Abstract
The need for sustainability transitions is widely recognised, along with a concurrent need for the evolution of knowledge systems to inform more effective policy action. Although there are many new policy targets relating to net zero emissions and other sustainability challenges, cities, regional and national governments are struggling to rapidly develop transformational policies to achieve them. As academics and practitioners who work at the science-policy interface, we identify specific knowledge and competency needs for governing sustainability transitions related to the interlinked phases of envisioning, implementing and evaluating. In short, coordinated reforms of both policy and knowledge systems are urgently needed to address the speed and scale of sustainability challenges. These include embedding systems thinking literacy, mainstreaming participatory policy making, expanding the capacity to undertake transdisciplinary research, more adaptive governance and continuous organisational learning. These processes must guide further knowledge development, uptake and use as part of an iterative and holistic process. Such deep-seated change in policy-knowledge systems will be disruptive and presents challenges for traditional organisational models of knowledge delivery, but is essential for successful sustainability transformations.
Highlights
Despite environmental policies delivering substantial benefits, most countries around the world still face persistent sustainability challenges in areas such as biodiversity loss, excessive resource use, climate change impacts, inequality, poverty and pollution risks to health and well-being (CBD, 2020; Environment Agency (EEA), 2020b; IPBES, 2019; IPCC, 2018; UN, 2016, 2019)
As academics and practitioners who work at the science-policy interface, we identify specific knowledge and competency needs for governing sustainability transitions related to the interlinked phases of envisioning, implementing and evaluating
Achieving sustainability will not be possible without a rapid and fundamental transformation in the char acter and ambition of government responses, engaging diverse policy areas and actors across society in enabling systemic change (EEA, 2019; IPBES, 2019; Kohler et al, 2019). These rapid changes are increasingly spurred by new targets to meet net zero emissions as well as other environmental goals. Given this fast pace of policy development in concert with rapid societal and environmental change, there is a risk of unanticipated outcomes and an even greater need for a sound knowledge base and an adaptive approach to decision and policy making
Summary
Despite environmental policies delivering substantial benefits, most countries around the world still face persistent sustainability challenges in areas such as biodiversity loss, excessive resource use, climate change impacts, inequality, poverty and pollution risks to health and well-being (CBD, 2020; EEA, 2020b; IPBES, 2019; IPCC, 2018; UN, 2016, 2019). Achieving sustainability will not be possible without a rapid and fundamental transformation in the char acter and ambition of government responses, engaging diverse policy areas and actors across society in enabling systemic change (EEA, 2019; IPBES, 2019; Kohler et al, 2019) These rapid changes are increasingly spurred by new targets to meet net zero emissions as well as other environmental goals (e.g. the legally binding Environment Bill targets in the UK). ‘actionable’ within policy and decision-making (Klett, 2010; McGonigle et al, 2020; West et al, 2019); and addressing knowledge development, uptake and use as an iterative and holistic process
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