Citizens are key stakeholders when striving for “socio-technical system change”. Therefore, we brought together community representatives, our MOTION partners from the SuSMo and SATURN projects and Professor Johan Schot as sustainability transitions experts to discuss the barriers and opportunities for a transition to greener living and sustainable communities.
La necesidad de una transición hacia la sostenibilidad es omnipresente. Un enfoque que continúa ganando terreno es el llamado “cambio del sistema sociotécnico”, en el que nuestros sistemas de suministro, por ejemplo, el sistema de transporte y atención médica, pero también el suministro de alimentos y electricidad, se reconsideran por completo, con la sostenibilidad como factor definitorio. “Sociotécnico” se relaciona con la suposición de que la innovación tecnológica, como el automóvil eléctrico, solo puede generar un impacto a largo plazo si se conecta con un cambio social y de comportamiento más amplio, como dejar el automóvil como el modo de transporte dominante y viceversa. . En otras palabras, la innovación y el cambio social deben ir de la mano para lograr una verdadera transición hacia una vida sostenible.
As part of the MOTION project, we’re collaborating with three partner projects that offer alternative and more sustainable solutions for providing societal needs and thus strive to contribute to socio-technical system change. Together, the MOTION team and the partner projects co-construct what we call a Theory of Change – a clear definition of each projects’ long term transformative goals and how to reach them. In the following phase of MOTION, a framework for monitoring, evaluation and learning is set up to continuously review the transformative change process.
Wordcloud from Mentimeter Q&AThe MOTION partner projects take initiative to overhaul unsustainable practices in different societal systems. SuSMo does so by delivering a vision for cities to lead the way in decarbonising our transport systems. It introduces sustainable shared mobility solutions that can rapidly reduce transport carbon emissions, improve air quality and enable a better, more user-centric travel systems. The SATURN project aims at transforming the way urban land is used and managed. It proposes framing nature and landscapes within one holistic vision in which the interdependencies of social, economic and planetary well-being are noted. Hereby, a systemic and sustainable approach to connecting urban and rural landscapes is to be established.
SuSMo and SATURN are two of many emerging initiatives that strive for socio-technical system change by contributing to more sustainable communities and cities. Which barriers are they facing? Which opportunities do they offer for long-term sustainable living? And what is our role as citizens in all this? How can we contribute to breaking down barriers for more sustainable communities?
Our webinar aimed to inspire a discussion about these questions.