Research
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Calls
Greenhouse Gas Measurement and Management – Call for Papers
Published by Earthscan, in association with the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute, the Greenhouse Gas Measurement and Management journal brings together information on the application of methods and techniques to estimate, measure, account and audit greenhouse gases, with experiences on their management and control. This includes experiences in implementing market-based instruments (such as the clean development mechanism and joint implementation) to achieve emission reduction objectives at all levels. It also presents conceptual, methodological and empirical analyses of policy-relevant metrics related to the management of greenhouse gases, and their impacts for industry, government and international organisations, with an emphasis on applied research. The journal is actively seeking submissions for its first issue, aiming to publish in November 2010. Areas covered include: Measurement, reporting and verification (MRV); quality assurance/quality control; best practice; market-based mechanisms; accounting; and, corporate disclosure and community right to know. More information can be found online. Papers and articles should follow the journal’s submission guidelines, and be emailed to ‘the Editor’.
Journal of Sustainable Finance and Investment – Call for Papers
The Journal of Sustainable Finance and Investment seeks to be the first journal to provide a dedicated forum for practitioners, policy-makers and researchers working in sustainable finance, governance and investment. The editor of the journal, Dr Matthew Haigh, from Aarhus University, Denmark, has published widely on responsible and sustainable finance and is an active member of a number of responsible investment networks. The journal is actively seeking submissions for its first issue in November 2010. Authors are encouraged to submit research articles, book reviews, and discussions of topical items in sustainable finance and investment. Topics covered include: portfolio management; shareholder responsibilities; carbon finance; investors and corporate social responsibility; education initiatives; emerging markets and human rights; intergovernmental policy issues such as the debates about sustainable development in international development assistance; investments law; and, micro-financing and philanthropic programmes. Papers and articles should follow the journal’s submission guidelines and be emailed to the Editor. For all other enquiries, please contact journals@earthscan.co.uk.
Social, environmental and ethical enterprise – Call for Papers
This year's ISBE conference, ‘Looking to the Future: Economic and Social Regeneration through Entrepreneurial Activity’ will have a strong blend of academic, policy-maker and practitioner delegates from across the globe. For 2010, ISBE is encouraging the submission of papers from academics, policy-makers and practitioners and looks forward to receiving a wide range of high quality papers including refereed academic papers, working papers, practitioner papers and case studies. SDRN members are particularly welcome to submit papers to the following track: ‘Social, environmental and ethical enterprise’. When submitting papers to this track, the following topics or related themes (e.g. financing social enterprises, reducing the environmental impacts of enterprise, entrepreneurs and philanthropy) may be considered: managing social and community enterprises; environmentally sustainable entrepreneurship; and, entrepreneurial ethics and social responsibility. The EXTENDED submission deadline for initial ASTRACTS (maximum 400 words) is Friday 30th April 2010 (please note, this deadline applies to all paper categories). More…
Political economy of international organisations – Call for Papers
Submissions are invited for the fourth annual conference on the political economy of international organizations, to be held in Zurich, Switzerland, on 27th – 29th January, 2011. The conference brings together economists, political scientists and other scholars to address political-economy issues related to international organizations such as the World Trade Organization, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the European Union, and also other international organizations that have yet received less attention in the academic literature. Both empirical and theoretical papers will be considered. Please submit full papers to conference@peio.me by 30th September 2010. Decisions will be made by 31st October, 2010. A special issue of the ‘Review of International Organizations’ (Springer) will include papers from the conference, subject to the usual peer-review process. Submission to the special issue is not mandatory, but if you are interested, please indicate this in your submission. More…
Regions and the Environment – Call for Papers
The Regional Studies Association Winter Conference 2010 on ‘Regions and the Environment’ will take place on 26th November 2010. The conference aims to provide an opportunity to discuss and debate the achievements of recent environmental policy approaches and the prospects for new approaches. It seeks to establish key research requirements in this area and to address the concerns of practitioners and policy-makers. The conference organisers are keen to attract papers and sessions which address a broad active research and policy agenda, including contributions from any discipline which can offer insights at local and regional levels. Papers which are collaborative, international or multi-disciplinary are especially welcome. Contributions are welcomed on the following themes: Climate change as a driver of regional policy; the challenges of low carbon economies; developing and evaluating sub-national policies for adaptation and mitigation; post-Copenhagen challenges for taking forward international and sub-national environmental policy; post ‘Climategate’ challenges for public engagement in regional environmental policies; planning, postpolitics and the limits of consensus; green infrastructure and the problems of ‘town cramming’; regional and urban planning for the environment; evaluation of Urban Renaissance, Smart Growth; alternative approaches – transitions towns, low impact development zones, local food initiatives; low carbon zones; environmental risk and public understanding of science; new sectoral approaches – regions and transport, environmental protection, health, education etc; planning, postpolitics and the challenges of consensus; critical analysis of tools for environmental policy; and, environmental and carbon footprint – challenges for their regional and local usage. More…
