Global and Regional Research on Sustainable Consumption & Production Systems
Achievements, Challenges, and Dialogues to examine and encourage research and efforts addressing well-being, inequality and alternative concepts and measures of prosperity, such as the Millennium Consumption Goals. This workshop will assess progress on knowledge creation and practice in the field of sustainable consumption and production (SCP), especially in the context of the current discussions on the “Green Economy”.
The workshop will include a dialogue between knowledge producers/researchers and knowledge users - practitioners, advocates, educators, and policy makers. In addition, it will bring regional perspectives from North America, Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America, through its partnering programmes and organizations.
The workshop will aim to achieve the following seven objectives:
• To identify some of the most critical research questions to be investigated in the next 5-10 years, from the perspective of researchers as well as practitioners, educators, and policy makers.
• To review and assess the current state of knowledge on SCP around the globe, particularly in different regions.
• To create a bridge between researchers and practitioners from different regions around the world in a creative process of exchange of information, knowledge, and perspectives on sustainable production and consumption.
• To review the state-of-the-art concerning how change is achieved and what mechanisms are effective to achieve a switch to sustainable consumption and production patterns.
- To explore how to effectively communicate SCP research and findings to users and the general public, especially in different global regions.
- To formulate and send a clear message on the role of SCP research and practice as it applies to the global policy debate at the UN Rio+20 conference.
Main theme: The theme of the workshop is “Global and Regional research on SCP: achievements, challenges, and dialogues”, and addresses the following issues:
- Looking for answers. The workshop will try to take stock of this research by asking the question: what have we learned about creating sustainable production and consumption patterns? What works? Where does it work? When does it work?
- Trends, crises and research needs. The present global system of consumption and production is resulting in major crises.Solutions and strategies are needed – which require appropriate knowledge and research.
- Integrative methodologies. Production/consumption systems are multidimensional. We need to explore interdisciplinary strategies and methodologies.
- Replication mechanisms. How to scale-up niche successes and make them business as usual? Lessons learned from various regions are welcome.
- Beyond behavioral incentives and systemic changes. We need to consider wider frameworks including social movements and historical transitions.
- Alternative systems. Experiments and experiences with alternative systems of provisioning, economics and lifestyles need to be evaluated and possibly be mainstreamed.
- Translation gap. How to bridge the “translation gap” between research and action?
- Growth model. How do different regions and stakeholders view the dominant economic growth paradigm? What are some of the key insights with regard to developed and developing countries?
- Well-being, lifestyles, and livelihoods. Issues of well-being, lifestyles and livelihoods have entered the research agenda next to sustainable consumption and production.
- Transitions. What have we learned from the growing body of knowledge about transitions, both socio-technical and socio-cultural?
- Global and national sustainability goals.
How can rethinking global and national goals for sustainable development? What are the implications for research?
This workshop will bring this literature and experience together through review papers from various perspectives, make this available to practitioners and the wider public, including RIO+20 participants, and promote support for new research based on practitioners’ research needs.
Format of the workshop:
The two and a half-day workshop will be divided between a focus on the production of SCP research and its communication and application in practice. The program thus will have elements of (1) academic research engaged in studying various questions and issues regarding production and consumption, and (2) research use and practices engaged in the application of research concepts and findings in policy making and advocacy, education, advocacy and business.
Invited participants will submit scientific and practitioner’s papers before the workshop. Scientific papers are invited which review (part of) the research field, and take stock of what has been achieved in terms of research from a specific interdisciplinary or regional perspective.
Practitioners’ papers (policy makers, educators, civil society and business representatives) will present their views, perspectives, and questions regarding the role of research as well as the obstacles in translating knowledge to action.
Keynote speakers will include Tim Jackson, Chandran Nair, Peter Victor, Inge Røpke, and Juliet Schor. Discussions will also consider regional, (trans)disciplinary, and policy perspectives.Invited participants: The workshop is by invitation only. The aim is 40-60 participants, half researchers and half practitioners; equally from various global regions. Participants will be drawn from participating networks in the Global Research Forum and beyond. Partners are encouraged to forward names of prominent scholars, practitioners, policy makers, educators, and representatives from minorities and disenfranchised groups from around the world, with a strong interest in SCP issues.
Date
13.–15.06.2012
Place
- ESPM RIO DE JANEIRO
- Rua do Rosário, 90 Centro, 20041-002 , Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Organizers
Global Research Forum on SCP