One major challenge in contemporary research about planning is how to change societies in a more sustainable direction. However, in the last decades of planning research and practice for sustainable urban development, more radical transformations have been rare. Instead, planning for sustainable development is viewed as something that can be achieved within society’s current frames (Bradley, 2009; Keil, 2007). However, futures studies often propose radical changes in terms of technological development and behavioural change to approach sustainable development, but social structures such as the vulnerability of different societal groups to environmental problems and gender roles are seldom explicitly analysed. The focus is typically on changing physical or technical aspects, but without asking who should change or highlighting social structures (Wangel, 2011). The aim of this paper is to contribute new knowledge and deepen existing knowledge on long-term planning for sustainable development through merging planning with a critical futures studies perspective. This paper thereby proposes a more prescriptive postmodern planning and highlights both process and outcome. By suggesting the Just City approach, Fainstein (2000; 2010) also falls within the more prescriptive postmodern tradition. The Just City approach is a ‘normative position concerning the distribution of social benefits’ (Fainstein, 2000:467). It highlights process values and desirable outcomes. Thus, it recognises that just processes do not necessarily result in just outcomes, an issue which is also discussed by e.g. Bradley et al. (2008), Larsen and Gunnarsson-Östling (2009) and Gunnarsson-Östling and Höjer (2011). In the view of Fainstein (2000; 2010), the purpose is to recommend nonreformist reforms and thus improvements should be made within the current structures. Fainstein (2010:20) denotes this as a form of ‘realistic utopianism’. Thus, ‘[t]he discussion does not go so far as to investigate the broader concept of the good city’ (Fainstein, 2010:58) and e.g. environmental issues are not considered. Harvey (2009) is critical towards the approach of acting within the capitalist regime and questions capital accumulation and economic growth as prime targets in city development. He claims that the question of what city we desire is inseparable from what kind of people we want to become. He thereby approaches transformative futures studies. The field of futures studies is characterised by plurality regarding research approaches and one way of classifying those different approaches is that they respond to one of the three questions ‘what will happen’, ‘what can happen’ and ‘how can a specific target be reached’. They thereby belong to the three categories predictive, explorative and normative scenarios (Börjeson et al., 2006).Normative scenarios in turn can be divided into preserving and transforming scenarios, where preserving scenarios depict images of the future built on today’s societal structures (Börjeson et al., 2006:728-729). In transforming scenarios the goals are seen as very difficult to reach within today’s structures and major societal changes are therefore seen as necessary. One form of transforming scenario studies is backcasting. Robinson (1990:822) writes that ‘[t]he major distinguishing characteristic of backcasting analyses is a concern, not with what futures are likely to happen, but with how desirable futures can be attained’. Dreborg (1996:814) states that backcasting is especially useful for ‘long-term complex issues, involving many aspects of society as well as technological innovations and change’. However, futures studies often lack a critical and reflexive perspective (Gunnarsson-Östling, 2011). Inspiration for critical and transforming sustainable futures could instead be found within the field of political ecology where researchers have also called for alternatives. Swyngedouw (2007) sees the need for imagining and naming socioenvironmental futures and Keil (2007:57) notes that radical change is needed and proposes a radical urban political ecology, meaning that sustainability cannot be achieved within capitalism as we know it. This paper highlights normative scenarios as a way of clarifying political dimensions of planning and visioning about sustainable futures. They can be a way of depicting antagonistic futures. References Börjeson, L., M. Höjer, K.-H. Dreborg, T. Ekvall and G. Finnveden (2006) "Scenario types and techniques: Towards a user's guide." Futures 38:723-739.Bradley, K. (2009) Just Environments: Politicising Sustainable Urban Development. PhD thesis, Stockholm: KTH.Bradley, K., U. Gunnarsson-Östling and K. Isaksson (2008) "Exploring Environmental Justice in Sweden - How to Improve Planning for Environmental Sustainability and Social Equity in an "Eco-Friendly" Context." Projections: MIT Journal of Planning 8:68-81.Dreborg, K.