Canadian Society for Ecological Economics (CANSEE) 2023 National Conference
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The program and many presentations and other materials from CANSEEās 2023 conference, which took place from October 11-13, 2023 at York University, are included here.
By design or by disaster, the global economy must be fundamentally transformed, as we come to terms with the biophysical limits of our finite planet, as well as the inequalities and instabilities that are being reinforced in the name of growth. The limitations and rigidity of our current political-economic systems could not have become more apparent than during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Just as critical, a climate-uncertain future necessitates rapid transition to low-carbon economies, while bracing for the potential of widespread, and largely unjust, environmental change. Our 14th Biennial Conference will dive into the complexities of these surmounting pressures, with the intention of inspiring novel research, high-impact policy, and tractable community action, informed by the most seminal work in the field of ecological economics.
For example, Canadians are directly impacted by our changing climate, and are calling for immediate government action. From sea to sea to sea, Canada is warming much faster than other nations, leading to melting Arctic ice, floods, heat domes, drought, and wildfiresādisplacing hundreds of thousands of citizens. Moreover, with our per capita footprint being one of the highest in the world, and being the fourth largest producer of fossil fuels, Canadiansā collective moral responsibility to reduce GHG emissions is considerable. Meanwhile, transitions towards renewable energy, as well as a green economy, are both economically and politically feasible.
At the same time, inequities abound in Canada, where the colonial past and present, racism, patriarchy, migrant labour, and worsening income distribution, limit and distort many peopleās lives. Canada is also one of the worldās most diverse countries, and active Indigenous resurgence is progressively influencing politics, along with the nationās understanding of itself. Canada must take the lead on both a technological and cultural change to preserve wellbeing and equality, while also decreasing emissions, all in short order. The work of CANSEE scholars and practitioners is at the centre of this transition.
Check out our diverse conference programme, and help contribute to this movement of cross-sectoral, transformative systems change.
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Item Open Access CANSEE 2023 Conference Program(2023-10) CANSEE 2023 Conference ProgramOur conference programming includes something for everyone, such as rigorous scholarship, policy debate, social activism, creative brainstorming, personal reflection, and hands-on crafting.Item Open Access Knowing our limits: Re-designing economies for the well-being of people and the planet(2023-10-12) Samson, Clarissa; Tara CampbellIn Giorgos Kallisā book, Limits: Why Malthus Was Wrong and Why Environmentalist Should Care, he writes, āthe world is limited because our wants are unlimited.ā Sustainable use of our natural capital is dependent on humans being able to understand and know their limits. Firstly, what frameworks exist to help humans better understand the ecological limits with must live within? And how can we balance human and non-human uses of our lands and waters? In order to address this problem, we propose wider use of a framework that is guided and directed by nature and draws on an ecosystem-based approach to planning. Nature-directed plans and stewardship seek to capture Indigenous values and interests and honour the kincentric relationships that underpin socio-ecological systems. The purpose of nature-directed plans is to better understand the character and condition of landscapes so that economic activities and cultural use of natural systems respect the integrity and resilience of natural systems. Respect and reciprocity are achieved through defining and implementing networks of ecological reserves at multiple spatial scales. The approach aims to synthesise Indigenous knowledge with forest and landscape ecology, hydrology, conservation biology and ecological economic principles. The planning process draws on assessment and integration of the social, cultural and economic priorities of Indigenous Nations and/or settler communities across a full range of scales from large subcontinental and regional landscapes to small watersheds and individual patches. An economy that is designed to prioritize well-being should move beyond GDP and traditional indicators that have created a fixation on the performance of the market and economic growth. As Adrienne Maree Brown says in Emergent Strategy: āwhat you pay attention to grows.