Beland Lindahl, Karin
- Luleå University of Technology
Research article2016Peer reviewedOpen access
Theorising pathways to sustainability
Lindahl, Karin Beland; Baker, Susan; Rist, Lucy; Zachrisson, Anna
Abstract
Using a Pathways approach, controversies over environmental and natural resource management are viewed as expressions of alternative, or competing, pathways to sustainability. This supports deeper understanding of the underlying causes of natural resource management controversies. The framework is composed of two elements: the STEPS (Social, Technological, and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability) Pathways approach and frame analysis. Many sustainable development dilemmas are played out in specific places and consequently, the Pathways approach is integrated with a place-based frame analysis. The resulting framework guides empirical investigation in place-based contexts. This theorising about sustainability science can be used to cast light on contested natural resource management issues, in this case mining in northern Sweden. By exposing the range of alternative Pathways to critical norms of sustainable development, we ascertain whether action alternatives are compatible with sustainable futures. The framework provides a way in which sustainability science can better understand the origins of natural resource management conflicts, characterise the positions of the actors involved, identify the potential for cooperation between stakeholders leading to policy resolution and judge what Pathways help or hinder the pursuit of sustainable development. In addition, it can enhance sustainability science by guiding integrative sustainability research at the project scale.
Keywords
Pathways to sustainability; sustainable development; frame analysis; place; sustainability science; natural resource management
Published in
International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology
2016, volume: 23, number: 5, pages: 399-411
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
SLU Authors
Rist, Lucy
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Global goals (SDG)
SDG9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
SDG12 Responsible consumption and production
UKÄ Subject classification
Public Administration Studies
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2015.1128492
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/83251