Sustainability Working Group
About
Join us in the search for economic solutions to environmental challenges like climate change, pollution, and the management and distribution of finite resources.Â
Coordinators:
Anna Hornykewycz (Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria)
Mateusz Ciasnocha (Ciasnocha Family Farms, Poland)
Jheelum Sarkar (American University, USA)
Contact
sustainability[@]youngscholarsinitiative.org
Mandate (2024)
Research themes
Exploring the nexus between Sustainability and Inequality on various levels, specifically:Â Â
- Sustainability and poverty,Â
- The political economy of sustainability in the Global South,Â
- Environmental justice and racism,Â
- Climate change adaptation and gender. Â
Conceptualizing economic and legal models for a sustainable (regenerative) society, specifically:Â Â
- Alternative economic systems,Â
- Necessary legal frameworks for sustainability,Â
- Sustainability and the social solidarity economy,Â
- Community-led environmental stewardship,Â
- Sustainability and the administration of common goods. Â
Climate action on various levels, specifically:Â
- UNFCCC Climate Process and Implementation,Â
- Key economic considerations for sustainability in the final decade of SDG action,Â
- Farmers in the climate action,Â
- Building resilience against environmental shocks (e.g. pandemics). Â
Financing the socio-ecological transition, specifically:Â
- Role of Central Banks and International Development Banks in just transition,Â
- Public money for public goods,Â
- Repurposing agricultural subsidies – from subsidies to delivery of public services.
Research questions
Inequality:Â
- How can we achieve a socially and ecologically just world without perpetuating racism or neo-colonialism?Â
- What does ‘sustainability’ mean to the marginalized communities who suffer the most the environmental disasters? How can this definition inform public policies?Â
- How can we make international processes just and participatory? Â
Economic and legal concepts:Â Â
- How is the climate crisis connected to the capitalist system and to what extent must the capitalist system be changed in order to ensure long-term and overall sustainability?Â
- What legal framework is necessary to support sustainability?Â
- What are the limitations of economic thinking in addressing environmental problems? Can alternative approaches help address the impacts of climate change and potential policies?Â
- Between technological breakthroughs and social innovations of the millennials, what will the cooperative of 2050 be made of? Â
Climate action:Â Â
- How does environmental activism challenge the capitalist system, and what methods, limitations, and learning outcomes are involved?Â
- How to start and accelerate systemic policy making? Especially on the nexus of climate change and agricultural policy-making.Â
- Value of soil health in policymaking? EU Soil Mission, CA4SH: Coalition of Action for Soil Health, National Soil Advocate & the Parliamentary Friends of Soil Health – Australia Â
Financing:Â
- Putting (private) money to work through the IDBs: International Development Banks?Â
- How can a socio-ecological transition be financed?Â
- What is the role of finance in achieving sustainable development in the Global South?Â
Projects PlannedÂ
- YSI Session @ 9th Latin American Energy Economics Meeting (ELAEE) 2024Â
- Reading Circle: Climate Change and Philosophy of EconomicsÂ
- YSI Session @ World Biodiversity Forum, 2024, Davos, SwitzerlandÂ
- The Economy of Francesco Summer School with the participation of YSIÂ
- IFAMA Annual CongressÂ
- Ecologizing Economics: Reflexivity, Methods and Interdisciplinarity in the Age of AnthropoceneÂ
- YSI @ COP29 (and beyond)Â
- New UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) Webinar Series and project to be co-created with key partners and actors building on the success of YSI @ COP28 Webinar SeriesÂ
- YSI @ CFS: Committee for Food Security
Existing partnerships and cooperationÂ
- Brazilian Association of Ecological Economics (ECOECO)Â
- CA4SH: Coalition of Action for Soil HealthÂ
- Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB)Â
- Ciasnocha Family FarmsÂ
- EIT FoodÂ
- EU Soil MissionÂ
- Future Earth Early Career Researchers – Network of Networks (Future Earth ECR NoN)Â
- IFAMA: International Agribusiness Management AssociationÂ
- Institute for the Comprehensive Analysis of the Economy (ICAE), LinzÂ
- International Input-Output Association (IIOA)Â
- MIDAS ProjectÂ
- Ministry of Economy and Finance of Bolivia (MEFP)Â
- Oxford University – Laudato Si Research InstituteÂ
- Sant’Anna Scuola Universitaria Superiore, PisaÂ
- Scholas Occurrentes – Scholas CatedrasÂ
- Sustainability & Livelihood Research – Organization (SULIVER)Â
- The Economy of FrancescoÂ
- The European Carbon FarmersÂ
- UNFCCC Conference of the PartiesÂ
- High Level Champions for Climate ActionÂ
- Food System PavilionÂ
- University of PadovaÂ
- Â
Projects
You’re welcome to join any webinar or reading group at any time. You’re also invited to apply to present or participate in an any in-person workshop in your area.Â
UpcomingÂ