ā Communities should be at the centre of determining what matters most to them, and therefore what their institutions and governments pay attention to. Monitoring frameworks should represent their visions and encompass indicators with representation from multiple knowledge and value systems to ensure equity and inclusivity. To illustrate how these approaches might be used in practice, we will foreground them in stories from projects we are undertaking at the David Suzuki Foundation in collaboration with various communities. The hope is to understand where we are and where we ought to be by applying a land-use planning and monitoring framework that centres well-being and the maintenance of ecological systems that sustain all life.Item Open Access The role of narratives of care in sustainable consumption(2023-10-13) Blanco-Murcia, Laura; Moreno-Cruz, JuanNarratives are stories that give meaning to the world around us, shape our relationships, and structure our reality. Narratives shape the dynamics within social-ecological systems as these can alter individual consumption patterns, and aggregate economic outcomes. A dominant narrative that assumes a selfish and utilitarian human nature, has shaped economic outcomes in which exploitative activities and an unsustainable relationship with the planet are seen as ānaturalā or āgivenā. This narrative is reinforced and reinforces a consumerist culture, in which we prioritize individual interests, ignoring the harm imposed on a broader context. In this consumerist culture, sustainable consumption is often seen under the frame of self-sacrifice and loss, as it sometimes requires giving up personal benefits that are appealing to our āselfish natureā. Narratives in which humanityās āselfish natureā does not allow us to act on sustainability challenges, are not only paralyzing but incomplete, as humanity is also capable of altruism, cooperation, and care. In this theoretical paper, we establish a dialogue among the Complex Adaptive Systems theory, Narrative Psychology, Narrative therapy, and the Ethics of Care, to foster narratives that can help visualize and act toward sustainable consumption. We propose that tools from narrative therapy, such as externalizing the problem and finding unique outcomes, can aid in the transformation towards narratives that acknowledge our capacity for care. Through these tools, it is possible to develop an alternative story, in which we are also capable of cooperating with other humans and more-than-humans to reshape the dynamics within social-ecological systems towards sustainability. This alternative story releases us from the paralyzing idea of our inherent unsustainability and can help us navigate the tensions emerging from sustainable consumption by framing it under the idea of care rather than self-sacrifice.Item Open Access Navigating narratives of crisis and hope(2023-10-11) Ruttonsha, PerinBetween utopian visions of Earthly paradises and dystopian views of authoritarian post-apocalypses, cultural narratives of the future can oftentimes leave us torn between hoping for the best and fearing the worst. Meanwhile, recent global events have been evocative of our worst nightmares: a widespread pandemic; climate disaster; the uncovering of unmarked graves of Indigenous children; as well as, conflict in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The magnitude of these situations has necessitated rapid response across institutions, at all levels; so too is it important to account for the localised, human dimensions of adapting and rebuilding amidst times of unexpected change. Through a reflective group process, in this workshop, we will dive into the social complexities of some of the most controversial scenarios with which we have been contending, as a global community, acknowledging the range of experiences and impacts that can arise across diverse populations.Item Open Access Diversifying and Decolonising Institutions(2023-10-13) Ruttonsha, Perin; Kapoor, Chaya; Bruyere, Lila; Keeshig-Martin, JessicaConventional research and practice have been instigated, to a large extent, through the lens of Westernised and industrialised worldviews. Not only has this resulted in the exclusion of certain aspects of history, culture, and ecology from scholarship, or deemed particular types of knowledge as less scientific; arguably, it can also perpetuate invisible biases and inequalities, under the guise of rationality. In this workshop, we will discuss (i) the dominance of Western worldviews in academia and industry (or what Dr. Vandana Shiva [2014] has referred to as monocultures of the mind); (ii) how diverse ways of knowing can be part of the formula for sustainability and equality; and, (iii) the types of social, cultural, economic, and political processes that are essential to the revitalisation, resurgence, and sovereignty for voices and traditions that have been historically overshadowed. This session will include guest presentations by residential school survivor Lila Bruyere, along with Indigenous scholar, activist, and political leader Jessica Keeshig-Martin.Item Open Access The Dual Nature of Sustainability(2023-10-12) Ruttonsha, PerinSustainability as a problem domain is not only complex, rather could be characterised through numerous dualities, which are notably difficult to reconcile. For example, some of these include (a) managing short-term targets for sustainable development and climate action, along with long-term visions by which to repattern broader human ecologies; (b) protecting ecosystems against human intervention, while attempting to establish reconnection between nature