Challenges for Social-Ecological Transformations

Research context, approach and methods Current research on a transformation towards sustainability does not systematically address the root causes of unsustainable development patterns. This research proposal addresses two major shortcomings in this regard: the interplay of societal and biophysical dimensions (i.e. social-ecological interactions) and a deeper understanding of the institutional dynamics and the political-economic factors that drives societal resource use. The global extraction and use of material resources is still growing at exceptional rate, as discussed under the term Great Acceleration. A closer examination reveals, however, that the Great Acceleration was neither homogenous in time nor in space. It shows clearly distinct phases and took place only in some countries, mostly in the global North, whereas a new phase of accelerated resource use started at the early 2000s, mostly in emerging economies in Asia. To explain this historical and spatial variations, and to identify entry points for alternative development patterns, the proposal links quantitative research on biophysical dimensions of resource use, developed within Material Energy Flow Accounting (MEFA), to Regulation Theory (RT), an approach from Political Economy to explain distinct phases of capitalist development. Objectives and research questions The aim of the project is to identify distinct patterns of resource use at country level, to analyse the institutional dimensions involved, their regional varieties and global interdependencies as well as the options and challenges they provide for societal transformations. It contributes to the development of an interdisciplinary approach to SET, building on MEFA and RT, able to inform the search for alternative development paths. The main research question addresses the long-term dynamics of societal resource use and its country-specific patterns across time and space and how this can be explained by institutional constellations. Innovative contribution The project will link biophysical dimensions of societal development to institutional dimensions, and quantitative to qualitative methods, and deepens our understanding of past and ongoing transformations in resource use. Building on these conceptual and methodological innovations it will allow for more realistic insights into challenges of transformation towards sustainability. Staff involved The team is composed from the Institute of Social Ecology; the project leader, Prof. Görg, is a trained social scientist with long-term experience in interdisciplinary projects; a further researcher is Prof. Krausmann, professor of sustainable resource use and a leading expert in socio-metabolic research. Other researchers have a background either in social (Dr. Pichler, Dr. Plank) or in natural sciences (Dr. Schaffartzik, Dr. Wiedenhofer and Dr. Mayer), but all of them have in-depth experiences in interdisciplinary research.

The project examined two key areas within a socio-ecological transformation, which present particular challenges regarding the reorganization of societal metabolism: dealing with the limits of biomass production for the bioeconomy and e-waste as negative side-effect of digitalization. In the first case study, Benjamin Fleischmann investigated whether and how the European bioeconomy strategy can support socio-ecological change within biophysical constraints. His findings demonstrate that the EU's bioeconomy is neither one-dimensional nor unambiguous; rather, it is fragmented, strongly influenced by particular interests, and shaped by competing strategies that envision different forms of organizing and regulating societal processes. Secondly, he critically analyzes the EU's policy documents on the bioeconomy and identifies gaps and contradictions that must be addressed to ensure the strategy can operate within a sound biophysical framework. In her case study on e-waste, Nora Krenmayer demonstrates that recycling alone is insufficient to combat the growing problem of electronic waste, as increasing device production and planned obsolescence far outpace recycling efforts. Structural constraints-including inadequate quality standards and the poor recyclability of critical materials-hinder the effectiveness of recycling strategies. The study argues that change requires more than simply optimizing existing systems and addressing the growth-driven demands of production and consumption. It advocates for durable design, repairability, and reduced material use.