-H. (1996) "Essence of backcasting." Futures 28:813-828.Fainstein, S. S. (2000) "New Directions in Planning Theory." Urban Affairs Review 35:451-478.Fainstein, S. S. (2010) The Just City. New York: Cornell University Press.Gunnarsson-Östling, U. (2011) Just Sustainable Futures: Gender and Environmental Justice Considerations in Planning. PhD thesis, Stockholm: KTH - Royal Institute of Technology.Gunnarsson-Östling, U. and M. Höjer (2011) "Scenario Planning for Sustainability in Stockholm, Sweden: Environmental Justice Considerations." International Journal of Urban and Regional Research Forthcoming.Harvey, D. (2009) "The right to the Just City." in Searching for the just city: Debates un urban theory and practice, edited by Marcuse, P., J. Connolly, J. Novy, I. Olivo, C. Potter and J. Steil. Abingdon: Routledge.Keil, R. (2007) "Sustaining Modernity, Modernizing Nature." in The Sustainable Development Paradox: Urban Political Economy in the United States, edited by Krueger, R. and D. Gibbs. New York: Guilford Press.Larsen, K. and U. Gunnarsson-Östling (2009) "Climate change scenarios and citizen-participation: Mitigation and adaptation perspectives in constructing sustainable futures." Habitat International 33:260-266.Robinson, J. B. (1990) "Futures under glass: A recipe for people who hate to predict." Futures 22.Swyngedouw, E. (2007) "Impossible "Sustainability" and the Postpolitical Condition." in The Sustainable Development Paradox: Urban Political Economy in the United States, edited by Krueger, R. and D. Gibbs. New York: Guilford Press.Wangel, J. (2011) "Exploring social structures and agency in backcasting studies for sustainable development." Technological Forecasting & Social Change Article in press.
|
|
| 33. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-
(author)
-
Process and content sustainability in planning
- 2011
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In current planning, process is seen as a means to safeguard just outcomes. However, when operationalised, different plans are not equally ‘good’ for nature and different societal groups. This paper problematise the implications understanding planning as mainly process has on content sustainability and justice. This means asking questions about what are seen as important sustainability targets to be reached by planning and how are these decided upon. What is desirable? For whom? What risks (e.g. ecological crises and social issues) need to be handled? These questions highlights’ planning’s political dimensions. Current planning for sustainable development can be understood in terms of different discursive (in)justices and ways of understanding the environment. It is therefore important to understand different sustainability discourses and also relate them to scientific discourses on e.g. climate change and ecosystems, and also to politically decided targets like climate change adaptation and mitigation and a reduced rate of decline of biodiversity. Scientific discourses on the environment are sometimes said to signal that there is one benign and sustainable nature to conserve, which means missing asking questions about the kind of socioenvironmental arrangements we wish to produce, how these can be achieved, and the sort of natures we wish to inhabit. These questions are certainly important, but highlighting nature’s boundaries need not mean that nature is seen as static. Instead, it is contingent on technology, preferences and the structure of production and consumption. However, when what is meant by sustainable development is not clearly elucidated, nobody is against it and most just keep on doing business as usual.
|
|
| 34. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-, et al.
(author)
-
Scenario Planning for Sustainability in Stockholm, Sweden : Environmental Justice Considerations
- 2011
-
In: International Journal of Urban and Regional Research. - Oxford : Blackwell Publishing. - 0309-1317 .- 1468-2427. ; 35:5, s. 1048-1067
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this article is to see how awareness of sustainable development and environmental justice can be increased and operationalized in planning through the use of scenarios. On scrutinizing four long-term urban development strategies for Stockholm, we found that they all intend to depict a sustainable urban development, but the resultant images are very different. This article underlines the importance of combining environmental justice with an understanding of environmental threats and risks. We see that the carrying capacity of nature is limited, but we also see the need to share resources justly and make sure that environmental degradation does not systematically strike certain groups only. The conceptual elements are applied to four scenarios for a future Stockholm, zooming in to some extent on a suburban shopping node just outside the city. The point of focusing on it is that such shopping areas are sometimes seen as symbols of non-sustainable city development, but, since they are already in place, their function in the future city needs to be discussed.
|
|
| 35. |
|
|
| 36. |
|
|
| 37. |
- Gunnarsson-Östling, Ulrika, 1977-, et al.