Special edition of the International Journal of Community Currency Research - Call for Papers
The International Journal of Community Currency Research (IJCCR) is planning a ‘special edition’ that provides a snapshot of current developments in the field of complementary currencies. It is therefore inviting proposals for short papers (1,500 - 2000) words that focus on either: Regional overviews of trends / developments in different parts of the world; case studies of schemes which can in some sense be regarded as exemplars; or, case studies of schemes that are in some sense can be regarded as particularly innovative. This edition of the Journal is also linked to a new ‘Grassroots Innovations: Complementary Currencies’ (GICC) research project at the University of East Anglia that is specifically focusing on community currencies as processes of socio-technical innovation. To this end, there may be the opportunity for authors to attend a seminar in London in September 2010 and present their paper. If you intend to submit a paper please contact IJCCR Editorial Assistant Noel Longhurst in the first instance to assist with co-ordination. Papers should be submitted by 30th June 2010. For further information on the GICC project see: http://www.uea.ac.uk/~e175/Seyfang/GICC.html.
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Research
Scottish Food Cultures
The Food Ethics Council is just beginning a short project on food, culture and health in Scotland, commissioned by NHS Health Scotland. The aim of the work is to explore how contemporary food cultures in Scotland influence diet and to provide possible pointers for future food and health policy development. The work has been commissioned in order to begin building an understanding of an issue that is undoubtedly complex, yet has been highlighted as important to effective policy. A review in 2006 of a decade of Scottish policy action on diet noted the importance of culture in shaping how people eat, and a dearth of evidence available to understand the implications for policy. The project team will be undertaking a review of relevant research, focusing on Scotland and a handful of other countries. Through this, they will build a picture of the relationships between different aspects of food culture, the factors that influence them and their implications for health. Later in the project they will also review and compare how relevant policy initiatives in Scotland have grappled with the cultural dimensions of food and health. The team would be very interested to hear about any research considered to be relevant to this study, particularly research relating to food, culture and health from any country. Please send any references, papers or other correspondence relating to this project to Tom MacMillan.
PEng – Private Engagement in the energy system
A new research project, by IFZ Graz and SERI, is analysing and collaborating with two energy initiatives in Austria - the Ökoregion Kaindorf and the Ökostrombörse – to explore private engagement in the energy system. The project will first analyse why citizens engage in such initiatives (or why not) and how their engagement contributes to an energy aware lifestyle. In the second part of the project, several activities (such as future workshops, focus groups, etc.) will be organized in order to promote energy aware lifestyles and to broaden the initiatives. Please contact Lisa Bohunvosky for more information.
Innowater
UK CEED has won a bid for a European Union project, ‘Innowater’, which aims to support the development of innovative solutions in the water sector which drive forward water efficiency or that assist with water treatment, supply and distribution. One of the most important challenges Europe will face in the 21st century are its water challenges, which threaten its sustainable development and economic growth and have a large effect on health issues around the continent. The growth potential for innovative water technologies and services to address these challenges is enormous and currently at a yearly pace of 10%. Europe has the most instruments in place but their effective implementation is lacking. The project partnership consists of public innovation agencies, water associations and technology specialists, innovation experts and eco-innovative cluster organisations from Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK. The UK partners include UK CEED, EEDA and Envirolink Northwest. More…
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Events
Conference – ‘Leadership Legacy – No Time Like the Present’
29th – 31st July 2010: Mansfield College, Oxford University.
The Green Economics Institute are organising their fifth Annual Conference which seeks to consider what green economics really means and where did it come from. How does it fit with de-growth, lower carbon economics, ecological economics, environmental economics, welfare economics, development economics, carbon trading, geo-engineering, green innovation, and a host of other alternative viewpoints? How do we manage government in an Age of global transformation? The conference aims to: enable delegates to learn about the different green economics solutions adopted by people who are already paving the way to the future; provide workshops to increase delegates’ understanding of ethics, economics and the environment as the foundations of a sustainable society; support delegates to ‘think big’ and work towards aspirational leadership goals in change management; and, offer a unique networking opportunity by bringing together people from all over the world in International and also Public Service roles. More…
Workshop – ‘Enhancing urban performance: How effective urban planning can lead to greener urban communities and economies and promote social cohesion’
3rd – 4th May 2010: Prague, Czech Republic.
