Ensuring Economic Viability & Sustainability of Coffee Production

For this report, we developed a new economic model of supply and demand in the coffee sector, which forms the core of our quantitative analysis. The model simulates a global price equilibrium between 136 consuming countries and the farming decisions in 3024 coffee-growing regions. Our report is also grounded in extensive desk research and at least 72 interviews with 86 people, representing producers, small and large companies, civil society organizations and multi-stakeholder platforms, research institutions and academics, and others. It has also been strengthened by feedback we have received through other channels, including via email and particularly in response to public presentations at events organized by the ICO and the European Coffee Federation in June 2019 and by the World Coffee Producers Forum in July 2019

Understanding justice regarding renewable energy projects : role of social norms, local actors and genders

A shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy technologies is crucial for reaching climate neutrality goals. Achieving this transition requires policy-makers, industry stakeholders, and civil societies to cooperate and support each other. Despite ambitious policy reforms and incentives toward low-carbon energy technologies, the deployment of projects is not exempt from encounters with local conflicts. A better understanding of communities' claims, concerns, and needs is essential for supporting appropriate energy projects. This study examines three pillars of environmental justice claims – distributive, procedural, and recognition – concerning renewable energy projects through three research papers. Paper 1 intends to conceptualize the role of social norms concerning justice concerns. Results show that justice claims towards energy projects – whether participation in planning or financial benefits – are linked with the community's social norms (i.e., expectations of others). Project developers may examine the contextual conditions of localities and use communication strategies that align with the community's perceived sense of fairness. Paper 2 focuses on local political actors (i.e., mayors and council members) as influencing factors of community norms by comparing four German case studies. Reporting on two successfully implemented and two conflicted wind energy projects, the findings define the municipal mayors as key actors who may mediate and lead the process. Even though the support of mayors alone cannot guarantee acceptance, their responsibilities should be reinforced and supported by energy policies and project developers. Paper 3 investigates the recognition justice aspect of renewable energy cooperatives in Germany, which are pillars of decentralized energy sources. A sex ratio analysis of over three hundred cooperatives, a survey, and interviews reveal that only a small proportion of the public (i.e., older and middle-class men) dominate the energy cooperatives in Germany, and several other social groups, including women, are underrepresented. Findings also highlight that reluctance to address gender inequality stereotypes women as uninspired, unwilling, and lacking technical skills to take on leadership roles. This paper presents recommendations to energy cooperatives and policy-makers for government-supported programs for cooperatives to attract more women and a broader range of social groups. In summary, these results show that environmental justice concerns of societies can take different forms, ranging from responses to energy projects according to group norms to embedded inequalities within the distribution of benefits from the energy transition.Eine Umstellung von fossilen Brennstoffen auf erneuerbare Energietechnologien ist entscheidend, um die Klimaneutralitätsziele zu erreichen. Zur Umsetzung dieser Umstellung ist eine Zusammenarbeit und Unterstützung zwischen politischen Entscheidungsträgern, Industrieakteuren und Zivilgesellschaften erforderlich. Trotz ambitionierter politischer Reformen und Anreize für energiearme Technologien bleibt die Umsetzung von Projekten nicht von lokalen Konflikten verschont. Ein besseres Verständnis der Ansprüche, Bedenken und Bedürfnisse der Gemeinden ist unerlässlich, um angemessene Energieprojekte zu unterstützen. Diese Studie untersucht drei Säulen der Umweltgerechtigkeitsansprüche - distributiv, prozedural und anerkennend - im Zusammenhang mit erneuerbaren Energieprojekten durch drei Forschungspapiere. Papier 1 beabsichtigt, die Rolle sozialer Normen in Bezug auf Gerechtigkeitsbedenken zu konzeptualisieren. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Gerechtigkeitsansprüche gegenüber Energieprojekten - ob Teilnahme an der Planung oder finanzielle Vorteile - mit den sozialen Normen der Gemeinschaft verbunden sind (d. h. Erwartungen anderer). Projektentwickler können die kontextuellen Bedingungen der Orte prüfen und Kommunikationsstrategien nutzen, die den geschätzten Erwartungen der Gemeinschaft entsprechen, was als fair empfunden wird. Papier 2 konzentriert sich auf lokale politische Akteure (z. B. Bürgermeister und Ratsmitglieder) als Einflussfaktoren auf Gemeinschaftsnormen durch den Vergleich von vier deutschen Fallstudien. Die Ergebnisse definieren die Bürgermeister der Gemeinden als Schlüsselakteure, die den Prozess vermitteln und führen können. Obwohl die Unterstützung allein durch Bürgermeister keine Akzeptanz garantieren kann, sollten ihre Verantwortlichkeiten durch Energiepolitiken und Projektentwickler verstärkt und unterstützt werden. Paper 3 untersucht den Aspekt der Anerkennungsgerechtigkeit von Erneuerbare-Energie- Genossenschaften in Deutschland, die als Säulen dezentraler Energiequellen gelten. Eine Geschlechterverhältnisanalyse von über dreihundert Genossenschaften, eine Umfrage und Interviews zeigen, dass nur ein kleiner Teil der Bevölkerung (d. h. ältere und mittelständische Männer) die Energiegenossenschaften in Deutschland dominieren und mehrere andere soziale Gruppen, einschließlich Frauen, unterrepräsentiert sind. Die Ergebnisse zeigen auch, dass die Zurückhaltung, Geschlechterungleichheit anzugehen, Frauen als uninspiriert, unwillig und technisch unqualifiziert darstellt, um Führungspositionen zu übernehmen. Dieses Papier präsentiert Empfehlungen für Energiegenossenschaften und politische Entscheidungsträger für regierungsunterstützte Programme für Genossenschaften, um mehr Frauen und eine breitere Palette sozialer Gruppen anzulocken. Zusammenfassend zeigen diese Ergebnisse, dass Umweltgerechtigkeitsfragen der Gesellschaft unterschiedliche Formen annehmen können, von Reaktionen auf Energieprojekte gemäß Gruppennormen bis hin zu eingebetteten Ungleichheiten bei der Verteilung von Vorteilen aus dem Energiewandel.European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme - Marie Skłodowska-Curie actio