and culture; (c) maintaining oneās socioeconomic status, while facilitating fundamental institutional reform; and, (d) enabling quality of life for diverse populations, while minimising the ecological footprint of industrialised development. Arguably, these dualities also imply a need for more than one phase of transitionāa fast and slow, or short and long, track for systems change.Item Open Access Applications of Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity to Saugeen Ojibway Nation Land Claims(2023-10-12) Pal, KaitlinThis research project is a case study on the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) land claims in Ontario and relates to themes of Indigenous Truth and Occupation. It applies metrics of Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity to assess the value of land dispossessed through colonialism. Traditional SON lands in Ontario are currently owned by provincial and federal governments since they were stolen by the British Crown upon the breaching of Treaty 45.5 in 1854. This treaty ceded 1.5 million acres of land to the British Crown in exchange for their promise to protect the Saugeen Peninsula forever. SON states that the Crown misled them in negotiations regarding the surrendering of their land, thus dispossessing them of their traditional territory. Through this case, they are seeking ownership of land not owned by third parties, recognition of title, and financial compensation. Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity metrics can be used to assess the value of the land associated with the claim. To do so, the biocapacity of the land is calculated and multiplied by the monetary value of land per hectare in Ontario to assess the monetary value of what was dispossessed. Assessing the monetary value of the land that was dispossessed speaks to political interests, is easily recognizable by a large audience, and can be applied to phase 2 of the case where financial compensation will be determined. Research on the exclusive and sufficient use of SONās traditional territory prior to the breaching of treaty will also be applied to this case. It is important to consider the biocapacity of a region when making legal decisions regarding land claim cases. Collecting data on biocapacity and the use of the region being considered is important in determining any financial compensation that the community may or may not receive. Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity metrics show the loss of physical land and resources, and the ways that environmental research can influence legal decisions.Item Open Access Ecosystem Service Payments as a Climate Solution: an examination into Successful Aspects of Ecosystem Service Payment Policy Programs(2023-10-13) Dworatzek, PeriThe purpose of this research was to conduct a national and provincial examination of ecosystem service payment policy programs. Various Canadian programs were examined to gain insights into program successes and/or challenges. A great deal of academic literature looks at ecosystem service payment policy of individual programs, yet few compare multiple programs. This research added to this gap because it compared multiple programs across various jurisdictions. A qualitative methodological approach was used, whereby professionals with expertise on ecosystem service payment programs were interviewed. Programs were assessed for measurable indicators of success, impacts on broader public policy, and recognition of social-power relations. The ecosystem service payment policy programs examined in this research included: the Ontario Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program, the Canadian Ecological Gifts Program, the Manitoba Riparian Tax Credit, and the Ontario Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program. An Ecological Economics approach was applied when examining climate solutions and transitions through carbon sequestration by understanding improved ways of increasing conservation lands through regulatory market-based public policy programs. Overall, the examination of social-power relations in these programs provided an original and thoughtful approach.Item Open Access Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts for Rural Communities in Ontario(2023-10-11) Dworatzek, PeriThe purpose of this research partnership, with the Ecological Footprint Institute at York University and the Rural Ontario Institute, was to conduct down-scaled community level Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity accounts (EFBAs) for communities in Ontario. Eight community EFBAs were created as a proof-of-concept design of the accounts, this design was later applied to all communities in Ontario. A top-down methodology was applied, by downscaling Ontarioās Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity and applying data to create scaling metrics. Data sources utilized for the EFBAs, included Statistics Canada, Southern Ontario Land Resource Information System (SOLRIS) 3.0, and Ontario Land Cover Compilation (OLCC) v.2.0. The Statistics Canada data was applied to the Ontario Consumption Land-Use Matrix (CLUM) to scale down the Ontario CLUM data to the community level. SOLRIS and OLCC data was used to identify the