This event is organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and Committee on Housing and Land Management in cooperation with the Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic. The forum will discuss and review examples and practices of successful integrative approaches to urban planning. The workshop will focus on the main challenges for up-to-date urban planning, ranging from greening the economy to reducing GHG emissions for urban areas, increasing social cohesion and reducing urban poverty. The UNECE region is highly urbanized with more than 75% of the population concentrated in urban areas, of which 45% live in medium sized municipalities. Cities are facing a growing number of complex challenges, reduced economic performance, migration, lack of social cohesion and increased unemployment, high environmental impacts and climate change. To encompass this complexity, Governments need to increase urban performance by adopting an approach that integrates different dimensions of urban planning, thus addressing those economic, environmental and social challenges in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. More…
Conference – ‘Developing Human Capital for Sustainable Economies’
27th – 28th May 2010: Karlsruhe, Germany.
This two-day conference will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders to discuss key emerging issues including: climate change and the emergence of the green economy; challenges and opportunities in the era of pro-environment regulatory framework and green consumerism; how is the transformation from high to low carbon and sustainable economy impacting human capital management; and developing and managing human capital for the green economy. Further to the knowledge sharing on greening human capital, the upcoming event seeks to provide a valuable networking opportunity with relevant stakeholders in Europe and internationally. An excursion (optional) on Saturday 29th May, 2010 is planned which will also provide an additional networking opportunity in an informal environment to get to know academia, corporate leaders, human resource executives, sustainability management experts, members of government institutions and other stakeholders. More…
Conference – ‘How can European spatial planners assess Territorial Cohesion?’
21st May 2010: Business Centre, The City Chambers, Edinburgh.
European territorial cohesion policy requires planners to maximise the competitiveness of regions (at all scales) and minimise social and economic disparities between them, while achieving environmental sustainability. “Concentration, connection and co-operation” are the three principal policy fronts put forward by the EU Territorial Cohesion Green Paper. Key questions that this conference will consider include: What do these mean in practice and what are the tools and mechanisms that planners are using and developing in this context? What new insights to these processes can research bring? More…
Seminar – ‘The future of the rail network’
1st July 2010: Central London.
This seminar seeks to provide a timely opportunity to assess the challenges for Britain’s rail network - including opportunities for innovation - and the implications of network growth for passenger rail, freight transport and for wider society. It will draw in part on insights from the recent launch of high speed rail services in the South East of England, and follows the recent announcement of plans for a further high speed rail network linking London, Birmingham, Manchester, the East Midlands, Sheffield and Leeds. Planned sessions will examine: the story so far: high speed rail in the South East; the view from Network Rail on the future of the rail network; challenges associated with passenger rail including pricing, accessibility, capacity and network planning; the strategies for improving and growing rail freight services and the competition faced in doing so; and economic and environmental issues associated with network expansion. More…
Seminar – ‘Crossing boundaries and expanding horizons’
26th – 28th May 2010: The Hague-Wageningen, The Netherlands.
‘Learning’ in one form or another is increasingly seen as a key in transitioning towards a more sustainable world. Learning-based change, anticipatory learning, collaborative learning, community problem-solving, and social learning represent just a few of the many ideas and concepts that are connected to our quest for sustainability. It is through various forms and blends of learning in formal, non-formal and informal settings, that a more resilient society can emerge: one that has both the desire and the capacity to challenge existing systems, routines, norms and values, and to create alternative ones that are more sustainable. At the same time there is a new ‘dynamic’ in society that is triggered by a number of interrelated phenomena such as: the emergence of the knowledge society, the push for lifelong learning, increased ICT-based connectivity, and economic and cultural globalization. This international seminar critically explores possibilities for sustainability-oriented learning presented by this dynamic. Participants are invited to actively share, critique and analyse so-called “next practices”. Next practices refer to existing innovative transboundary learning configurations designed to meaningfully contribute to a jointly shared sustainability challenge. Such configurations usually consist of multiple actors, groups, organisations and networks that may not immediately see the obvious connections among them, as they each occupy their own niches and represent their own interests. Their commonalities and complementarities are discovered by focusing on a jointly perceived sustainability challenge. Around the world such emerging practices may offer clues and inspiration for initiating similar practices elsewhere. Key questions to be addressed in this seminar are: What constitutes “learning” in transboundary “next practices”? What is the role of diversity in co-creating new visions and more sustainable ways of living and working? How (and to what degree) can transboundary learning be designed, supported and facilitated? How can schools, colleges and universities participate meaningfully in transboundary learning projects that are rooted in (local) sustainability issues? More…
Workshop – ‘The future strikes back! Visions of 2010 from 20 years ago - lessons for 'forward look' policy research?’
