Summary Sustainable Transitions: → adopted by environmentalists as well as by
concepts, issues, and indicators multinational corporations because of its
multi-interpretability:
1.1 INTRODUCTION → many competing visions and approaches
course learning outcomes: transitions: the whole of transformation
▪ I understand different concepts and processes in which (sectors of) societies change
dilemmas of sustainability transitions from in a fundamental way over a time span of one
policy, technological and historical generation or more
perspectives example: industrial revolution, transport change
▪ I recognize the temporary dynamics of (trains), energy change (gas)
industrialized societies, particularly → a wider systemic change including both
concerning past and future transitions in technological & other aspects of the system
water, energy & food sectors (economic, technological, institutional, socio-
▪ I can critically evaluate and apply course cultural changes etc.)
concepts to appraise visions and strategies Sustainable transitions are system
towards ‘sustainability’ in water, energy and/or innovations
food-systems transitions
▪ I developed an appreciation and skill for system approach: socio-technical system:
peer review and feedback through include economic, technological, institutional;
participating in peer-to-peer review and socio-economic and socio-cultural aspects are
learning activities needed for sustainability transitions
▪ I can demonstrate scientific writing skills by systems of provision: systems for energy,
writing an individual paper on a chosen food, mobility, water, housing, or socio-technical
subject covered in the course systems for provision
Why is sustainability important? Large Socio-Technical Systems (LTS): range
▪ Widely used concept in both ‘every day’ and of interconnected technological artifacts as well
academic language as social actors and practices managing, using
▪ Since 1987, sustainable development is a and regulating these systems
leading concept in environmental debates example:
▪ There are many definitions, interpretations, ● Infrastructures & “Systems of Provision”:
uses of the term energy system, transport system, sanitation
system, water supply, agriculture/production,
By whom and how is sustainability used? food systems
● Engineers ... : use the concept in technology LTS: including social and technical components
design and assessment social components: norms, values, practices,
● Policy makers ... : use the concept to design behaviors, lifestyles
and evaluate policy instruments and future technical components: infrastructures,
scenarios materials, environments
● Scientists ... : use the concept in modeling, i.e.
assessing carrying capacity of ecosystems Utilities (companies) have become the single
● Economists ... : use it in cost-benefit analyses providers of water and energy services..
and modeling exercises ...providing services to their citizens, under
regional or national monopoly conditions...
sustainable development: development that
meets the needs of the present without when making transitions there are changes
compromising the ability of future generations to in supply and use
meet their own needs → changes in electricity supply and distribution:
influences the supplier and
the main principle of sustainable development: user’s availability
decoupling economic growth from of electricity
environmental degradation: economic growth
means that there will be impacts on the
environment
sustainability
development is
present in all
domains in
society
,1. Energy systems transition: centralized to → are protected because they are not in line
a decentralized system with the current regime and cannot benefit from
2. Water systems transitions: changes in economies (of scale)
water quality and water quantity, user → many of these niches fail to change the
practices, agriculture (water-food), water current regime, but some do and cause a
safety change
3. Food systems transitions: innovations in example: natural disaster
technologies, policies, and institutions will be
critical in reshaping food systems for landscape: all regimes together (world
nutrition, health, inclusion, and sustainability; economy, geopolitical landscape, global
also reflect on food practices and warming); large-scale factors influencing
consumers regimes
transition theory and transition management: → landscape is influenced by the regime and
Multi-level perspective (MLP): societal change the niche; the regime is influenced by the niche
occurring at multiple interrelating scales/levels
(niche, regime, landscape, including a range of
actors (civil society, market, state))
three analytical ‘levels’ that influence a
transition:
1. niches (locus for radical, small innovations)
2. regimes (locus of established practices and
rules that stabilize the system)
3. landscape
▪ historical long-term view on change -
‘pathways of dependency’ and ‘lock in’: past
decisions determine and shape current & future
trajectories of development
→ top-down and bottom-up pressures can
cause a transition
niches can influence regimes, which can in turn
influence landscapes
How can society transform into a
Transition theory: video sustainable society?