(author)
-
What about the future? : The troubled relationship between futures and feminism
- 2014
-
In: NORA. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 0803-8740 .- 1502-394X. ; 22:1, s. 63-69
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This position paper argues that issues related to the future are worth emphasizing and discussing with more feminist fervour and engagement than is now the case within feminist studies and futures studies. It is concluded that feminists cannot just be critical from an outside perspective, but must engage in creating alternative futures. These futures should not be common goals around which to unite, but a way to inspire feminist thinking about different futures. The authors point out the problem that the futures studies field lacks feminist perspectives, and in this position paper they discuss the gap between futures studies and feminism.
|
|
| 38. |
|
|
| 39. |
- Hagbert, Pernilla, Dr, 1986-, et al.
(author)
-
Futures Beyond GDP Growth : Final report from the research program 'Beyond GDP Growth: Scenarios for sustainable building and planning'
- 2019
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- A future society no longer based on economic growth – what would that look like?The research program “Beyond GDP Growth: Scenarios for sustainable building and planning” (www.bortombnptillvaxt.se) is a strong research environment funded by the Swedish Research CouncilFormas, which has run between 2014 and 2018. In collaboration with societal partners, the program hasgathered researchers from diferent disciplines to explore key issues and conditions for planning for asustainable future beyond GDP growth. This is a relevant contribution to a largely under-researchedarea, where few scientific studies have explored what a sustainable society could look like, and what asustainable economy that is not based on growth might actually mean.In economic and political discussions, the notion of continuous economic growth is often taken forgranted and seen as a prerequisite for a safe and sustainable societal development. At the same time,a blind faith in and expectations surrounding growth can constitute a threat to the development of asustainable society if growth declines. Also an optimistic prognosis from the OECD indicates that it islikely that future GDP growth will be lower than what has come to be seen as the normal level duringthe second half of the 20th century. Declining economic growth could mean risks for increased socialgaps and unemployment. However, economic models show that the possibilities for handling these risksincrease if there is an awareness of them, and if this is addressed politically. Therefore, it is important tonot just assume continued economic growth, but to plan also for alternative scenarios.A starting point for the research program has been an understanding of the significant transitionsneeded to approach a safe and just operating space for humanity within planetary boundaries. Fourgoals that should be met in order to consider the societal development sustainable were specified: twoenvironmental goals related to climate and land use, and two social goals regarding power, influence andparticipation, and welfare and resource security.Four scenarios for Sweden 2050 were developed, which show the diferent directions society could taketo reach the set sustainability goals. The scenarios illustrate future societies that do not have to build onthe current economic logic, but that instead are centred around four alternative strategies:Collaborative EconomyLocal Self-SufciencyAutomation for Quality of LifeCircular Economy in the Welfare StateSo, can we reach the selected sustainability targets in the four future scenarios? A transformation ofhistorical proportions are needed – and it needs to start immediately. According to the sustainabilityassessment conducted within the project, the environmental goals of climate and land use can be reachedin all scenarios, even though it demands changing multiple parameters at the same time. Nothing pointsto it being impossible or generally difcult to achieve the social goals in the four scenarios, however theremight be diferent aspects that are particularly tricky. There are both development potentials and risks,which can be diametrically opposite for diferent social groups and parts of the country, depending onthe local prerequisites.Many diferent images of sustainable futures are needed. The scenarios should be seen as a tool fordiscussion and analysis when it comes to planning for a sustainable societal development beyondGDP growth. They challenge notions of what is possible, what changes that can and should be made,6what decisions that are needed and what should be prioritized. The scenarios all suggest a largechange compared the current development trajectory, and for example all point towards the need forredistribution of resources. It might involve economic resources, but could also relate to power andinfluence