Planetary justice and societal responsibility in sustainability sciences and international scientific cooperation

Raheem, B. (Puhuja)

Arktinen keskus

Aktiviteetti: Esitelmä › Konferenssiesitelmä

Kuvaus

Sustainable solutions to global challenges require international cooperation between scientific and civil society actors from very different contexts. Against the background of global responsibility with regard to sustainability, this concerns in particular the cooperation between actors from the Global North and South. Due to different cultural or socio-economic circumstances and a larger set of ethical considerations relevant in an international sustainability context, it is necessary to jointly reflect on the question of research in societal responsibility with international partners.
A key focus of this conference will be to explore the concept of Planetary Justice, a broad and inclusive approach to societal responsibility in sustainability sciences. We aim to engage researchers from the Global South and North in a dialogue about how sustainability sciences can address various facets of societal responsibility. This includes examining the integration of diverse actors and perspectives and understanding broader notions of responsibility.
In the realm of sustainability research, self-reflection and societal responsibility are pivotal. The LeNa Reflection Framework for Research in Societal Responsibility, primarily developed within the German context, exemplifies criteria for such self-reflection. This framework encourages researchers to evaluate their work critically in terms of societal impact and responsibility. This conference will take up this topic and use the LeNa framework as an example to discuss, to what extent Sustainability Sciences do justice to different aspects of societal responsibility (for example with regard to the integration of diverse actors and perspectives, but also regarding broader understandings of responsibility as reflected in the concept of Planetary Justice), to what extent understandings and conditions differ in the international context, and what role reflection criteria such as those developed in the LeNa Framework can play in international sustainability science and scientific cooperation. The goal is to jointly reflect on the LeNa criteria, expand on them and look beyond, what else might be important considerations for Societally Responsible Research in a Global North-South collaboration.
Objectives
To examine the ethical considerations and responsibilities associated with sustainability science in international scientific collaboration.
To explore the societally responsible research concept and practices, in relation to holistic concepts of responsibility such as the concept of Planetary Justice, and the implications for addressing global disparities in sustainability impacts.
To collaboratively adapt and expand on the LeNa Reflection Framework for Research in Societal Responsibility for use in diverse international contexts.
To foster collaborative networks and partnerships for advancing global sustainability efforts.
Expected Outputs
Enhanced understanding of the diverse ethical and societal responsibilities associated with sustainability research in different global contexts.
Recommendations and strategies for promoting equity and justice in sustainability science, particularly in the context of collaboration between Global North and Global South.
Refinement and adaptation of the LeNa Reflection Framework for use in international sustainability research.
Establishment of collaborative networks and partnerships for future sustainability initiatives.

Aikajakso	13 maalisk. 2024 → 14 maalisk. 2024
Pidetty	Leibniz-Institut für Länderkunde, Saksa
Vaikuttavuus / laajuus	Kansainvälinen

Asiakirjat ja linkit

The multiple and increasing environmental, societal and economic challenges brought about by the Anthropocene have emphasized demands for science to contribute to solving these challenges, thus fulfilling a societal responsibility. However, while Anthropocene sustainability challenges are present across the globe, their particular nature differs according to local contexts. They are shaped e.g. by heterogeneity in the distribution of research funding and capacity, differences in societies’ susceptibility to impacts of anthropogenic social-ecological changes, and highly uneven distribution of power and capacities. Thus, the understanding of societal responsibility of research is also likely to differ according to the context it and its particular actors are embedded in, yet such differences and their implications are seldom made explicit. Addressing sustainability challenges hence is inherently linked to questions of equity and justice, given the unequal contribution of different actors and societies to social-ecological change and the vast differences in capacities to adapt to or cope with these changes. Broader understandings of responsibility as reflected in the concept of Planetary Justice are aiming for more holistic views that integrate causes and consequences across scales, but are faced with the reality of differing, often opposing targets and priorities. Adequately accounting for trade-offs and context and deciding what to prioritize requires suitable methodological and conceptual tools. In the conference, we aim for a reflection on the intersection of sustainability, justice and equity, consider potential trade-offs among different targets and priorities, or consider work and concepts spanning across different levels (e.g. national/regional/international), to arrive at extended and holistic views on the societal responsibility of research, addressing differences and constants in how societal responsibility of sustainability science is understood and enacted. This includes explicitly reflecting on the research process in different contexts, particularly considering diverse societal groups, socio-economic demands and priorities, and unequal distributions of capacities and resources. Implications for and practical applications of sustainability research in different contexts may similarly be explored.