transition: the major changes in populations Three major sectors are needed to change:
over time (mortality, birth, leads to transition) ● Energy, Water & Food systems
transition model: a transition is fueled by ● both production and consumption domains
innovations not from the regime, but from the 1) Answer: from three perspectives: 1) historical,
niches: niches can disturb aspects of the 2) social/policy and 3) technology
regime or 2) landscapes: landscape can disturb perspectives
aspects of the regime
1. Historical:
change of the socio-technical regime: a Look at major transitions in the past (RHI):
change in markets, industry, policy, and understanding history is crucial for
technology due to influences of niches, understanding present and future transitions
landscapes or regimes itself 2. Technological:
regime: set of current markets, industries, Technical innovations in water and energy
supply chains, policies, technologies, practices, systems (ETE): techno-centric visions
habits, and routines and approaches are needed for innovation
example: regime actors make money available 3. Social/policy:
for niche innovations Policy and behavior for societal change &
transitions (ENP): the importance of social
niches: initiate transitions: protected spaces in norms, practices and governance frameworks
which multiple actors try and learn about new needed for a change
concepts; small scale factors influencing
regimes
, 1.2 THEORETICAL CONCEPTS OF SUSTAINABILITY A personality can also help to arise an
environmental movement; because it is about
LEARNING OUTCOMES :
everyone
I understand the origins of sustainable
development 1973: A counter-movement against ‘’bigger is
I understand the dilemmas and academic better’’ and consumerism:
critiques Small is beautiful:
I understand policy implications Infinite growth of material consumption in a finite
I understand how to measure sustainability world is an impossibility
I can use, make, and read sustainability Society started to recognize the environmental
indicators. problems also with incidents as:
I can recall the history of societal and 1. To space, (pictures show the vulnerability of the
academic discourses around Sustainability earth)
concepts 2. Crisis oil (1973)
I can distinguish and understand the main 3. Cold war, nuclear concerns
functions and characteristics of (sustainability) 4. Environmental NGOs
indicators
I recognize and understand the Ecological 1972: Limits to Growth report: computer
footprint and Sustainability Balance as examples models were used for future prediction;
of sustainability indicators conclusion: current trends are not sustainable
i grasp the main challenges in developing and will lead to serious problems
sustainability indicators → limits will be reached in 100y
→ but sustainable stability can be established in
We are now in the Anthropocene: humans the form that basic needs are met
having an increasing influence on the geology → when limits are reached different aspects of
and ecosystems around us; this is a matter of life on earth will be influenced: births, deaths,
global concern pollution, resources
→ this requires a sustainable transition
These models and trends caused several
Sustainable development must be speeded and attempts on the international level, to develop an
scaled up (by several sectors) international, global census:
effects:
ORIGINS OF THE CONCEPT : SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 1. global collaborative efforts
since world war 2 2. international environmental organizations
increasing industrial and economic growth were established
(capitalism) → this led to rising concerns about examples:
the impact on the environment 1) 1972: United Nations Conference on the
Human Environment:
since 1960-1970: first time mentioning of link between
emergence of debates due to: environmental degradation and
1. increasing visibility of environmental poverty (includes 113 countries, 19
destruction and risk agencies, and more than 400 inter-/non-
2. rising concerns: nuclear weapons, energy, governmental)
resource depletion, endangered species 2) 1970: Earth Day: celebration of earth; new
3. the concerns causes a rising public environmental social movements; landing on
interest in environmental issues the moon with pictures of the earth (framing)
4. increasing media attention and books 3) foundation of new environmental NGOs
about environmental issues 4) 1980 IUCN: World Conservation Strategy:
first time the link of sustainable development
1960: Silent Spring: Rachel Carson: this book with the help of nature conservation, which
sparked the environmental movement is dependent on the carrying capacity of
▪ made environmental impacts visible, like: natural resources
1. dramatic increase in the use of DDT 5) 1987 WCED: World Commission
pesticides used in agriculture (harmful Environment and Development:
effect on e.g. soil) Brundtland Report: Our Common Future:
2. accused chemical industry of spreading o the aim is to help direct nations on how to
disinformation address these (environmental) issues: a
3. and accused the public officials of accepting framework; also a definition was developed:
these industry claims (unquestionably)
, o sustainable development: when - meeting basic needs of the poor of the present or
environmental, economical, and societal between generations?
