Toward a Future Earth Knowledge–Action Network on Systems of Sustainable

Consumption and Production

Steven McGreevy & Maurie Cohen

Conference of the Sustainable Consumption Research and Action Initiative, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA, June 15‒17, 2016

• Hosted by the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature

• One of four Regional Centers, alongside five Global Hubs

International collaborative research platform that strives to provide the knowledge and support to accelerate our transitions to a sustainable world

Key ‘New’ ElementsScientific integration of disciplines/ sectors

Co-creation of knowledge with society

ecoHEALTH

New name: Future (Earth) Coasts

A Federation of Core Projects

Knowledge⇄Action Networks

Further integrate & broaden GEC networks:

• Can include (multiple) Core Projects• Involve societal partners• Link to policy processes• “Co-designed”

KAN Objectives

• Solution-driven, co-designed & co-produced research

• Identify and respond to society’s needs• Generate integrated knowledge relevant to key

decision-makers• Add value to existing research (prioritize, integrate,

synthesize, identify gaps opportunities, stimulate new research)

Build health, resilient cities

Improve human health under GEC

Sustainable consumption &production

Food, water, energy for all

Decarbonisesocioeconomic

systems

Sustainable rural futures

Safeguard natural assetsSocial resilience to future threats

2025 Vision Challenges

SSCP KAN• One of the identified Challenges for which a KAN is

to be developed• Not significantly covered by existing Core Projects

(CCAFS?)

• Opportunity to help shape the agenda

Research Institute for Humanity and NatureKyoto, Japan

Impetus for a SSCP KAN

Agenda and WS Structure

• Fifteen participants (largely representing Asia) met to discuss issues critical to taking first steps in realizing a SCP KAN

• Aims

– 1) to discuss core ideas, practicalities, and expectations for a SCP KAN

– 2) to share information on areas for potential collaboration

– 3) to identify prospective partners (especially non-academic, action-oriented groups) and possible sources of funding

• Two-days: presentations, discussions, group-work, brainstorming

Focal Theme One: Ecological Macroeconomics and Political Economy of a Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles

Preparation of an Expression of Interest (EOI): Three Focal Themes

Ecological Macroeconomics and Political Economy of a Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles

Ecological Macroeconomics and Political Economy of a Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles

Ecological Macroeconomics and Political Economy of a Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles

Ecological Macroeconomics and Political Economy of a Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles

Some scholars have characterized these developments as constituting a shift toward a post-consumerist system of social organization. If this is the case, what kinds of alternative provisioning practices might we envision for the future? How might we envisage more

satisfactory and sustainable livelihoods?

Club of Rome, forthcoming

Ecological Macroeconomics and Political Economy of a Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles

Urban Metabolism and Sustainable Provisioning Systems

Cities (and their surrounding metropolitan regions) are critical nodes for production and consumption, yet municipal governments have little understanding or control of many of these essential material flows.

While the governance challenges of transboundary problems are not themselves new or uncommon, the scale and complexity of contemporary global supply chains—and their socioeconomic and ecological implications—require new conceptual approaches and methodological tools with which to develop more effective governance.

Given that it is at the city-scale that the enabling frameworks of daily living are produced, how can municipal governments (along with civil society organizations and social entrepreneurs) more effectively exercise their unique leverage to shape local production and consumption processes?

What contribution might new forms of “participatory urban metabolism” play in enhancing the transparency of material flows?

Urban Metabolism and Sustainable Provisioning Systems

Extant theories of social change typically privilege changes in production (organization of work, availability of capital and resource endowments, and industrial technologies)

rather than on evolving adaptations in consumption and the interlinkages between consumers and producers. Similarly, social experimentation involving new consumer

practices as harbingers of more expansive change has had, outside of the field of marketing, low scientific salience. Recent years have given rise to significant interest

among practitioners in developing and scaling up alternatives to dominant consumption routines including the "sharing economy" (both communitarian and for-profit varieties) and other grassroots innovations but significant uncertainty surrounds

their potential contribution to transitional dynamics. This focal theme will bring together theoretical studies and real-life experiments, and based on social learning among stakeholders, develop an understanding of viable future pathways for social

change beyond consumerism.

SSCP and Social Change

Next Steps Toward Establishment of a FE KAN on SSCP

Establishing a KAN – A Two-stage Process

1. Expression of Interest (EOI)– 2 pager outlining the rationale for the KAN, including:

• Relevance to Global Environmental Change and Sustainability• Transdisciplinary, solutions oriented, well aligned with Future Earth Vision 2025 and Strategic

Research Agenda 2014• Not duplicate existing KANs and other efforts• High potential for mobilizing a large and diverse group of scientists and stakeholders• Ideas on outcome(s) or final product(s)• Rough funding concept

– To be approved by FE; starts the official process 2. Research and Engagement Plan (REP)

– Multi-year proposal, co-designed with stakeholders– Process led by a development team

• Scientists• Stakeholders• Members of FE Committees and Secretariat

Current TimelineWhen What

Mid-June Development of draft EOI to be shared with FE Secretariat for feedback

End June Formal submission of EOI

September? Approval of EOI, establishment of development team

November/December Drafting workshop for REP

First quarter of 2017 Submission of REP

June 2017? REP approved by FE Governing Council

How You Can Get InvolvedThe level of engagement is up to you Express your interest in becoming a KAN founding member Stay updated by subscribing to the KAN listserv

We welcome ideas for next steps Stakeholder partners to involve Existing initiatives to be aware of Concrete KAN activities and output Potential funding sources