Civil Society Actors as Catalysts for Transnational Social Learning

This article explores the roles of transnational civil society organizations and networks in transnational social learning. It begins with an investigation into social learning within problem domains and into the ways in which such domain learning builds perspectives and capacities for effective action among domain organizations and institutions. It suggests that domain learning involves problem definition, direction setting, implementation of collective action, and performance monitoring. Transnational civil society actors appear to take five roles in domain learning: (1) identifying issues, (2) facilitating voice of marginalized stakeholders, (3) amplifying the importance of issues, (4) building bridges among diverse stakeholders, and (5) monitoring and assessing solutions. The paper then explores the circumstances in which transnational civil society actors can be expected to make special contributions in important problem domains in the future.This publication is Hauser Center Working Paper No. 28. The Hauser Center Working Paper Series was launched during the summer of 2000. The Series enables the Hauser Center to share with a broad audience important works-in-progress written by Hauser Center scholars and researchers

Current lifestyles in the context of future climate targets: analysis of long-term scenarios and consumer segments for residential and transport

The carbon emissions of individuals strongly depend on their lifestyle, both between and within regions. Therefore, lifestyle changes could have a significant potential for climate change mitigation. This potential is not fully explored in long-term scenarios, as the representation of behaviour change and consumer heterogeneity in these scenarios is limited. We explore the impact and feasibility of lifestyle and behaviour changes in achieving climate targets by analysing current per-capita emissions of transport and residential sectors for different regions and consumer segments within one of the regions, namely Japan. We compare these static snapshots to changes in per-capita emissions from consumption and technology changes in long-term mitigation scenarios. The analysis shows less need for reliance on technological solutions if consumption patterns become more sustainable. Furthermore, a large share of Japanese consumers is characterised by consumption patterns consistent with those in scenarios that achieve ambitious climate targets, especially regarding transport. The varied lifestyles highlight the importance of representing consumer heterogeneity in models and further analyses

Decomposition analysis of per capita emissions : a tool for assessing consumption changes and technology changes within scenarios

Recent studies show that behaviour changes can provide an essential contribution to achieving the Paris climate targets. Existing climate change mitigation scenarios primarily focus on technological change and underrepresent the possible contribution of behaviour change. This paper presents and applies a methodology to decompose the factors contributing to changes in per capita emissions in scenarios. With this approach, we determine the relative contribution to total emissions from changes in activity, the way activities are carried out, the intensity of activities, as well as fuel choice. The decomposition tool breaks down per capita emissions loosely following the Kaya Identity, allowing a comparison between the contributions of technology and consumption changes among regions and between various scenarios. We illustrate the use of the tool by applying it to three previously-published scenarios; a baseline scenario, a scenario with a selection of behaviour changes, and a 2 degrees C scenario with the same selection of behaviour changes. Within these scenarios, we explore the contribution of technology and consumption changes to total emission changes in the transport and residential sector, for a selection of both developed and developing regions. In doing so, the tool helps identify where specifically (i.e. via consumption or technology factors) different measures play a role in mitigating emissions and expose opportunities for improved representation of behaviour changes in integrated assessment models. This research shows the value of the decomposition tool and how the approach could be flexibly replicated for different global models based on available variables and aims. The application of the tool to previously-published scenarios shows substantial differences in consumption and technology changes from CO2 price and behaviour changes, in transport and residential per capita emissions and between developing and developed regions. Furthermore, the tool's application can highlight opportunities for future scenario development of a more nuanced and heterogeneous representation of behaviour and lifestyle changes in global models.Peer reviewe

Innovation and access to technologies for sustainable development: diagnosing weaknesses and identifying interventions in the Transnational Arena

Sustainable development – improving human well-being across present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs – is a central challenge for the 21st century. Technological innovation can play an important role in moving society toward sustainable development. However, poor, marginalized, and future populations often do not fully benefit from innovation due to their lack of market or political power to influence innovation processes. As a result, current innovation systems fail to contribute as much as they might to meeting sustainable development goals. This paper focuses on how actors and institutions operating in the transnational arena can mitigate such shortfalls. To identify the most important transnational functions required to meet sustainable development needs our analysis undertook three main steps. First, we developed a framework to diagnose blockages in the global innovation system for particular technologies. This framework was built on existing theory and new empirical analysis. On the theory side, we drew from the literatures of systems dynamics; technology and sectoral innovation systems, science and technology studies, the economics of innovation, and global governance. On the empirical front, we conducted eighteen detailed case studies of technology innovation in multiple sectors relevant to sustainable development: water, energy, health, food, and manufactured goods. We use the framework to analyze our case studies in the common language of (1) technology stocks, (2) non-linear flows between stocks substantiated by specific mechanisms, and (3) characteristics of actors and socio-technical conditions (STCs) which mediate the flows between stocks . We identify blockages in the innovation system for each of the cases, diagnosing where in the innovation system flows were hindered and which specific sets of STCs and actor characteristics were associated with these blockages. Figure E.1 displays the components of our framework and how they relate

Innovation and Access to Technologies for Sustainable Development: A Global Systems Perspective