Capacity Factors for Urban Sustainability Transformations – The Eco-capital Suwon in South Korea

South Korean cities have experienced remarkable economic growth starting from the 1980s, characterised by energy-dependent models coupled with a rapid, dense urbanisation process. This growth model has incrementally induced carbon-intensive urban structures that have consequently produced socio-environmental degradation and severe challenges to sustainability. A range of efforts to solve such challenges has not succeeded in breaking strong path-dependencies on existing unsustainable structures, and this concern has raised the necessity to develop a new urban approach towards sustainability. Given that concern, a growing body of literature has endeavoured to understand the processes of ‘sustainability transformations’, and shares an underlying assumption that such change co-evolves with societal agency that collectively creates networks, within which decisions and strategies are developed, negotiated, and implemented. This recognition has raised the essential question about which factors are required for the agency to initiate and perform such transformations in the process of urban development. Against this background, this research aims to examine factors that critically influence the emergence of urban transformation processes by exploring interrelations that appear between them. In particular, the research focuses on the critical role of governance characteristics to influence the emergence of transformation factors. In order to explore the factors in practice, a case study is conducted through document analysis and in-depth interviews. The real-world case selected in this research is the Eco-capital Suwon in South Korea, a pioneering model of sustainability-oriented urban development that employs a set of transformative experiments across action domains. Additionally, this case is critical in that its wider context—in which a more state government-led, centralised practice is dominant—would generate abundant dynamics of interactions across administrative scale levels. In order to scrutinise the factors that are employed not only in the Eco-capital in general but more specifically in its different projects, the research selects three projects as the sub-cases based on the different governance characteristics, as well as action domains. The three selected projects cover the domains of (rain) water management, green transportation, and renewable (solar) energy, which display multiple, unique forms of participation of (inter)national/urban/neighbourhood-scale agency from the public and private sector, academia and research institutes, civil society, and Suwon’s individual citizens and residents. The research has derived the primary findings: 1) ‘Inclusive governance’ encompasses collaborative actor networks and partnerships; and 2) Intermediaries working across different domains and scale levels condition the emergence and characteristics of agency-related factors for urban transformations. The research makes a set of contributions not only to theoretical discussions on urban transformation, but also to policy and practice in urban governance and planning. First, the selected case and its analytical design help to display: 1) a less explored phenomenon where cross-scalar interactions are often constrained by wider political systems (‘why cross-scalar interactions could not occur’); and 2) a clearer understanding of the geographical unit that is advantageous for the emergence of multi-system transformations (where multi-system transformations could occur). Second, the empirical findings shed light on discussions surrounding urban transformation by verifying arguments about the significance of governance characteristics. In addition, the case analysis suggests shifting from domain-specific transformations to domain-transecting, co-evolutionary transformations, such as a water-energy nexus approach. By extension, the research provides a set of policy recommendations to accelerate urban transformations. Finally, the research suggests options for future comparative studies on how ‘place’ conditions reconfiguration dynamics in urban development.:Acknowledgements Declaration of authorship Executive summary Table of contents List of tables List of figures Abbreviations Notes on the presentation of findings 1. Introduction 2. Capacity factors for urban sustainability transformation 2.1 Cities for sustainability 2.2 Urban sustainability transformations 2.3 Agency-related capacity factors for urban transformations 2.4 Raising questions 3. Methodology 3.1 Research design 3.2 Research methods 4. Case study of the Eco-capital Suwon 4.1 Suwon city: main characteristics 4.2 The Eco-capital Suwon for urban transformations 5. Agency and governance characteristics 5.1 Inclusive governance at the centre of transformations 5.2 Transformative leadership arising from diverse sectors 5.3 Communities of ‘practice’ beyond a network 5.4 Conclusions 6. Knowledge and social learning through interaction 6.1 New knowledge on systemic dynamics and its application to governance structures and institutions 6.2 (Co-)production of knowledge and transitional goals for the urban future 6.3 Social learning that leads to change 6.4 Conclusions 7. Community-based innovation and enabling environment for its acceleration 7.1 Neighbourhood-scale activities by communities of practice 7.2 Supportive regulatory framework and inclusive planning for community-based activities 7.3 Conclusions 8. Multi-dimensional processes of systems change 8.1 Diverse levels of agency with different contributions 8.2 Trans-scale and cross-scale dynamics 8.3 Conclusions 9. Conclusions Appendix 1 Summary of interviewees Appendix 2 South Korea’s local government system (as of 2018) Appendix 3 Overview of participatory programmes of Suwon Appendix 4 Studies on urban transformative capacity Reference