area for various land classifications and the Ontario Ecological Footprint report was used to match biocapacity classifications to these land classifications. The resulting EFBAs provided environmental data that will be used by municipal stakeholders to inform decision-making on achieving climate and net-zero goals. This project represents the first-time EFBAs have been created for rural Ontario and presents new data and methodologies to expand the planetary accounting field.Item Open Access Ecological Law: Emerging themes and recent developments(2023-10-12) Garver, Geoffrey; Derani, Cristiane; Vargas Roncancio, Ivan Dario; Boulot, Emille; weitzner, viviane; Boccheni, Giusto Amedeo; Napolitano, ErmannoEcological law aims to give coherence to law that align with ecological economics. This session will provide insights on emerging themes and recent developments in ecological law in 2023. Panelists are engaged with research linked to the Leadership for the Ecozoic (L4E) initiative (l4ecozoic.org) and the Ecological Law and Governance Association (ELGA)(elgaworld.org). They will discuss themes such as rights of nature, legal aspects of āterritories of lifeā and placebased governance, ecological law case studies, water governance, climate governance and more, and will provide updates on developments in ecological approaches to law. The session will provide ample time for participant engagement.Item Open Access Cities for Seven Generations: Recognizing, Reconciling and Reimagining our past, present, and future in Canadian urban centres(2023-10-13) Ditschun, LisaHow do we make our cities better? A google search will return 2.6 billion results in half a second. A scan of those results reveals multiple ātop 10ā listsāmaybe an article on how to revitalize Main Street. These solutions lack systems-level interventions, which this research proposes is necessary to move beyond ātop 10ā solutions that merely add a faƧade over inequitable systems and policy, and over infrastructure and resource-usage that damages our earth. This research focuses on disrupting how the interrelations of culture, race, gender, economics, and politics affect the level of benefit someone experiences in a system (e.g., city policy), and aims to challenge assumptions inherent in existing systems. The current juncture of global social, economic, and environmental crises offers a unique opportunity to rethink how we live, and to reconsider the design of our urban centres. Previously, I reimagined a city block in Vancouver, designing a carbon-neutral womenās shelter and social enterprise that shared economic resources, social supports, and āgreenā energy with an adjacent Longhouse. My current PhD research imagines the impact of this synergy at a city-wide scaleāWhat if buildings included free social purpose space? What if adjacent structures shared green energy infrastructure? What ifā¦? This research will co-create a decision framework enmeshed within Indigenous worldviews to offer a way to reimagine our cities. This framework (āCities for Seven Generations Modelā) is based on four key social and worldview concepts: place, language, governance, and social cohesion. This research will focus on commonalities across multiple worldviews, and research alongside urban Indigenous communities to co-design localized adaptations. The Cities for Seven Generations Model prioritizes Indigenous worldviews and ways of knowing while being compatible with western ones. It will inform cooperative, culturally-appropriate, and diverse approaches towards equitable decision making in city planning, governance, policy, and resource allocation.Item Open Access The ecological-economic possibilities of a non-rapid energy transition(2023-10-13) Hardaway, Kendrick; Maani, Thomas; Stevens, Miriam; Mulrow, JohnWith signs and symptoms of climate change continuing to worsen, it is widely accepted that A) our economic systems must shift away from carbon-emitting sources of energy and B) this transition must be rapid. In 2022, the US congress passed two major spending bills aimed at facilitating such a transition through expansion of renewable energy and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. While plenty of studies show that a rapid energy transition is both physically possible and environmentally justified, the speed of this transition is rarely examined for its secondary economic effects. Based on previous studies we have shown that the higher the speed of the transition, the greater the extractive capacity (materials per unit time) would be needed. We are thus motivated to ask: What are the ecological possibilities of a non-rapid transition? Methods: We first establish a method for defining and measuring the extraction rates required to enable a rapid transition of vehicle fueling and electricity generation/transmission infrastructure. Here, we build on our existing work forecasting EV infrastructure scale-up requirements. Then we pair this information with existing data on material intensities and established knowledge about the useful life of various critical material extraction facilities, providing an estimate of the total resource extraction enabled by the transition. We build a probabilistic model of total material footprint