Narratives Behind Livestock Methane Mitigation Studies Matter

International audienceLivestock production is currently the largest anthropogenic methane source. This represents about a third of the global anthropogenic emissions, but the uncertainties are huge and the estimations vary depending on the methodology used. In their study, Chang et al. (2021) propose a re-assessment based on a robust and sophisticated modeling framework. The authors calculate temporal changes of livestock methane emissions during about two decades (2000-2018), showing that global emissions increased on average by +10 to +18 Tg CH4 yr −1. The authors also simulated future livestock methane emissions up to 2050, using three socioeconomic scenarios ("Business As Usual," "Stratified Societies," and "Toward Sustainability") and two emission intensity change pathways: "Constant emission intensity" per kg protein and "improving efficiency" with decreasing emission intensity per kg protein. They found that the differences in the projections among different socioeconomic scenarios were small, compared to the continuation of the past decreases in emission intensity. In the discussion, importantly, the authors acknowledge that the emission intensity per kg of protein in developed countries might increase, at the opposite of their methodological assumption, as a result of a move toward more extensive livestock systems (grass-fed beef...). Also, they stress that the largest potential lies in developing countries where the current efficiency is low. The continuation of efficiency improvement in these countries could be achieved through the transition of livestock production systems from extensive rangeland systems to mixed crop-livestock systems, and better management of existing systems. To conclude, Chang et al. (2021) highlights: (a) that efforts on the demand-side to promote sustainable diets (as in the "Toward Sustainability" scenario), will not be sufficient for mitigation without parallel efforts from the production sides; (b) Such efforts to decrease emission intensity on the production-side should be prioritized in a few developing countries with the largest mitigation potential

Transdisciplinarity as a discipline and a way of being: complementarities and creative tensions

International audienceTransdisciplinarity is generally defined by the inclusion of non-academic stakeholders in the process of knowledge production. Transdisciplinarity is a promising notion, but its ability to efficiently address the world’s most pressing issues still requires improvement. Several typologies of transdisciplinarity have been proposed, generally with a theoretical versus practical dichotomy (Mode 1/Mode 2), and effort has focused on possible linkages between different types. However, in the last two decades, transdisciplinarity has significantly matured to the extent that the classical theoretical versus practical distinction appears clearly limited. In this paper, a reframing of the debate is proposed by considering transdisciplinarity as a new discipline and as a way of being . The conception of transdisciplinarity as a discipline can be related to the recent development of the broader discipline of “integration and implementation sciences” (i2S), to which “practical” Mode 2 transdisciplinarity is a major contributor. When transdisciplinarity is considered as a way of being , it is inseparable from personal life and extends far beyond the professional activities of a researcher. To illustrate this conception, the work and life of Edgar Morin can be used as an exemplary reference in conjunction with other streams of thought, such as integral theory. Transdisciplinarity as a discipline and transdisciplinarity as a way of being have complementarities in terms of researchers’ personal dispositions and space for expression in academia. The proposed distinction also raises the question of the status of consciousness in transdisciplinary projects, which may be a fruitful controversial topic for the transdisciplinary research community

Sustainability transformations as shifts in worldviews: a dynamic view of complementarity issues

Sustainability transformations as shifts in worldviews: a dynamic view of complementarity issue

Quantum theory to foster deep transformations toward strong sustainability

International audienceTransdisciplinarity is increasingly seen as a promising paradigm for strong sustainability. Following a common typology, two "Modes" of transdisciplinary can be distinguished: A theoretical "Mode 1", largely inspired by quantum theory, and a practical "Mode 2" transdisciplinarity involving multi-stakeholder's approaches. So far, Mode 1 and 2 have been developed independently. In this communication, I discuss the potential of using insights from quantum theory to foster deep transformations toward strong sustainability, by closing this gap between Mode 1 and 2. As a first example, I show how a generalization of the quantum complementarity principle to sustainability assessment can be used to better address two major issues (integration and implementation). Then, I explore how quantum insights suggest powerful sustainable pathways, by shedding light on subjectivity, the possibility of free-will and the "co-arising" of personal and systemic change. Finally, a general strategy is proposed, that combine robust quantum methodological insights with a careful exploration of ontological insights

Quantum theory for sustainability transformations

Publication de dissémination scientifique à destination du grand publi

Quantum theory as a source of insights to close the gap between Mode 1 and Mode 2 transdisciplinarity: potentialities, pitfalls and a possible way forward

There are many definitions of transdisciplinary, and several typologies. Particularly, Scholz and Steiner (Sustain Sci 10(4):527–544, 2015a) distinguish a theoretical “Mode 1”, largely inspired by quantum theory, and a practical “Mode 2” transdisciplinarity involving multi-stakeholder approaches. So far, Modes 1 and 2 have been developed independently. In this paper, I discuss the potential of using insights from quantum theory in participatory problem-solving projects, as a way to close this gap. Methodological and ontological insights are distinguished. Methodological insights are quantum-inspired tools and methodologies that can enhance effective stakeholders’ participation. Examples are Q methodology, generalization of the complementarity principle for sustainability assessment, and agential realism. Ontological insights correspond to possible influences of quantum effects at the macro-scale, such as in the controversial “quantum consciousness” hypothesis by Wendt (Quantum mind and social science. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2015). The proposed strategy is to combine robust methodological insights with a careful exploration of ontological insights, being aware of their highly speculative character. As an illustration, I show how this strategy could enable a constructive dialogue between academic sciences and the practitioners of biodynamic agriculture, which has been almost inexistent to date, in a transdisciplinary problem-solving perspective. To conclude, this strategy is risky but potentially essential to foster deep sustainability transformations

Transdisciplinarity in Japan: insights from the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Kyoto

To date, most debates about transdisciplinarity (TD) have been dominated by Western institutions. This paper proposes insights from the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Kyoto, Japan, from an investigation as a visiting scientist. After describing its unique project-based organization, I first show that the development of TD at RIHN faces some common challenges, such as TD evaluation, education and upscaling (beyond local contexts). Yet, collaborations with stakeholders have also unique specificities (importance of the group, rigidity of institutions, different ways of interacting…). Moreover, most RIHN researchers claim to have a particularly practical approach to TD. At the level of the whole institute, RIHN gives a strong emphasis on the premise that environmental problems are rooted in human cultures and values. RIHN also develops a specific approach to scales, in which Asia serves as a nodal point between the local and global (‘Asia vision’). We suggest that RIHN’s emphasis on cultural roots and its nodal approach to scale might be themselves rooted in the Japanese culture

How are farmer's strategies-to-last and difficulties related in livestock farming systems ? A survey in Auvergne, France

How are farmer's strategies-to-last and difficulties related in livestock farming systems ? A survey in Auvergne, France. International Symposium on Work in agricultur