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Tutorial #4 – Sustainability transitions theory – Flor Avelino

Q: This article explores the view on each position on the scale and type of change, naming the three positions. Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP)

Generic positions Reformist position ; support the econ-innovations by companies and eco-efficient products for consumers. This approach seeks to improve sustainability within the system. The revolutionary approach; takes a more radical stance and aims to abolish capitalism, materialism, and consumption. The article proposes a third position. The reconfiguration: focusses on the transitions in the socio-technical systems and the daily life practises; it encourages new conceptual frameworks. It acknowledges the limitations of the current systems. It doesn't address the environmental problems enough

Q: SNM vs Transition Management

- Transition Management approach : the importance of creating visions before experimentation, set cognitive frames in transition arenas consisting of regime actors, niche actors, and outsiders; more emphasis on strategic envisioning. - However, visioning should not concern window dressing. - SNM starts from within the niche, but later SNM approaches acknowledged the importance of aligning with developments outside the niche

6 important questions on Tutorial #4 – Sustainability transitions theory – Flor Avelino

This article explores the view on each position on the scale and type of change, naming the three positions. Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP)

Generic positions

Reformist position; support the econ-innovations by companies and eco-efficient products for consumers. This approach seeks to improve sustainability within the system.
The revolutionary approach; takes a more radical stance and aims to abolish capitalism, materialism, and consumption.

The article proposes a third position.

The reconfiguration: focusses on the transitions in the socio-technical systems and the daily life practises; it encourages new conceptual frameworks.

It acknowledges the limitations of the current systems.
It doesn't address the environmental problems enough

SCP = Sustainable consumption and Production

Importance of the agenda is that it moves beyond the dominant focus on pollution control and green products.

How can we distuingish between differten kinds of transitions dynamics?

The article describes the field of sustainability transitions which emerged over the last 2 decades.

The X curve which refers to the MLP

Explain

SNM vs Transition Management

- Transition Management approach: the importance of creating visions before experimentation, set cognitive frames in transition arenas consisting of regime actors, niche actors, and outsiders; more emphasis on strategic envisioning.

- However, visioning should not concern window dressing.
- SNM starts from within the niche, but later SNM approaches acknowledged the importance of aligning with developments outside the niche

Criticisms (Geels, 2011)

1. lack of agency,

2. operationalization of regimes
3. bias towards bottom-up change models,
4. epistemology and explanatory style,
5. methodology
6. socio-technical landscape as a residual category,
7. flat ontologies versus hierarchical levels
8. Drive for sustainability: too normative? And who gets included?

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

Societal Challenges and Innovation Theories

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