Towards a Just Transformations Theory

As communities and peoples across the world struggle to challenge the forces ofinequality, exploitation and unsustainability, and achieve transformations towardsa more just world, it is important to understand the processes and dynamics ofsuch transformations. What motivates them, how are they achieved, what are thechallenges they face, and how are such challenges overcome?In this chapter, we share the results of the collective exercise carried out by theACKnowl-EJ project core-team members to synthesize the key learnings from theproject about how transformations to sustainability take place. This was combinedwith knowledge and understanding of other environmental justice initiatives thatteam members have been involved with in the past

Towards a Just Transformations Theory

As communities and peoples across the world struggle to challenge the forces ofinequality, exploitation and unsustainability, and achieve transformations towardsa more just world, it is important to understand the processes and dynamics ofsuch transformations. What motivates them, how are they achieved, what are thechallenges they face, and how are such challenges overcome?In this chapter, we share the results of the collective exercise carried out by theACKnowl-EJ project core-team members to synthesize the key learnings from theproject about how transformations to sustainability take place. This was combinedwith knowledge and understanding of other environmental justice initiatives thatteam members have been involved with in the past

Towards a Just Transformations Theory

As communities and peoples across the world struggle to challenge the forces ofinequality, exploitation and unsustainability, and achieve transformations towardsa more just world, it is important to understand the processes and dynamics ofsuch transformations. What motivates them, how are they achieved, what are thechallenges they face, and how are such challenges overcome?In this chapter, we share the results of the collective exercise carried out by theACKnowl-EJ project core-team members to synthesize the key learnings from theproject about how transformations to sustainability take place. This was combinedwith knowledge and understanding of other environmental justice initiatives thatteam members have been involved with in the past

Towards a Just Transformations Theory

As communities and peoples across the world struggle to challenge the forces ofinequality, exploitation and unsustainability, and achieve transformations towardsa more just world, it is important to understand the processes and dynamics ofsuch transformations. What motivates them, how are they achieved, what are thechallenges they face, and how are such challenges overcome?In this chapter, we share the results of the collective exercise carried out by theACKnowl-EJ project core-team members to synthesize the key learnings from theproject about how transformations to sustainability take place. This was combinedwith knowledge and understanding of other environmental justice initiatives thatteam members have been involved with in the past

Decolonizing Climate Research and Policy: making space to tell our own stories, in our own ways

As the climate crisis deepens, the discourse aimed at finding solutions continues to intensify. Increasingly, government agencies and world leaders are recognizing the critical importance of including Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in the development of sustainable responses. To date, however, opportunities for meaningful Indigenous engagement in the creation and development of climate solutions remain few and far between. Where such opportunities do exist, they are most often designed with the intention of trying to `incorporate\u27 limited elements of Indigenous thinking into an established non-Indigenous framework. This process of `Indigenizing\u27 mainstream initiatives achieves little if anything in the way of deconstructing the colonial world view that has caused the climate crisis in the first place. Actively decolonizing Canada\u27s and the world\u27s responses to climate change is absolutely necessary if global society is to achieve the `transformation\u27 of our economies and societies deemed essential for our survival by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), among others. No longer can we afford to simply `tweak the system\u27 by slotting into mainstream processes those elements of Indigenous world view that seem to `fit\u27 most comfortably. If we continue to value the colonial system of neoliberalism and runaway capitalism over those proven sustainable paradigms wherein respect for all life is paramount, then no lasting solutions are possible. Instead, we need to `flip the script\u27, and start providing spaces wherein Indigenous thinking and world view provide the fundamental framework, and non-Indigenous ideas that align sufficiently with Indigenous principles may be incorporated as appropriate. This article recounts a panel discussion, hosted by Indigenous Climate Action, in which four influential Indigenous climate researchers, organizers and policy experts share their reflections on how climate research and policy can be actively decolonized. The panelists draw on their experiences to engage and encourage the audience, listeners, and readers to explore ways to decolonize their own perspectives and to support climate solutions inclusive of all People