The International Handbook of Social Enterprise Law

This open-access book brings together international experts who shed new light on the status of social enterprises, benefit corporations and other purpose-driven companies. The respective chapters take a multidisciplinary approach (combining law, philosophy, history, sociology and economics) and provide valuable insights on fostering social entrepreneurship and advancing the common good. In recent years, we have witnessed a significant shift of how business activities are conducted, mainly through the rise of social enterprises. In an effort to target social problems at their roots, social entrepreneurs create organizations that bring transformative social changes by considering, among others, ethical, social, and environmental factors. A variety of social enterprise models are emerging internationally and are proving their vitality and importance. But what does the term “social enterprise” mean? What are its roots? And how does it work in practice within the legal framework of any country? This handbook attempts to answer these questions from a theoretical, historical, and comparative perspective, bringing together 44 contributions written by 71 expert researchers and practitioners in this field. The first part provides an overview of the social enterprise movement, its evolution, and the different forms entities can take to meet global challenges, overcoming the limits of what governments and states can do. The second part focuses on the emergence of benefit corporations and the growing importance of sustainability and societal values, while also analyzing their different legal forms and adaptation to their regulatory environment. In turn, the last part presents the status quo of purpose-driven companies in 36 developed and emerging economies worldwide. This handbook offers food for thought and guidance for everyone interested in this field. It will benefit practitioners and decision-makers involved in social and community organizations, as well as in international development and, more generally speaking, social sciences and economics

Protecting Long-term Commitment: Legal and Organizational Means

International audienc

A Landscape Study on Women Entrepreneurship: Its Challenges and Impact on Health, Socio-economic Security and Family Wellbeing Outcomes of Women Entrepreneurs

Gender equality figures as the fifth goal in the list of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiated by the United Nations. Women's empowerment thus remains central to gender mainstreaming as well as economic, social, environmental and political development. Dasarathi views women's empowerment in two ways – the 'general and specific'. In the 'general sense' it is the process of accessing 'opportunities' and 'freedom' to become 'self-dependent'. In the 'specific sense' it refers to 'enhancing their position in the power structure of society'. Thus, control over economic resources, improved social status and political participation, along with control over their own lives 'enables them to move from the periphery to the centre stage' (Bhuyan, Dasarathi: Empowerment of Indian Women: A Challenge of 21st Century. Orissa Review, January – 2006).EdelGive Foundation through its different women empowerment and livelihood programmes has realised that entrepreneurship enables multiple positive outcomes for women themselves, families and the nation. These experiences suggest that Women Entrepreneurship develops women's capabilities to access economic opportunities, nurture their decision-making abilities and taking control over financial and nonfinancial resources.In order to develop further insights and data points about the pathway of entrepreneurship for young women from semi-urban and rural areas, EdelGive has initiated a national level landscape study covering Women Entrepreneurs (WEs) from different states in India. The study is expected to provide a comprehensive view of the challenges with respect to women's access and opportunities to resources for enterprise development and sustenance

The International Handbook of Social Enterprise Law

This open-access book brings together international experts who shed new light on the status of social enterprises, benefit corporations and other purpose-driven companies. The respective chapters take a multidisciplinary approach (combining law, philosophy, history, sociology and economics) and provide valuable insights on fostering social entrepreneurship and advancing the common good. In recent years, we have witnessed a significant shift of how business activities are conducted, mainly through the rise of social enterprises. In an effort to target social problems at their roots, social entrepreneurs create organizations that bring transformative social changes by considering, among others, ethical, social, and environmental factors. A variety of social enterprise models are emerging internationally and are proving their vitality and importance. But what does the term “social enterprise” mean? What are its roots? And how does it work in practice within the legal framework of any country? This handbook attempts to answer these questions from a theoretical, historical, and comparative perspective, bringing together 44 contributions written by 71 expert researchers and practitioners in this field. The first part provides an overview of the social enterprise movement, its evolution, and the different forms entities can take to meet global challenges, overcoming the limits of what governments and states can do. The second part focuses on the emergence of benefit corporations and the growing importance of sustainability and societal values, while also analyzing their different legal forms and adaptation to their regulatory environment. In turn, the last part presents the status quo of purpose-driven companies in 36 developed and emerging economies worldwide. This handbook offers food for thought and guidance for everyone interested in this field. It will benefit practitioners and decision-makers involved in social and community organizations, as well as in international development and, more generally speaking, social sciences and economics