A critical and reflexive perspective on sustainability transitions
Time: Thu 2023-04-13 14.00 - 15.00
Location: 443, Lindstedtsvägen 30
Participating: Emrah Karakaya
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The term ‘sustainability transitions’ have been popularized both as an academic concept and a practical phenomenon. It usually refers to large-scale, long-term and sustainability-oriented changes in societal and industrial sectors, such as of energy, mobility and food provision. Transitions towards electric vehicles, digitalization, hydrogen-based steelmaking and vertical farming are just a few examples which are often framed as sustainability transitions by many. But, how do sustainability transitions happen? What makes us to perceive such transitions to be more sustainable than what we already have or other alternatives?
In this lecture, I will first introduce the basics behind the business and industrial dynamics of sustainability transitions. Then, taking stock of the emerging debates on critical and reflexive perspectives on sustainability transitions, I will discuss how we can develop a more critical and nuanced understanding of ‘sustainability’ of sustainability transitions. My aim will be to invoke new ideas and perspectives; as an alternative to frame sustainability as a black-and-white issue.