over production, or the possibility to use land for production of food, materials and energy.This redistribution could happen according to diferent principles in the diferent scenarios.In all the scenarios, the consumption of goods and of meat is reduced. Flight travel also needs to bedrastically reduced to reach the climate target. There is furthermore a need for reducing the constructionof both housing and road infrastructure, although to varying extents in the four scenarios. Other aspectssuch as working hours, the organization of welfare systems, the characteristics of the built environmentand the amount of infrastructure needed are on the other hand diferent in the diferent scenarios.The research program has explored what a development that isn't based on economic growth, in linewith the strategies that are depicted in the scenarios, would mean for rural as well as urban conditions.Three case study municipalities were selected with regards to their diferent geographical location,built form, economic development and size of the population: Övertorneå, Alingsås and Malmö. Insome sub-studies in these diferent contexts, descriptions emerged of cognitive as well as structuralbarriers, a sense of powerlessness and a weak capacity for transition among diferent actors. This isconnected to expectations and general assumptions regarding growth, partly irrespective of the context.Municipalities and companies to a large extent plan for and expect a societal development that buildsupon a further expansion of infrastructure, transport and consumption. Despite visions for sustainabledevelopment, in practice this often leads to a reproduction of current unsustainable structures and waysof life.At the same time, specific empirical studies within the project point toward stories of self-sufciency,of regional upswings and that the population is more important than GDP. There is an increasedawareness and a multitude of examples of experimenting with new sustainable practices that constituteseeds for change. Critiques against planning for continuous growth is being taken more seriously andclearer political visions are demanded. New forms of organizing the economy, society and welfare arealso being developed. Some examples include working from a perspective on socio-ecological justice,integration of sustainability targets in all planning, and developing new roles for consumers andproducers. These ideas can be seen as windows of opportunity, but also show that change can happenwithin the current system.The future means change. In this research program, we point towards some possible futures that aimat reaching certain sustainability targets. The scenarios and the discussion and analysis that they havebrought about show that there is an opportunity to move towards a sustainable development withmaintained or even increased well-being – provided that the understanding of well-being is based onother values than those of our current society. For these possible future trajectories to gain support,there is a need of political instruments and measures that actively drive the development towards a justand safe operating space for humanity
|
|
| 40. |
- Isacs, Lina
(author)
-
Deliberating value : On the theory and practice of valuation of nature from neoclassical to ecological economics
- 2021
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This thesis is about whether it is a good idea to place monetary value on nature, to remedy the fact that we treat it as having no particular value to us humans, although it clearly has. The thesis is based on five research papers that can be said to position themselves on opposite sides in the debate on monetisation of nature. The first two papers consider the basis of neoclassical environmental economics and apply the value theory and valuation methods from normative neoclassical welfare theory, on which monetisation of nature is based. The other three papers examine, with increasing degrees of criticism, this theory of value and especially its central assumption that value can be derived from people’s choices, or “revealed preferences”. The thesis itself is a “reflective story” about the journey I made as I learned to think about and understand neoclassical environmental economics in new ways. I reflect upon my work from a philosophy of science perspective, consider how for-granted-taken ideas from neoclassical economics affect environmental economic analysis and its conclusions, and examine the subject of value and valuation from what has become my new theoretical standpoint, ecological economics. It concerns meta-theoretical questions about ontology, that is, ideas in a research discipline about how things really are (what is), and epistemology, ideas about how researchers can provide relevant knowledge about reality. Such ideas are often taken for granted in neoclassical economic analysis and how they affect the analysis and its conclusions is not seldom unreflective. In the thesis, I move from