TY - JOUR
T1 - Revisiting the sustainability science research agenda
AU - Sahle, Mesfin
AU - Lahoti, Shruti Ashish
AU - Lee, So Young
AU - Brundiers, Katja
AU - van Riper, Carena J.
AU - Pohl, Christian
AU - Chien, Herlin
AU - Bohnet, Iris C.
AU - Aguilar-Rivera, Noé
AU - Edwards, Peter
AU - Pradhan, Prajal
AU - Plieninger, Tobias
AU - Boonstra, Wiebren Johannes
AU - Flor, Alexander G.
AU - Di Fabio, Annamaria
AU - Scheidel, Arnim
AU - Gordon, Chris
AU - Abson, David J.
AU - Andersson, Erik
AU - Demaria, Federico
AU - Kenter, Jasper O.
AU - Brooks, Jeremy
AU - Kauffman, Joanne
AU - Hamann, Maike
AU - Graziano, Martin
AU - Nagabhatla, Nidhi
AU - Mimura, Nobuo
AU - Fagerholm, Nora
AU - O’Farrell, Patrick
AU - Saito, Osamu
AU - Takeuchi, Kazuhiko
N1 - We extend our gratitude to the editorial board members of the Sustainability Science journal for their valuable contributions in suggesting thematic areas and evaluating research topics through an online survey. We want to express our special acknowledgment to Prof. William C. Clark for his insightful and constructive feedback during the draft review. Additionally, our thanks go to Dr. Raffaela Kozar for her diligent language editing efforts. This research has been made possible with partial financial support from the \"Integration of Traditional and Modern Bioproduction System for a Sustainable and Resilient Future under Climate and Ecosystem Changes (ITMoB)\" project, funded by JST e-ASIA JRP (Grant Number JPMJSC20E6). P. Pradhan acknowledges the European Research Council (ERC) for funding the project (Project number 101077492).
PY - 2025/1
Y1 - 2025/1
N2 - Identifying research gaps and priorities is paramount to advance sustainability science and contribute to a sustainable future. This editorial contributes to this effort by contemplating the sustainability science research agenda and aligning it with recent changes in global dynamics. Drawing on consultations with the editorial board members of the Sustainability Science journal and a review of relevant literature, we identified 12 key research topics. These topics are interpreted within a strategic framework encompassing three key themes: (1) goals that drive sustainability science, (2) approaches to attain these goals, and (3) tools to advance sustainability science research. In so doing, this editorial emphasizes a sustainable development agenda extending beyond 2030, fostering equity and justice, and tackling issues related to power dynamics and geopolitical conflicts. It underscores the significance of research approaches to attaining sustainability goals, in particular, theorizing, co-production of knowledge and action, attaining clarity in conceptual descriptions, and developing systems-oriented analytical frameworks. Additionally, it highlights the value of place-based approaches, learning from significant systemic shocks, and nurturing inner transformations. It also underlines the need to explore emerging technologies and data-intensive methodologies as a tool to address sustainability concerns. The systematic contemplation of the sustainability science research agenda presented in this editorial piece aims to invoke further discussion among researchers and practitioners about a fresh and relevant agenda that promotes the sustainable integration of nature and society.
AB - Identifying research gaps and priorities is paramount to advance sustainability science and contribute to a sustainable future. This editorial contributes to this effort by contemplating the sustainability science research agenda and aligning it with recent changes in global dynamics. Drawing on consultations with the editorial board members of the Sustainability Science journal and a review of relevant literature, we identified 12 key research topics. These topics are interpreted within a strategic framework encompassing three key themes: (1) goals that drive sustainability science, (2) approaches to attain these goals, and (3) tools to advance sustainability science research. In so doing, this editorial emphasizes a sustainable development agenda extending beyond 2030, fostering equity and justice, and tackling issues related to power dynamics and geopolitical conflicts. It underscores the significance of research approaches to attaining sustainability goals, in particular, theorizing, co-production of knowledge and action, attaining clarity in conceptual descriptions, and developing systems-oriented analytical frameworks. Additionally, it highlights the value of place-based approaches, learning from significant systemic shocks, and nurturing inner transformations. It also underlines the need to explore emerging technologies and data-intensive methodologies as a tool to address sustainability concerns. The systematic contemplation of the sustainability science research agenda presented in this editorial piece aims to invoke further discussion among researchers and practitioners about a fresh and relevant agenda that promotes the sustainable integration of nature and society.
KW - Expert consultation
KW - Research prioritization
KW - Sustainability transformation
KW - Sustainable development
KW - Transdisciplinarity
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U2 - 10.1007/s11625-024-01586-3
DO - 10.1007/s11625-024-01586-3
M3 - Article
SN - 1862-4065
VL - 20
SP - 1
EP - 19
JO - Sustainability Science
JF - Sustainability Science
IS - 1
M1 - e0261190
ER -