Press release 2011-09-26 at 12:00
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Photo: Jutta Kuure
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A new special issue of the Journal of Cleaner Production addresses system transformation by examining progress, stumbling blocks and opportunities for sustainable consumption and production. Finland is the case study in question, but the global context is important, as shown by the increased greenhouse gas emissions embodied in trade.
The articles provide a broad set of approaches to explore the need and opportunities for change. They include analyses of top-down policy efforts, bottom-up efforts by municipalities, activities by companies, and actions by consumers that may aid the transformation towards sustainability. The studies underscore the unsustainability of our current consumption and production patterns, but also identify some possibilities for change. Further, the articles offer material for discussions on moving from sustainability planning to enhanced system transformation and on the implications of globalisation for system boundaries, on the transformation of complex systems, on learning processes, and on methods of assessing transitions.
"Time is a crucial but difficult aspect of transitions towards sustainability" said Professor Per Mickwitz, one of the Guest Editors of the special issue. "On one hand the need for change is urgent, but on the other hand all previous transitions of complex socio-technical systems have been slow. It is thus essential that the political signals are clear, that actions are started immediately, but that we are not hesitating, but allow time for technological development, social adjustment and learning," Mickwitz said.
The articles show convincingly that issues of sustainability have to be explored in different ways within different contexts, and experimented with. The focus should therefore be on creating opportunities for innovations. In order to ensure this, innovations that enhance sustainability policies are crucial. Furthermore, the mobilisation of users, consumers and policy implementers is necessary.
The authors of the 15 articles are Finnish researchers from five universities and three research institutes, including the Finnish Environment Institute, the University of Helsinki and Aalto University.
"I haven't seen such a comprehensive and integrated assessment of efforts to make production and consumption systems more sustainable for any other country. I am confident that this special issue will be an important contribution for further promoting the transition to a more sustainable Finland as well as making many contributions to similar efforts globally." said Professor Donald Huisingh, founder and Editor-in-Chief, of the Journal of Cleaner Production, now beginning its 20th year of publication.
The special issue "Sustainability through transformation of Finnish consumption and production systems" was launched at a seminar organized by the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), the Ministry of the Environment and the University of Helsinki on September 26th. The seminar, in which academics, civil servants, and representatives from businesses and environmental NGOs participated, contributes to the debate on how a resource-intensive developed industrial society such as Finland can embark on paths towards sustainability.
The Journal of Cleaner Production serves as an interdisciplinary, international forum for the exchange of information and research results on the technologies, concepts and policies designed to help ensure progress towards sustainable societies. It aims to encourage industrial innovation, new and improved products, and the implementation of new, cleaner processes, products and services. It is also designed to stimulate the development and implementation of prevention-oriented governmental policies and educational programmes.
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