explaining why neoclassical environmental economists advocate monetisation and pricing of nature as important solutions to environmental problems, to exemplifying how this turned out in research projects intended to serve as decision support in practice, and then to exploring and clarifying an alternative theory of value and valuation from ecological economics based on value pluralism and so-called deliberative valuation. In a concluding discussion, I point out that there are reasons to be sceptical about whether monetisation of nature is the right path to follow if we want to change our unsustainable relationship with nature and tackle the serious ecological crises we currently face. I show that monetisation of nature in practice requires a considerable amount of pragmatism, since the applied version of the theory deviates far from its idealised claims about the possibility to capture actual, total values. I also show that the descriptive (so-called positive) part of neoclassical theory and its normative part overlap in a way that makes it very difficult to speak of “objective” science in environmental economics. Instead, and despite strong recognition in the discipline that environmental problems are “market failures”, neoclassical theory has an ethical and ideological bias that favours individuals’ freedom of choice and market solutions, at the expense of collective decision-making and discussions about values that cannot be quantified. The important contribution of the thesis is that it clarifies the consequences of a central idea in the theory behind environmental economic analysis, namely the idea of values as commensurable, that is, measurable in one single unit. This idea links to the misleading conception of choices as “trade-offs”, where all choices are essentially viewed as the result of people’s constant exchange of costs and benefits within themselves in every choice they make, with the result that everything gets better (or at least not worse). Based on my research, I suggest that, in reality, people do not generally “make” trade-offs. If anything, people try to avoid them, especially when it comes to difficult choices, such as those concerning the true value of nature, because such choices involve moral conflicts between values that are incommensurable. As a basis for valuing transformational change, monetisation is therefore unsuitable, as it conceals rather than reveals the ethical dilemmas that are the very definition of sustainability problems and causes us to search for the efficient or so-called “optimal” solutions claimed possible in neoclassical theory and rhetoric, although such solutions do not exist. What we need instead is to represent public opinion in environmental decision-making in ways that do not conceal people’s actual moral considerations. Environmental valuation is political. It must be done together with others through reason-sensitive means, where people’s actual experiences of value conflicts – within us and between us – can be deliberated before making decisions. This makes decision-making more complex, but as an alternative to monetisation, this realism is not necessarily unrealistic. The fact that incommensurability is grounded in human experience means that the complexity of social and environmental decision-making has a real counterpart in conflicts within ourselves. One could see this as a potentiality, because we may have more confidence in people’s ability to recognise the relevance and necessity of less simplification and more complexity in decision-making. People need to “deliberate values” rather than “consuming” them and being expected to express all sorts of values through money.
|
|
| 41. |
- Isacs, Lina, PhD, et al.
(author)
-
'I didn't count "willingness to pay" as part of the value' : Monetary valuation through respondents' perspectives
- 2024
-
In: Environmental Values. - : Sage Publications. - 0963-2719 .- 1752-7015. ; 33:2, s. 163-188
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A frequent justification in the literature for using stated preference methods (SP) is that they are the only methods that can capture the so-called total economic value (TEV) of environmental changes to society. Based on follow-up interviews with SP survey respondents, this paper addresses the implications of that argument by shedding light on the construction of TEV, through respondents' perspective. It illuminates the deficiencies of willingness to pay (WTP) as a measure of value presented as three aggregated themes considering respondents' unintentionality, their retraction once they understood that their WTP could be decisive in cost-benefit analysis and the inherent incompleteness of WTP. We discuss why the TEV discourse persists, how it conceals rather than reveals broader notions of value and in what ways our results support the development of alternative approaches that truly endorse plurality in environmental valuation and decision-making.
|
|
| 42. |
- Isacs, Lina, et al.