enabled by the energy transition, meant as a proof of concept regarding the importance of energy infrastructure transition rate. Results and Discussion: Accepting a rapid transition may lead to an unsustainable level of demand lock-in, compared to a slower one. It could also lead to further delays in taking united, global-scale policy action to set and enforce resource demand limits. These second-order effects alone represent reasons to be skeptical, not about the need for energy transition, but about its rapidity.Item Open Access Making sense through stories: participatory narratives as a pathway to local resilience(2023-10-13) Jones, James T.Human activity in the last 200 years has created a polycrises with globally significant impacts on climate, biodiversity, social equity, and justice. Recognition of limits to economic growth led to efforts to pursue sustainable development but progress is slow, with criticism that goals will not be met through continued growth amid the social complexity that underpins the current crises. New approaches shift the search for solutions to the problematic way we perceive and act within the world, including re-evaluating core values and beliefs contained in narratives which shape our interactions with the world and each other. Narratives are commonly framed as nouns (e.g., the sustainability narrative) but narratives are also a process of continuous coming into being of phenomena into patterns of meaning that shape human behavior, particularly though values and ethics, and as part of the day-to-day, minute-byminute āsensemakingā that precedes action. Narrative approaches are a way of understanding and acting in the domain of complexity, however they are not normative by design, so the oftheard call for the āneed for new narrativesā imposes conditions on the narrative process that challenges theories of non-linearity and uncertainty in social-ecological systems. Our research will explore the re-localisation of narrative sensemaking as a regenerative approach to the current polycrises Our research seeks to understand the role narratives play as a facilitator or barrier to transition in social ecological systems including understanding the relationship between narratives at different scales, the role of narratives in revealing āthe adjacent possibleā and creating alternative basins of attraction. During much of their evolution, our narratives have emerged primarily through interaction at the local scale- family/ tribal completion of physical tasks in community, such as hunting, tool-making, or child-care in place (the view from Somewhere). Modernity yields narratives of the highly mobile individual, structuring narratives without limits in virtual realms (the view from Anywhere/Nowhere).Item Open Access What does Truth and Reconciliation teach us about degrowth in settler societies? An exploration of the interconnections between degrowth and the TRC calls to action(2023-10-11) Gingrich, Kelly; Howarth, Elaine; Stratton, Anna; Shafazand, ShahedDegrowth offers pathways to stay within ecological limits while increasing human and planetary wellbeing. As settler scholars living in so-called Canada, we see a gap in the degrowth branch of ecological economics regarding degrowth transitions within settler societies, as much of this literature comes out of a European context. In this paper, we attempt to analyze the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to explore how a degrowth transition may help us move forward together on the path to Reconciliation with (and decolonization of) First Nations, Metis and Inuit Peoples. We do this by reviewing relevant academic and grey literature, showing the interconnections between degrowthās emphasis on ecological limits and reconciliation with the Land; on autonomy and Indigenous sovereignty; and on moving towards a multiplicity of knowledges to live āthe good lifeā. Here, we offer an exploration of these interconnections to open up three lines of inquiry. We explore how we might ground degrowth transitions in reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and the Land, question what degrowth means on occupied Land, and move towards pluralistic and decolonial degrowth imaginaries. We put forward this contribution to the ecological economics and degrowth communities as a challenge to engage with and act upon the Calls to Action from the TRC, and their implications for degrowth.Item Open Access Low-tech energy for essential, accessible, ecological transitions(2023-10-12) Burke, MatthewContemporary discourse, imaginaries, politics, research, and investment vastly favor a high-tech energy future beyond fossil fuels. This context sets the tone for the so-called energy transition, diminishing options, narrowing debates, and increasing risks of failure and confusion. This framing further positions the wealthy of the world as the source of innovation, expertise, finance, and power, as the standard-bearers of energy futures. Low-tech possibilities reverse the flow of learning and invert the very notion of progress. This paper aims to give new life to the road not (yet) taken: a low-energy, low-tech, energy-ecological future. In the context of the energy transition now a half century on, low-tech refers to