IOER Forum series on "Reinventing sustainability"

Sustainability represents the dominant paradigm for overcoming the global social-ecological crises. It is the core guiding principle of overarching policy strategies at all levels (local to UN), as well as for cross-domain spatial planning practice, development concepts of science organisations, and the inter- and transdisciplinary field of sustainability sciences.

However, since its adoption on the international policy stage back in the 1990s the concept of "sustainability" has also always been subject to fundamental criticism. This ranges from questioning its ontological premises and ethical ambiguities (e.g. dualistic human-nature relation, vague justice notion, strong/weak variations, inherent growth orientation, unclear spatio-temporal reference, etc.) to recognising its limited procedural substance for guiding the transformation of complex socio-ecological-technological systems.

In the context of the Anthropocene such criticisms have become further reinforced. In view of a rapidly declining habitability of the planet and the outstanding spatial disparities this implies, calls for a paradigm shift to guide transformations have multiplied. At the same time, the sustainability sciences have fostered the reflection on the ways in which science-society interactions and their spatial configurations affect transformations - typically requiring to deconstruct sustainability.

Against this backdrop this IOER Forum series aims to advance the critical debate on sustainability as a guiding science and policy paradigm. It strives to outline contours of much needed alternative goal concepts for the future that may help to replace "sustainability" and to shape a good Anthropocene.

31 May: Lecture by Prof. Dr Konrad Ott, Kiel University (CAU), opens the series

The current series starts on 31 May, 11 a.m. with Prof. Dr Konrad Ott from the Kiel University (CAU). His lecture entitled "Starke Nachhaltigkeit in Raum und Zeit: zum Skalierungsproblem" will present the history of ideas, scientific theory, ethics and conceptual foundations of a theory of strong sustainability, with a particular focus on the problem of preserving natural assets and capital at different temporal and spatial scales.

The IOER Forum is open to all interested parties. Participation is free of charge, registration is not required. If you would like to be informed by e-mail about upcoming dates and further events of the IOER, please write to k.vogel@ioer.de.

All information on the current IOER Forum Series

Contact at the IOER
Dr Anna-Maria Schielicke, e-mail: a.schielickeioer@ioer.de