Typology of sociotechnical transition pathways

Geels, Frank W.; Schot, JW Johan

doi:10.1016/j.respol.2007.01.003

Cited by 3,756 publications

(3,062 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Criteria should be related to key attributes of the ecological system but also those of the governance system (Biggs et al, 2012). This systemic perception may help decrease risk aversion and ease transition phases (Geels and Schot, 2007). Indeed, it highlights systemic effects, for example one may lose in some aspects but gain in global performance.…”

Section: Design Of Icls Requires Relevant Methods and Toolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farming system design for innovative crop-livestock integration in Europe

Moraine¹,

Duru²,

Nicholas

et al. 2014

Animal

113

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The development of integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) is a major challenge for the ecological modernisation of agriculture but appears difficult to implement at a large scale. A participatory method for ICLS design has been developed and implemented in 15 case studies across Europe, representing a range of production systems, challenges, constraints and resources for innovation. Local stakeholders, primarily farmers, but also cooperatives, environmental-association representatives and natural-resource managers, were involved in the identification of challenges and existing initiatives of crop-livestock integration; in the design of new options at field, farm and territory levels; and then in qualitative multicriteria assessment of these options. A conceptual framework based on a conceptual model (crops, grasslands, animals) was developed to act as a boundary object in the design step and invite innovative thinking in 'metabolic' and 'ecosystemic' approaches. A diversity of crops and grasslands interacting with animals appeared central for designing sustainable farming systems at the territory level, providing and benefitting from ecosystem services. Within this diversity, we define three types of integrated systems according to their degrees of spatial and temporal coordination: complementarity, local synergy, territorial synergy. Moreover, the options for cooperation and collective organisation between farmers and other stakeholders in territories to organise and manage this diversity of land use revealed opportunities for smart social innovation. The qualitative multicriteria assessment identified farmer workload as the main issue of concern while demonstrating expected benefits of ICLS simultaneously for economic, agronomic, environmental and social criteria. This study concludes that participatory design of ICLS based on a generic multi-level and multi-domain framework and a methodology to deal with a local context can identify new systems to be tested. Further assessment and redesign work will be performed in later stages of the European FP7 CANTOGETHER project.

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Section: Design Of Icls Requires Relevant Methods and Toolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farming system design for innovative crop-livestock integration in Europe

Moraine¹,

Duru²,

Nicholas

et al. 2014

Animal

113

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“…Some concepts of transformation propose that transformative change follows a sequence of general phases. For example, SoT is a process comprising four phases (i.e., predevelopment, take off, acceleration, and stabilization), for which pathways of transition, e.g., reform, reconfiguration, substitution, and transformation, have been identified (e.g., Geels and Schot 2007;De Haan and Rotmans 2011). RS entails three phases, namely being prepared for or actively preparing the social-ecological systems for change; navigating change by making use of a crisis as a window of opportunity; and building resilience of the new socialecological regime (Olsson et al 2006;Folke et al 2010).…”

Section: Form and Temporal Rangementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The former identifies patterns that are considered definitive of transformation, but does not attach value to any specifice.g., sustainable-configuration of these patterns. These perspectives, which include RS, SoT, SeT, and SP, encompass distinct pathways and outcomes of transformation (Geels and Schot 2007;De Haan and Rotmans 2011), including potentially 'non-desirable' consequences , such as changes resulting in greater social inequality or increases in carbon consumption and emissions. On the other hand, prescriptive concepts of transformation, which include DT, PT, and TA2, define transformative change not only as entailing structural change, but also as going specifically in desirable directions, which are differently determined on the basis of such benefits as ''substantial and widely distributed benefits [to] both society and ecosystems''(Marshall et al 2012:2), increased adaptive capacity (e.g., Park et al 2012), or empowerment and agency (O'Brien 2012).…”

Section: Outcomementioning

confidence: 99%

Societal transformation in response to global environmental change: A review of emerging concepts

Feola

2014

Ambio

503

352

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The study of societal transformation in response to environmental change has become established, yet little consensus exists regarding the conceptual basis of transformation. This paper aims to provide structure to the dialog on transformation, and to reflect on the challenges of social research in this area. Concepts of transformation are identified through a literature review, and examined using four analytical criteria. It is found that the term 'transformation' is frequently used merely as a metaphor. When transformation is not used as a metaphor, eight concepts are most frequently employed. They differ with respect to (i) system conceptualization, (ii) notions of social consciousness (deliberate/emergent), and (iii) outcome (prescriptive/descriptive). Problem-based research tends to adopt concepts of deliberate transformation with prescriptive outcome, while concepts of emergent transformation with no prescriptive outcome tend to inform descriptive-analytical research. Dialog around the complementarities of different concepts and their empirical testing are priorities for future research.

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“…Three inter-related levels are identified: regimes, landscapes, and niches (Geels and Schot 2007;Markard and Truffer 2008). Regimes are the dominant rule-sets supported by incumbent social networks and organizations and embedded in dominant artifacts and prevailing infrastructures, of say, particular industries or social problem arenas.…”

Section: Tipping Toward Sustainability: Understanding and Supporting mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tipping Toward Sustainability: Emerging Pathways of Transformation

Westley

Olsson

Folke

et al. 2011

AMBIO

766

476

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This article explores the links between agency, institutions, and innovation in navigating shifts and largescale transformations toward global sustainability. Our central question is whether social and technical innovations can reverse the trends that are challenging critical thresholds and creating tipping points in the earth system, and if not, what conditions are necessary to escape the current lock-in. Large-scale transformations in information technology, nano-and biotechnology, and new energy systems have the potential to significantly improve our lives; but if, in framing them, our globalized society fails to consider the capacity of the biosphere, there is a risk that unsustainable development pathways may be reinforced. Current institutional arrangements, including the lack of incentives for the private sector to innovate for sustainability, and the lags inherent in the path dependent nature of innovation, contribute to lock-in, as does our incapacity to easily grasp the interactions implicit in complex problems, referred to here as the ingenuity gap. Nonetheless, promising social and technical innovations with potential to change unsustainable trajectories need to be nurtured and connected to broad institutional resources and responses. In parallel, institutional entrepreneurs can work to reduce the resilience of dominant institutional systems and position viable shadow alternatives and niche regimes.

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Typology of sociotechnical transition pathways

Cited by 3,756 publications

References 29 publications

Farming system design for innovative crop-livestock integration in Europe

Farming system design for innovative crop-livestock integration in Europe

Societal transformation in response to global environmental change: A review of emerging concepts

Tipping Toward Sustainability: Emerging Pathways of Transformation

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