How norms, needs, and power in science obstruct transformations towards sustainability
After decades of inadequate responses to scientists’ warnings about global environmental threats, leading analysts of the science-policy interface are seeking an important shift of research focus. This switch is from continued modeling and diagnoses of biogeochemical conditions in favor of enhanced...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abdcf0 |
| _version_ | 1797747795887652864 |
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| author | Myanna Lahsen Esther Turnhout |
| author_facet | Myanna Lahsen Esther Turnhout |
| author_sort | Myanna Lahsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | After decades of inadequate responses to scientists’ warnings about global environmental threats, leading analysts of the science-policy interface are seeking an important shift of research focus. This switch is from continued modeling and diagnoses of biogeochemical conditions in favor of enhanced efforts to understand the many socio-political obstacles to achieving just transformations towards sustainability, and how to overcome them. We discuss why this shift continues to prove elusive. We argue that rarely analyzed mutually reinforcing power structures, interests, needs, and norms within the institutions of global environmental change science obstruct rethinking and reform. The blockage created by these countervailing forces are shielded from scrutiny and change through retreats behind shields of neutrality and objectivity, stoked and legitimated by fears of losing scientific authority. These responses are maladaptive, however, since transparency and reflexivity are essential for rethinking and reform, even in contexts marked by anti-environmentalism. We therefore urge greater openness, self-critique, and power-sharing across research communities, to create spaces and support for conversations, diverse knowledges, and decisions conducive to sustainability transformations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:55:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-670277b41d1545c2b3f7a91763a827c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-9326 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:55:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-670277b41d1545c2b3f7a91763a827c72023-08-09T14:54:21ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262021-01-0116202500810.1088/1748-9326/abdcf0How norms, needs, and power in science obstruct transformations towards sustainabilityMyanna Lahsen0Esther Turnhout1National Institute For Space Research (INPE) , Av. dos Astronautas, 1758 Jd. Granja, São José dos Campos, São Paulo 12227-010, Brazil; Environmental Policy Group, Wageningen University , Hollandseweg 1, Wageningen 6706 KN, The NetherlandsForest and Nature Conservation, Wageningen University , Droevendaalsesteeg 3, Building 101, Wageningen 6700 AA, The NetherlandsAfter decades of inadequate responses to scientists’ warnings about global environmental threats, leading analysts of the science-policy interface are seeking an important shift of research focus. This switch is from continued modeling and diagnoses of biogeochemical conditions in favor of enhanced efforts to understand the many socio-political obstacles to achieving just transformations towards sustainability, and how to overcome them. We discuss why this shift continues to prove elusive. We argue that rarely analyzed mutually reinforcing power structures, interests, needs, and norms within the institutions of global environmental change science obstruct rethinking and reform. The blockage created by these countervailing forces are shielded from scrutiny and change through retreats behind shields of neutrality and objectivity, stoked and legitimated by fears of losing scientific authority. These responses are maladaptive, however, since transparency and reflexivity are essential for rethinking and reform, even in contexts marked by anti-environmentalism. We therefore urge greater openness, self-critique, and power-sharing across research communities, to create spaces and support for conversations, diverse knowledges, and decisions conducive to sustainability transformations.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abdcf0global environmental change researchsustainability transformationsenvironmental assessmentsanti-environmentalism |
| spellingShingle | Myanna Lahsen Esther Turnhout How norms, needs, and power in science obstruct transformations towards sustainability Environmental Research Letters global environmental change research sustainability transformations environmental assessments anti-environmentalism |
| title | How norms, needs, and power in science obstruct transformations towards sustainability |
| title_full | How norms, needs, and power in science obstruct transformations towards sustainability |
| title_fullStr | How norms, needs, and power in science obstruct transformations towards sustainability |
| title_full_unstemmed | How norms, needs, and power in science obstruct transformations towards sustainability |
| title_short | How norms, needs, and power in science obstruct transformations towards sustainability |
| title_sort | how norms needs and power in science obstruct transformations towards sustainability |
| topic | global environmental change research sustainability transformations environmental assessments anti-environmentalism |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abdcf0 |
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