Decolonizing Climate Research and Policy: making space to tell our own stories, in our own ways

As the climate crisis deepens, the discourse aimed at finding solutions continues to intensify. Increasingly, government agencies and world leaders are recognizing the critical importance of including Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in the development of sustainable responses. To date, however, opportunities for meaningful Indigenous engagement in the creation and development of climate solutions remain few and far between. Where such opportunities do exist, they are most often designed with the intention of trying to `incorporate\u27 limited elements of Indigenous thinking into an established non-Indigenous framework. This process of `Indigenizing\u27 mainstream initiatives achieves little if anything in the way of deconstructing the colonial world view that has caused the climate crisis in the first place. Actively decolonizing Canada\u27s and the world\u27s responses to climate change is absolutely necessary if global society is to achieve the `transformation\u27 of our economies and societies deemed essential for our survival by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), among others. No longer can we afford to simply `tweak the system\u27 by slotting into mainstream processes those elements of Indigenous world view that seem to `fit\u27 most comfortably. If we continue to value the colonial system of neoliberalism and runaway capitalism over those proven sustainable paradigms wherein respect for all life is paramount, then no lasting solutions are possible. Instead, we need to `flip the script\u27, and start providing spaces wherein Indigenous thinking and world view provide the fundamental framework, and non-Indigenous ideas that align sufficiently with Indigenous principles may be incorporated as appropriate. This article recounts a panel discussion, hosted by Indigenous Climate Action, in which four influential Indigenous climate researchers, organizers and policy experts share their reflections on how climate research and policy can be actively decolonized. The panelists draw on their experiences to engage and encourage the audience, listeners, and readers to explore ways to decolonize their own perspectives and to support climate solutions inclusive of all People

Transforming knowledge systems for life on Earth : Visions of future systems and how to get there

Formalised knowledge systems, including universities and research institutes, are important for contemporary societies. They are, however, also arguably failing humanity when their impact is measured against the level of progress being made in stimulating the societal changes needed to address challenges like climate change. In this research we used a novel futures-oriented and participatory approach that asked what future envisioned knowledge systems might need to look like and how we might get there. Findings suggest that envisioned future systems will need to be much more collaborative, open, diverse, egalitarian, and able to work with values and systemic issues. They will also need to go beyond producing knowledge about our world to generating wisdom about how to act within it. To get to envisioned systems we will need to rapidly scale methodological innovations, connect innovators, and creatively accelerate learning about working with intractable challenges. We will also need to create new funding schemes, a global knowledge commons, and challenge deeply held assumptions. To genuinely be a creative force in supporting longevity of human and non-human life on our planet, the shift in knowledge systems will probably need to be at the scale of the enlightenment and speed of the scientific and technological revolution accompanying the second World War. This will require bold and strategic action from governments, scientists, civic society and sustained transformational intent.Peer reviewe

Transforming knowledge systems for life on Earth: Visions of future systems and how to get there

Formalised knowledge systems, including universities and research institutes, are important for contemporary societies. They are, however, also arguably failing humanity when their impact is measured against the level of progress being made in stimulating the societal changes needed to address challenges like climate change. In this research we used a novel futures-oriented and participatory approach that asked what future envisioned knowledge systems might need to look like and how we might get there. Findings suggest that envisioned future systems will need to be much more collaborative, open, diverse, egalitarian, and able to work with values and systemic issues. They will also need to go beyond producing knowledge about our world to generating wisdom about how to act within it. To get to envisioned systems we will need to rapidly scale methodological innovations, connect innovators, and creatively accelerate learning about working with intractable challenges. We will also need to create new funding schemes, a global knowledge commons, and challenge deeply held assumptions. To genuinely be a creative force in supporting longevity of human and non-human life on our planet, the shift in knowledge systems will probably need to be at the scale of the enlightenment and speed of the scientific and technological revolution accompanying the second World War. This will require bold and strategic action from governments, scientists, civic society and sustained transformational intent