12th May 2010: RSA, London.
In 1991 the Policy Studies Institute published a forward look of Britain in the year 2010. The report attracted widespread media interest, with the Guardian highlighting the anticipated ‘widening gap between rich and poor’ and the Times featuring the expectation of ‘tough action to cut emissions of greenhouse gases’. Within three years the UK launched its Foresight programme which sought to incorporate forward thinking more explicitly into government policy. In this half-day workshop (from 2pm – 5pm), contributors to the original report reflect on how it has stood up to the test of time in discussion with contemporary policy researchers. A key aim of the event is to stimulate debate about the value and use of futures studies in informing public policy. Speakers will give short contributions which pick up on one or two issues arising from the report (methodological or substantive) and suggest how futures studies might be used to improve public policy-making. The full PSI report ‘Britain in 2010’ (1991) is available on the PSI website along with a summary issued to the press. Please contact Mehrdad Hashemi-Sadrai for more information or to register for this event.
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Online
Driving down emissions
It is now widely accepted that human activities are contributing to, and accelerating, the pace of climate change through the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs), predominantly CO2. To help avoid the worst impacts of climate change, the UK has pledged, through the Climate Change Act, to cut GHGs by 80% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels. In the UK, a quarter of all CO2 emissions come from transport: 90% of this originates from road vehicles. Although partially offset by improved fuel efficiency, increasing demand for car travel has led total emissions from motor vehicles to rise by 7% over the past two decades, and forecasts predict average yearly traffic growth of 1.3% until 2025. Despite what some might perceive as this bleak background, it is likely long term road transport emissions can be cut significantly if electricity generation is decarbonised. To make sense of the various approaches to greening road transport - from further refinement of the internal combustion engine to reducing vehicle weight; from extending use of electric vehicles to developing other ultra low carbon fuels such as hydrogen and biofuels - the RAC Foundation has published ‘Driving Down Emissions: The Potential of Low Carbon Vehicle Technology’. To coincide with the launch of the publication, the RAC Foundation - in conjunction with the Royal Automobile Club - held a green transport event and invited renowned experts to give their visions of a low carbon future. A video synopsis of the event is available to view online...
Adaptation in local authorities – Case studies
With funding from Defra, UKCIP has produced a searchable database of case studies, primarily related to local authorities, but which could be applied to other sectors. These are broadly categorised into two adaptation areas: building adaptive capacity and delivering adaptation action. Examples from all the service areas listed are now online, and can be used as standalone examples, or as a starting point for further research. Each case study includes: a brief summary; key points; contact details; and a downloadable pdf version. Further adaptation examples are very welcome by email. More…
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New Publications
New Report – ‘Valuation of natural resources: A NERC scoping study’
The Natural Environment Research Council identified the need to review the existing evidence base to support its strategic priorities in this Science Theme for the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources (SUNR), particularly with respect to the valuation of natural resources and related ecosystem services. In this context, the broad purpose of this scoping study was to inform NERC strategies on the valuation of NRES, thereby enhancing the Council’s potential contribution to achieving sustainable development. The study aimed to produce a ‘state of the science’ review of valuation in terms of what exists, what is being done, how well it works and perceptions of likely future needs and future priorities perceived by the research community. More…
RCEP Report – ‘Adapting institutions to climate change’
On the 30th March the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution launched its 28th report 'Adapting Institutions to Climate Change'. The Commission chose this topic because it believes there is an urgent need to understand how UK institutions should adapt to climate change and initiate actions to build adaptive capacity. The report explores the challenges facing institutions in adapting to climate change by examining existing institutional arrangements for three exemplar areas: freshwater, biodiversity and nature conservation, and coastal zones. During the course of the study over 100 organisations and individuals submitted evidence or provided information on request. The Commission found that many UK institutions are poorly positioned to adapt to climate change and often have not yet started to think about how it will impact on them. The process of developing adaptive capacity is complicated and will require difficult choices to be made by governments and society. Much of what will happen cannot be predicted. The Commission set out a framework of key components which it believes must be considered in order to help organisations build resilience to climate change and hence adaptive capacity. One of the key recommendations is the use of an 'adaptation test' integrated into decision-making frameworks. Additionally, although there is no blueprint for adaptation and responses will need to be specific to local circumstances, the Commission suggests ten pertinent adaptation questions. These can be used by organisations which have not yet begun to think abut what adaptation means for them. More…
