Below are some notes from the roundtable discussions on the Saturday of the conference.
Social and Environmental Justice Roundtable
Our discussion focused primarily on issues related to social justice:
– Inequity and vulnerability: There was broad agreement among participants that current research on sustainable development tends to focus on economic development issues and environmental risks without paying adequate attention to the social dimension of unsustainable practices. International research collaboration on issues of inequality/inequity and social vulnerability should be strengthened.
– SD Indicators beyond GDP: To better monitor progress towards sustainable development complementary national performance measures must be devised. GDP offers only a partial lens, which fails to take into account economic activities that deplete natural assets or increase social inequalities. Researchers must come up with a set of more reliable and useful indicators/indices that can be combined and adapted to specific national contexts. The Human Development Index, the Gross Happiness Index, and WWF’s Living Planet Index are a good start but data is often sparse and inconsistent.
– SD research methods: Many held the view that studies analyzing poverty, inequality, and social vulnerability mainly relied on quantitative approaches; qualitative research methods have become outdated and less appreciated. Yet, when it comes to bringing social factors to the fore, investigating immaterial needs is just as important as defining material needs. The sustainable development research agenda requires a balanced combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Normative questions should complement empirical ones.
– SD ethics: Some participants called for further research on sustainable development ethics. For instance, is there an ethical dimension to market economics? Do corporate actors have a moral duty vis-à-vis society that goes beyond the bottom-line?
– SD trade-offs: Many participants underlined the need to do more research on potential trade-offs between different sustainable development goals (poverty eradication vs. growing inequality). In a similar vein, false dichotomies must be avoided (e.g. economy vs. environment; environment vs. society).
– The role of careholders: One participant introduced the notion of “careholder”. While most discussions focus on stakeholders (parties that are either involved or affected by a certain process or decision), the term “careholder” refers to individuals concerned about an issue or willing to contribute to the minimization of a problem without being directly involved.
Energy and Climate Change Roundtable
Open Environmental Questions:
- Where is 1/3 of carbon going?
- What role do clouds play in the dynamics of albedo and climate forcings?
Open Economic Questions:
- What are all of the pieces necessary for a pervasive all-electric car infrastructure?
- Can we put total costs on fossil fuel use?
Research Community Questions:
- Is geo-engineering an important avenue of research for current responses?
- How should we perceive the impact of technologies?
Open Social Changes:
- What should various groups do when the climate changes?
- What are the trade-offs between mitigation and adaptation?
Additional Avenues of Exploration:
- Land use change plays a large role. “Land use architecture” is an important field of exploration.
- Scaling plays a large role, but what are the proper scales on which to study climate change and climate change behaviors?
- Systems understanding is important, but how do we incorporate it?
- Resilience is important, but how do we build on it?
Policy and Communication:
- What is the right link between policy-making and science, and how can we improve it?
- How do we explain (and frame) energy and climate issues to policy-makers and the public?
- What impact do scientists have?
- What can we learn from policy-makers?
- How can the interests of those in power be connected to those of the people and the planet?
- How do we communicate with local decision-makers?
- What is the role of media in policy?
- How do we take advantage of new methods of decision-making?
- Terms like “Climate Finance” are commonly used, but there is no discussion of what such money should be spent on.
- What are local decision-makers supposed to do with the scientific knowledge we produce?
- National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) were developed; how can they be evolved to include local involvement?
For future roundtable discussions
The overall feedback from participants was very positive! Many enjoyed the opportunity to come together and exchange ideas in a less formal setting. Here are some minor ideas for the next workshop.
– Timing: The roundtable discussions should be held earlier in the day to ensure lively debates (many participants were exhausted) and greater participation.
– Input: The moderator should start the session with a provocative statement or question to be debated. Alternatively, two students could prepare a 5min debate, presenting pro and contra arguments to set the scene.
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