This workshop report is a summary of themes discussed by five panels during a daylong workshop on “Innovation and Access to Technologies for Sustainable Development: A Global Perspective” at Harvard University on April 24,2014. The workshop brought together a diverse group of scholars to explore how the technological innovation needed for sustainable development can be promoted in ways that assure equitable access in current and future generations. Three key themes that emerged from the workshop include:(1) The central role of power, politics and agency in analyzing technological innovation and sustainable development -an important aspect of this includes the articulation of the roles of actors and organizations within frameworks and models of innovation systems.(2) The importance of focusing both on supply-push and demand-pull mechanisms in innovation scholarship and innovation policy.(3) The need to focus on more innovation scholarship around the goals of sustainable development

Agility and resilience : the adaptive capacity of Friends of the Earth International and Greenpeace

As environmental issues, politics and economic activity have become increasingly global in character, transnational social movement organizations (TSMOs) have emerged to exert their influence on decision-making across scales and to catalyze social change towards a sustainable future. The underlying assumption of this dissertation is that TSMOs face complex and dynamic internal and external pressures, which test their organizational viability over time. In order to maintain their viability, TSMOs have to build adaptive capacity, the ability to repeatedly and reliably develop strategic responses to change. I challenge the emerging consensus in the social movement and organizational literatures that a decentralized and informal structure provides an adaptive advantage for TSMOs. Instead, I propose that different structural configurations can result in distinct and equally viable approaches to building adaptive capacity. I focus on two TSMOs, Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) and Greenpeace. Whereas FoEI has a decentralized and informal structure, Greenpeace has a relatively more centralized and formalized structure. However, FoEI and Greenpeace both exhibit organizational viability based on evidence including their income level and membership. Therefore, I assume that FoEI and Greenpeace have built adaptive capacity, which can be analyzed by exploring their typical strategic responses to four key organizational challenges: (1) tactical innovation , the challenge of creatively adjusting tactics to disrupt the status quo; (2) managing external relations , the challenge of partnering with other actors or remaining independent; (3) organizational maintenance, the challenge of securing resources in order to survive; and (4) managing internal relations, the challenge of resolving internal conflict. FoEI, as a 'global grassroots movement,' continuously expands its tactical repertoire; develops collaborative partnerships; depends on a mass voluntary base; and resolves conflict through participatory dialogue; which I label the Agility Model of building adaptive capacity. In contrast, Greenpeace, as a 'global campaigning organization,' specializes in high profile, nonviolent, direct action tactics; predominately operates independently; secures financial support; and resolves conflict through managing for coherence; which I label the Resilience Model. I analyze these models, and conclude that FoEI and Greenpeace are hybrid systems and that other unique adaptive capacity models at the organizational and movement levels are possible.Science, Faculty ofResources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Institute forGraduat

Assessing social and economic impacts associated with changes in the coal mining industry in the Bowen Basin, Queensland, Australia

Purpose: The coal mining industry makes a key contribution to the Queensland economy, and is the underlying driver of employment and economic conditions in many local and regional communities. This article aims to focus on how the social and economic impacts of mining should be assessed and negotiated with local and regional communities.\ud \ud Design/Methodology/Approach: The following assessment tools were trialed to ascertain the impacts on communities of changes in the mining industry: extended stakeholder analysis of key community representatives; economic modeling of changes in the level of mining activity; a random survey of householders involving choice experiments to assess tradeoffs; and experimental workshops to assess how residents were prepared to prioritise different community development options.\ud \ud Findings: The results showed that impact assessment should be addressed using different economic and social science tools to ensure regulatory approval as well as community acceptance.\ud \ud Originality/Value: This article suggests alternative social and economic impact assessment mechanisms that can be applied to any industry and any situation (e.g. growth, decline, new development, simultaneous changes)

Mining impacts and the development of the Moranbah township

[Extract] Executive Summary 1.This report contains an overview of research into the economic and social impacts of mining on the Moranbah community and options for future development. 2.The mining boom has stimulated a population increase in Moranbah, as well as a large non-resident workforce (estimated at 4,000 people). The 'core' workforce for mines within 50 kilometres of Moranbah is expected to grow by a further 1,390 people by 2010. It has been estimated that there is potential for the town to grow by another 2,700permanent residents over the next five years. 3.Key needs that currently exist for the community include improved shopping and services, a more reliable water supply, lower cost housing, and a larger labour pool. 4.Key issues for the community in options for future development include the extent of workcamp accommodation, the security of water supplies, the price of rentals and housing, and the potential environmental impacts of future mining close to town. 5.Moranbah residents preferred the development of housing rather than work camps in their community; this value has been assessed at $3,144 per year. Respondents indicated that they would reduce their length of stay in Moranbah by 2.6 years if work camp development went from a low base to a high level of development. 6.Having a satisfactory buffer against future environmental impacts of mine development was the next most important issue. The value of avoiding future impacts was assessed at$494 per household per year. 7.The average number of years that residents expected to stay in Moranbah was approximately 8.5 years. Almost no resident planned to move to another mining town when they left Moranbah. 8.At least 80% of the non-resident workforce indicated that they did not want to live permanently in Moranbah. Key reasons related to partner and family commitments, and to preferences for living in a larger centre. 9.Mackay residents were asked about potential relocation to communities such as Moranbah. Results showed that for the average Mackay person to move to a mining town, a salary premium of $55,000 is required. A higher premium is needed to attract people to live in smaller communities. Key factors that are important in the choice of communities are the level of health and education services, availability of jobs for partners and children, and the standard of public infrastructure. 10.The level of economic activity in Moranbah is slightly lower than in other comparable towns, suggesting that there are large spending leakages from the community