(author)
-
"I didn’t count WTP as part of the value": Respondents’ perspective on willingness to pay – an inductive approach
-
Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This paper sheds new light on the willingness to pay-concept (WTP) by taking the perspective of respondents as the departure point and exploring WTP’s accuracy with respect to the framework of “the total economic value” (TEV), upon which much of stated preference studies’ (SP) unique role in welfare analysis depends. Based on follow-up interviews with respondents to an SP survey, we use an inductive, interpretive approach and empirically show that WTP is not a suitable measure of the total value of an environmental change to society. Two findings support this claim. Firstly, to the interviewees it seemed hard to even imagine that we would equate the value of the environmental improvement with their WTP. Secondly, once they understood how their WTP could come to be used in cost-benefit analysis, they did not accept it. Our results suggest that it is more credible to refer to WTP as a measure of a subset of the value of an environmental change, rather than a “total” value. If it is used, we advocate that it is complemented with other value indicators, and that the typical reference to aggregate WTP as a measure of social welfare is avoided.
|
|
| 43. |
- Larsen, Katarina, et al.
(author)
-
Climate change scenarios and citizen-participation : Mitigation and adaptation perspectives in constructing sustainable futures
- 2009
-
In: Habitat International. - : PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. - 0197-3975 .- 1873-5428. ; 33:3, s. 260-266
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper discusses adaptation and mitigation strategies as outlined in climate change scenarios. The adaptive perspective is closely connected to the concept of resilience understood as different views on nature's capacity to absorb shocks, renewal and re-organization. In constructing normative scenarios images of the future are generated illustrating potential ways of living, travelling and consuming products and services where certain goals such as a reduced climate impact are fulfilled. This paper argues that tension arising from climate strategies relying on either adaptation or mitigation strategies, or combining the two strategies, warrant further examination. In this paper the inter-relationships between adaptation and mitigation are discussed by examining processes of citizen-participation in constructing scenarios and applying the concepts of resilience, vulnerability and adaptive capacity. We discuss this using the concept of deliberative planning processes as a means to achieve legitimate, effective and sustainable futures. As a part of this approach, we argue that methods for citizen-participation applied in exploring different science and technology options also provide useful insight for this type of planning processes. The theoretical arguments are combined with examples from environmental scenario construction in practice. The paper brings attention to tensions between sustainability content values, such as reduced climate impact, and more process-oriented values such as legitimacy, learning and participatory scenario construction. Moreover, the concept of open innovation processes is introduced to the context of participatory scenario construction comparing shared ground in terms of user-involvement in search of novel solutions and also increasing robustness of action plans implemented to reduce climate change.
|
|
| 44. |
- Larsen, Katarina, et al.
(author)
-
Environmental scenarios and local-global level of communityengagement : Environmental justice, jams, institutions and innovation
- 2011
-
In: Futures. - : Elsevier. - 0016-3287 .- 1873-6378. ; 43:4, s. 413-423
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- National climate change policy currently operates on a continuum from the local community to the supra-national level. These initiatives include local deliberative processes of low-carbon futures as well as local-global interactions in ‘eco-innovation jam’ dialogues carried out in a virtual space, but founded on communicating with local stakeholder groups. Experiences from national processes and international examples of these structured dialogues of community engagement raise important questions of environmental justice and deliberative processes that facilitate participation by some groups, but perhaps also neglect others. This is particularly relevant since the environmental justice discourse traditionally frames environmental concerns in a place-bound manner that includes local responses to environmental questions. In this paper we argue the importance of local and global forums and deliberative processes for community engagement in order to incorporate stakeholders’ perceptions of future options for low-carbon living, travelling and consuming services and products. Important policy transformations in planning for low-carbon societies are outlined and results from cases are discussed. We conclude with three remarks about the importance of citizen participation for understanding local conditions for change, processes of localized internationalization, and new roles for nation states facing the climate change challenge. We also recognise the importance of the local and global level of deliberative processes targeting sustainable urban futures.
|
|
| 45. |
- Lind, Ulrika, et al.