sustainability are balanced; 5. Quality of life: several aspects determine
o sustainable development requires: this quality: how to indicate these?
- if not purely economic, how to measure variables
decoupling economic growth and
like QoL?
environmental degradation, 6. Participation: institutions are needed to allow
o and needs to take into account the future all voices to be heard:
generation - Consultation of experts, market actors,
6) 1992 Rio: Earth Summit: UNCED: UN governments or of all citizens, and how to organize?
Conference on Environment & Public-Private Participation?
Development: agenda 21 was formed: - integration of parties
Agenda 21: plan of action to tackle principles to come to SD:
environmental problems at all levels of - horizontal policy integration: integration of
government around the globe different fields of policy makings; combine
Outcome: different policies; integrate policies of
1. Recognizes the right of all nations to exploit agriculture, energy, spatial planning, and water
resources, without damaging the environment (the management; this can be present in all levels:
development aspect is included here): less local, national, global scale
developed countries have still the space to make
- vertical policy integration: local to global or
use of resources for their development, without
damaging the environment, otherwise it would be global to local; agreements and actions are
unfair needed on all different levels: example: global
2. Common, but differentiated responsibility to solving decisions have to be translated and integrated in
environmental problems: more advanced nations the local level to be achieved
can contribute more or contribute in other/several - equity: equitable distribution of costs and
ways than less developed countries (they have
other issues too)
benefits among groups in society: though this is
3. Establishment of the Global Environmental Facility hard to put into practice
to fund environmental activities: to support these - integrational solidarity: taking into account
processes the interests of future generations (who have no
voice yet): politicians only take into account
Social (People), environmental (Planet) and current problems, not future ones
economic (Profit) development in balance: - internalization: of social and environmental
sustainable development: costs in production and consumption: put a price
Social development: self-reliance, basic needs, on environmental costs, integrate them in
participation, social accountability, equity products and services
Environmental development: biodiversity, - participatory policy making: involving
carrying capacity, resource conservation, stakeholders in policy making (functional and
sustainable yield normative arguments)
Economic development: growth, profit, market
expansion, internalize costs 4 academic criticisms around sustainability
1. vagueness of the concept: there are
ideas within sustainable development and different definitions of SD, but this is the
related dilemmas; principles/aims: same with other valuable concepts like
1. Environment-economy integration: freedom and equality: clear definition is
- underdeveloped countries can grow first on the needed to come to SD
economy basis, same as with Western countries? 2. economic bias: one economic model is
- can the economy and environment be integrated? included instead of all models, more models
- can a price be put on environmental issues?
- how to combine environmental and economic need to be included (economic growth and
measures? capitalistic thinking)
2. Futurity: concern about future generation: 3. North-South bias: SD is a western concept
- what sacrifices to make today to address the that is trying to tell countries how they can or
needs of non-existing people? cannot develop after western countries
- do we know the needs of future people? already developed, and now start telling the
3. Environmental protection: perceiving of rest of the world what they should do; there
issues and protection: is an inequality here
- efficient use of recourses or recognizing intrinsic
4. implementation gap: parties agree upon
value (conservation) of non-human nature? (a value
without us needing it: a value on its own) decisions (at global conferences), but
4. Two dimensions of equity: equity in different targets are not reached due to little action
generations and equity between nations (lack of implementation)
now: which to prioritize? → on the exam