various technologies and techniques useful for meeting essential needs in ways accessible to as many people as possible, and ecologically designed to be sturdy, repairable, recyclable, agile, and functional. The paper summarizes the arch of such narratives and options from the time of the energy crisis of the 1970s, then asserts key reasons for taking up such options now, as related to the defining qualities of low-tech. A review then follows of the contemporary status of low-tech energy systems, reflecting diversity of place. These systems provide and enable energy and electricity, water, food, shelter, mobility, and multiple applications for home, farm, and community. Equally as important as technology is the commitment to collaborate and share through applications of low-tech systems. Recognizing such diversity demonstrates that low-tech continues to garner interest even among high-energy societies. These options are positioned as key elements supporting energy sovereignty and an energy-ecological future. Research, practice, and communication must give greater attention toward low-tech pathways for diverse, achievable, and genuinely viable post-fossil fuel futures.Item Open Access Climate policy in British Columbia: An unexpected journey(2023-10-12) Rhodes, Ekaterina; Fairbrother, MalcolmSince introducing a path-breaking carbon tax in 2008, the western Canadian province of British Columbia (BC) has attracted significant attention from climate policy scholars. The enactment of its carbon tax has made the case of BC intriguing, as Canada is a poor climate performer, BC is a fossil fuel producer, and carbon taxes are politically challenging to introduce anywhere. This paper discusses the BC tax, and what lessons it holds for other jurisdictions. We complement existing accounts with new details about key events and developments in recent years, and about climate policymaking in BC generally. While there are features of the taxās design and promotion that would be worth replicating elsewhere, we argue its survival rested on simple good fortune. Moreover, the case of BC should not be reduced to its tax, as the province has enacted other notable climate policies, some of which have done more to reduce emissions while attracting less public criticism.Item Open Access Towards Plural Values in Environmental Decision-Making: The Case of Lake Saint-Pierre's Environmental Assessment(2023-10-13) Dupras, JĆ©rĆ“me; Schluenss, JanaCoastal and marine ecosystems are under increasing anthropogenic pressure. This pressure is closely related to a too narrow definition of natureās values in decision-making processes. Assessing plural values that encompass not only economic factors, but a variety of different value dimensions, such as socio-cultural and intrinsic values, is imperative for sustainable ecosystem management. Nevertheless, the assessment and consideration of multiple values is still scarce. To promote a perspective of plural values in environmental decision-making, we aim to integrate qualitative aspects into the framework of the decision support tool Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). To this end, we assessed how the multiple values that people attribute to ecosystems change when they experience ES loss. We conducted semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders along a coastal to freshwater gradient in two case study areas along the St.-Lawrence River delta in Southern Quebec, Canada. We orient our analysis along the conceptual framework of multiple value dimensions of the IPBES, which differentiates between intrinsic, instrumental, and relational values. This qualitative assessment of plural values is a first step towards the construction of a set of novel indicators in LCA to mainstream the ES concept in decision-making processes. Our research is embedded in the international research project Cost to Coast [C2C] that brings together social science (qualitative assessment of plural values) and natural science approaches (biophysical modeling of ES loss). Our preliminary results suggest a strong sense of place, landscape aesthetics, and environmental justice as main factors that positively influence ES values. These factors need to be emphasized in policymaking to assure an integrative management of coastal and marine areas.Item Open Access Transformative theories of money in the era of climate change(2023-10-13) Schƶnpflug, KarinCalls for more āfeministā economic policies have intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the significance and precarity of reproduction and care in jobs and households, but the re-design of money is usually absent from these agendas. This project therefore offers a systematic critique of the institution of money from a queer decolonial feminist economics perspective, and furthermore investigates transformative, care-based, future oriented and environmentally sustainable constructions of money. National and international financing, distribution, and steering effects of monetary policy in todayās poly-crisis world are explored and complemented by visions of care-based monetary policies designed for a sustainable future.Item Open Access Empowering marginalised mountain communities to act for