(author)
-
Octopamine receptors from the barnacle balanus improvisus are activated by the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist medetomidine.
- 2010
-
In: Molecular pharmacology. - : American Society for Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). - 1521-0111 .- 0026-895X. ; 78:2, s. 237-48
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- G protein-coupled octopamine receptors of insects and other invertebrates represent counterparts of adrenoceptors in vertebrate animals. The alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist medetomidine, which is in clinical use as a veterinary sedative agent, was discovered to inhibit the settling process of barnacles, an important step in the ontogeny of this crustacean species. Settling of barnacles onto ship hulls leads to biofouling that has many harmful practical consequences, and medetomidine is currently under development as a novel type of antifouling agent. We now report that medetomidine induces hyperactivity in the barnacle larvae to disrupt the settling process. To identify the molecular targets of medetomidine, we cloned five octopamine receptors from the barnacle Balanus improvisus. We show by phylogenetic analyses that one receptor (BiOctalpha) belongs to the alpha-adrenoceptor-like subfamily, and the other four (BiOctbeta-R1, BiOctbeta-R2, BiOctbeta-R3, and BiOctbeta-R4) belong to the beta-adrenoceptor-like octopamine receptor subfamily. Phylogenetic analyses also indicated that B. improvisus has a different repertoire of beta-adrenoceptor-like octopamine receptors than insects. When expressed in CHO cells, the cloned receptors were activated by both octopamine and medetomidine, resulting in increased intracellular cAMP or calcium levels. Tyramine activated the receptors but with much lesser potency than octopamine. A hypothesis for receptor discrimination between tyramine and octopamine was generated from a homology three-dimensional model. The characterization of B. improvisus octopamine receptors is important for a better functional understanding of these receptors in crustaceans as well as for practical applications in development of environmentally sustainable antifouling agents.
|
|
| 46. |
- Lundberg, Kristina, et al.
(author)
-
Strategisk miljöbedömning i långsiktig transportplanering
- 2020
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Strategisk miljöbedömning (förkortat SMB) är en lagstadgad process som infördes i Miljöbalken 2004, som ett resultat av EU-direktivet (2001/42/EG) om bedömning av vissa planers och programs miljöpåverkan.Bestämmelserna gäller planer eller program som upprättas av myndigheter eller kommuner,till exempel översiktsplaner, havsplaner, avfallsplaner, transport- eller infrastrukturplaner. Syftet medSMB är att åstadkomma en integrering av hållbarhetsaspekter i ett tidigt, mer strategiskt skede avplaneringen där det finns möjligheter att göra olika strategiska val. I praktiken har det dock visat sig attSMB-processen används i alltför liten utsträckning och att genomförandet ofta är bristfällig. Detta harframkommit i forskning såväl som i utvärderingar av myndigheter.Forskningsprojektet TRAMP – Är långsiktig transportplanering och miljöbedömning kompatiblaprocesser? har under åren 2018–2020 analyserat och utvecklat stöd i utformningen av SMB iTrafikverkets långsiktiga transportinfrastrukturplanering, det vill säga inriktningsplanering ochåtgärdsplanering. I rapporten benämns dessa planeringssteg som nationell transportplanering.Även om resultat och rekommendationer är utformade för SMB i inriktnings- ochåtgärdsplanering är rapporten även relevant för andra aktörer som verkar i regional eller nationelltransportplanering såsom länsplaneupprättare, regeringskansliet och andra statliga myndigheter.Projektet fokuserar på såväl SMB:s roll i den nationella transportplaneringen som kompatibilitetenmellan dels Trafikverkets planeringspraktik, dels den lagstiftning och metodpraxis som finns gällandeSMB. Studien baseras på en utvärdering och analys av de två senaste planeringsomgångarna (2014–2025 och 2018–2029) med fokus på den genomförda SMB-processen. De metoder som använts istudien har varit dokumentstudier, workshops och intervjuer. Workshops och intervjuer har genomförtsmed experter, planerare och chefer på Trafikverket, men även med tjänstepersoner på andranationella myndigheter samt departement och politiker som har varit centralt involverade i, eller avandra skäl har god insyn i, den nationella transportplaneringen under de två senaste planeringsomgångarna(2014–2025 samt 2018–2029).Utifrån resultaten har förslag tagits fram till hur SMB kan utvecklas till en process som ger nytta ochfrämjar en hållbar utveckling.
