Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Socioecological Challenges: Sustainable Transformations Globally and in the EU

This book explores interdisciplinary perspectives on socioecological challenges and offers innovative solutions at both a European and global level.

This book critically reflects on the latest scientific knowledge regarding the increasing instability of the Earth System caused by human activities during the Anthropocene and the Great Acceleration. It focuses on the global and European challenges regarding climate, resources, bio-integrity, and environment. The authors assess the obstacles to overcoming these challenges and examine the risks posed by path dependencies, lock-ins, and trade-offs between global and regional goals. They also drill down into the complexities of the European Green Deal, specifically the similarities and differences between the scientific analyses and recommendations from the European Environment Agency and the content of the Deal. Finally, the book looks at the Just Transition put forward by the European Green Deal. The authors discuss this in a context of global and European ecological and socioecological challenges and put the question of equality, recognition, and democratization at the center.

Outlining new pathways to broaden the scope of scientific collaboration between the natural and technical sciences and the social sciences and the humanities, this volume will be of great interest to students and scholars of sustainable development, environmental policy and governance, and environmental justice.

Anders Siig Andersen is an Associate Professor at Roskilde University, Department of People and Technology. He holds a PhD in educational studies, is special advisor for the Rector of Roskilde University on socioecological sustainability issues, and is Study Director of the Master’s in Education and Learning at Roskilde University.

Henrik Hauggaard-Nielsen is a Professor at Roskilde University, Department of People and Technology. He is an agronomist with a PhD in agroecology. He works on demand-driven transitions within urgent climate and environmental problems, primarily focusing on agri-food systems.

Thomas Budde Christensen is an Associate Professor at Roskilde University, Department of People and Technology. He works in the field of circular economy with special emphasis on research in sustainable consumption and production systems. His current research focuses on policy, strategies, and planning activities associated with recycling industrial waste, plastics waste, bio waste, and construction and demolition waste.

Lars Hulgaard is a Professor at Roskilde University, Department of People and Technology. He is a sociologist and holds a PhD in public administration. He works on issues related to social change, social innovation, solidarity economy, and sustainability. He collaborates with scholars globally to understand better how social innovation, solidarity economy, and epistemologies of the South can inspire social change in the North.