change(2023-10-12) Nijnik, Maria; Miller, David; Valero, Diana; Melnykovych, Mariana; Wilson, Ruth; Martinat, Stanislav; Brnkalakova, Stanislava; Kluvankova, TatianaA demographic trend in marginalized mountain areas of Europe has been the out-migration of younger people and relocation of population from the most remote areas into nearby villages and towns. This has exacerbated the trend in the demographic profile of an ageing population with implications for delivering services and public policy addressing societal inequalities. Challenges for some mountain areas include poverty, social exclusion, and decline in public services, whereas in others large scale development (e.g., of tourism complexes, renewable energy) creates significant environmental pressures. This research employs a case study-based, mixed methods approach to understanding the challenges facing remote villages in Scottish Highlands, and the Alpine (Swiss) and Carpathian Mountains, as examples, and designing solutions to empower marginalized communities to act for change. We explore existing perspectives concerning the sustainable development of such areas and the role of social innovation for its delivery. We advance the conceptual and practical knowledge of social innovation and reveal its potential in meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We demonstrate that social innovation can help in tackling societal challenges, utilizing opportunities, and enabling third sector actors to realise their capabilities, while improving social inclusion and reducing inequality. A challenge is how to balance trade-offs (between tourism and nature restoration; bio energy production and biodiversity conservation, etc.) and take advantage of opportunities available in the mountains. Our findings inform the design of policy and practice measures in European mountain areas to address sustainability and promote social justice. Acknowledgements
This research is funded by the Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme 2022-2027, project JHI-D5-1, the VEGA 2/0170/21 project in Slovakia, and the EU funded projects of SIMRA (GA 677622), SHERPA (GA 862448), FirEUrisk (GA 101003890) and RURACTIVE (GA 101084377). This output is linked to the activities of the IUFRO Unit 4.05.05 on Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship.Item Open Access Against the Odds: Connecting and Innovating to Deliver Meaningful Prosperity and Peace Pathways(2023-10-12) Okpara, UcheThe Lake Chad region in Africa is poverty-stricken and conflict-afflicted and needs innovative prosperity and peace pathways that can foster recovery and long-term resilience. The project I am leading in this region (see prosperityandpeacepathways.co.uk) is co-creating plausible scenarios of prosperity and peace pathways using Causal Loop Diagrams and other systems thinking tools through local citizen learning labs situated in three Universities in the region. Citizen labs are generating high-and-low end scenarios to bracket plausible trajectories for future prosperity and peace for the region. Developed scenarios are used in forecasting and back casting activities in an iterative and participatory way to derive multiple pathways that target context-relevant issues across different prosperity and peace dimensions (e.g., changes in economic structure, rule of law, security, human capital, natural capital) and outcomes (e.g., achievement of livelihood security and social and environmental sustainability). The citizen labs (involving local farmers, pastoralists, fishermen, traders, civil societies) offer a useful entry point for connecting and innovating locally in the following ways. First, using current trends (conflicts, poverty, weak institutions), lab participants forecast specific prosperity-peace outcomes and appropriate indices to report against with reference to where citizens/the region desire to be in 2050. Cross-sector trade-offs are highlighted and discussed. Back casting is used to define pathways from the desired prosperity-peace objectives in 2050 back to today, highlighting the strategic routes by which desired outcomes in 2050 can be achieved. Iteration between forecasting and back casting aids identification of multiple option sets for the region (e.g., provision of x, y, z leads to a, b, c). The Lake Chad project revels that desirable pathways of change are difficult to design ā they are characterised by multiple nuances and complexities; they can change as circumstances change; and it can be near impossible to monitor and assess their success. It is often unclear what the policy implications of identifying a 'pathway' are, and how a pathway is to be sold to decision-makers. Problem Lab participants in this conference are to imagine that they are responsible for developing shared prosperity and peace pathways for societies undergoing climate-conflict crises, but the goal-posts keep changing (e.g., because of new crises) and everyone is unsure whether the pathways are still relevant. Afterwards, discussions will focus on how we can jointly create prosperity and peace pathways that have a dynamic coherence between socioeconomic and environmental priorities, are locally valid and locally owned, and which guide actions towards socially-just futures.