|
|
| 47. |
- Pargman, Daniel, et al.
(author)
-
The (Un)sustainability of Imagined Future Information Societies
- 2017
-
In: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2017 ACM SIGCHI CONFERENCE ON HUMAN FACTORS IN COMPUTING SYSTEMS (CHI'17). - New York, NY, USA : ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY. - 9781450346559 ; , s. 773-785
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The pathway to a sustainable society is not clear, and we need to consider different developmental possibilities. This paper describes the results of a research project in the intersection of HCI and Futures Studies as well as in the intersection between "the future information society" and sustainability. We here present parts of the body of materials that were developed in a multi-year research project with the aim of describing and evaluating the sustainability impact of possible future information societies. We also discuss some of the lessons learned and what HCI and design fiction can learn from Futures Studies in general and from this project in particular. The main stakeholders in this project have been city administrators and corporate partners, and the overarching goal has primarily been to influence planning processes at the regional (Stockholm, Sweden) level.
|
|
| 48. |
|
|
| 49. |
- Svenfelt, Åsa, et al.
(author)
-
Scenarios for sustainable futures beyond GDP growth 2050
-
Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The idea of continued economic growth is increasingly questioned and critically analysed on the basis of its potential negative sustainability impact. Along with the critique, visions and strategies for alternative systems need also be brought onto the agenda. The aim of this paper is to present the qualitative content of scenarios that explore sustainability strategies for Swedish society when economic growth is not seen as an end in itself, and the goal is instead other values/goals that society might wish to achieve. Multi-target backcasting scenarios are developed, that illustrate future states in which four sustainability targets (climate, land use, participation and resource security) are to be attained. The focus of the four scenarios is: 1) collaborative economy, 2) local self-sufficiency, 3) automation for quality of life, and 4) circular economy in the welfare state. In the paper, we also present the process of the development of the scenarios and feedback from stakeholders. Although the focus is on Sweden, the process and scenarios should also be relevant for other similar countries. The scenarios are discussed in terms of their relevance and their purpose, the fulfilment of the sustainability goals and the multi-target approach.
|
|
| 50. |
- Svenfelt, Åsa, et al.
(author)
-
Scenarios for sustainable futures beyond GDP growth 2050
- 2019
-
In: Futures. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 0016-3287 .- 1873-6378. ; 111, s. 1-14
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The idea of continued economic growth is increasingly questioned and critically analysed on the basis of its potential negative sustainability impact. Along with the critique, visions and strategies for alternative systems need also be brought onto the agenda. The aim of this paper is to present the qualitative content of scenarios that explore sustainability strategies for the Swedish society when economic growth is not seen as an end in itself, and instead the objective is other values/targets that society might wish to achieve. Multi-target backcasting scenarios are developed that illustrate future states in which four sustainability targets (climate, land use, participation, and resource security) are to be attained. The focus of these four scenarios is: 1) a Collaborative economy, 2) Local self-sufficiency, 3) Automation for quality of life, and 4) Circular economy in the welfare state. In the paper, we also present the process of the development of the scenarios, and feedback from stakeholders. Although the focus is on Sweden, the process and scenarios may also be relevant for other similar countries. The scenarios are discussed in terms of their relevance and their purpose, the fulfilment of the sustainability targets, and the multi-target approach.
|
|