New Report – ‘Stakeholder participation for environmental management: A literature review’
This working paper points to the need to focus on participation as a process. It then identifies a number of best practice features from the literature. Finally, it argues that to overcome many of its limitations, stakeholder participation must be institutionalised, creating organisational cultures that can facilitate processes where goals are negotiated and outcomes are necessarily uncertain. The paper acknowledges that, seen in this light, participatory processes may seem very risky, but highlights the growing body of evidence that suggests, if well designed, these perceived risks may be worth taking. More…
CABE Report – ‘Ordinary Places’
‘Ordinary places’ asks how people can directly influence the quality of their places. Why don’t all pupils learn about design, to help make sense of the places around them? Why aren’t all architects trained in public engagement, so that they can respond directly to local needs? The report seeks to present new thinking and ideas that make ordinary, common sense. It is aimed at anyone interested in getting the best for their place, from politicians and local councils to schools and community groups. More…
New Report – ‘Transforming education outside the classroom’
A new report produced by the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee recommends that every pupil be entitled to at least one school trip per term. An RSPB comment on the report highlights that independent research has shown that such learning experiences make a unique contribution to a child’s education; it improves children’s learning and develops a sense of place and wonder for the world around them. These experiences instil respect and value for the environment helping them to become active and responsible citizens in their local community. At the same time, they also have fun and get some fresh air and exercise. The RSPB have calculated that it would cost £40 million to put a safety net in place to ensure that every child from less privileged families can learn in the natural environment every year. They highlight that all of the main political parties in England are promising extra money to schools based on the number of pupils they have from economically-deprived backgrounds, called the ‘pupil premium’, and they urge the next Government to target a small proportion of this funding to out-of-classroom learning. Read the report and the RSPB comment.
CRC Report – ‘From credit crunch to recovery: The impact of the recession in England’s rural economies’
The Commission for Rural Communities has prepared a report profiling the recession in rural economies from mid-2008 to early 2010. The report describes the impacts and trends on four key rural issues; businesses, jobs, housing and household finance. It draws on submissions and reports received and analysis of national to local statistics, and confirms that the recession's footprint in rural areas has, on some issues mirrored the profile witnessed in towns and cities, but that the effects in rural labour markets and the characteristics of affected groups on other issues, been different from those affected in urban England. More…
EEA Report – ‘10 Messages for 2010: Biodiversity and forest ecosystems’
The fifth of the EEA’s 10 messages for 2010 focuses on biodiversity and forest ecosystems. The aim of this initiative is to highlight one theme per month until the tenth meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in October. This assessment finds that while their overall area remains stable, woodlands face a variety of threats. Besides unsustainable management practices, air borne pollution and climate change, forests are also threatened by fragmentation due to rapidly spreading urban areas and transport networks. Both the healthy functioning of forest ecosystems and the biodiversity they foster are at risk. Key findings include: About one-third of the land area of EEA and collaborating countries is forest, with the largest wooded areas located in Finland, France, Spain and Sweden; only 5% of forests in EEA countries are undisturbed by human intervention; more than half of the forest species of 'European interest' and over 60% of forest habitat types identified by the Habitats Directive are reported to be in 'unfavourable conservation status'; climate change is first expected to affect the range of tree species, with greatest impacts on those situated at latitudinal and altitudinal extremes (and increased periods of drought and warmer winters are likely to weaken forests further against invasive species); and, factors such as forest ownership structures and the importance of forestry to national economies can significantly influence forest ecosystem management targets, thereby affecting biodiversity. More…
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Jobs and Training
Jobs and Training opportunities around the Sustainable Development Research network (including a new position on the SDRN Co-ordinating Team) are now updated frequently on the ‘Jobs and Training’ page of the SDRN website…
The SDRN Mailing is a moderated information resource and dissemination service for SDRN members. You can make use of this service by sending any information for inclusion in the mailing to Sarah Bell.
To join or leave this list, please email Sarah Bell or visit the JISCmail website.