Scientific progress relies on the ability to build on prior insights: to refine theories, identify patterns, challenge assumptions, and cumulatively deepen understanding. Although the body of environmental and sustainability governance research continues to grow, it does not appear to become more coherent or cumulable. The lack of knowledge cumulation — defined as the systematic building on prior knowledge by broadening, deepening, contextualising, questioning or rejecting existing research – may hinder both scientific progress and policy relevance.

In this project, we are interested in how environmental and sustainability governance research can better accumulate knowledge across cases, contexts, and (sub-)disciplines. We began by outlining some foundational ideas in a 2020 article in the Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, where we propose a framework for understanding different modes and challenges of cumulation in the field. To support this agenda, we initiated the Taskforce on Knowledge Cumulation within the Earth System Governance research network, bringing together scholars from around the world to exchange ideas and approaches. We developed a comprehensive coding scheme to study how and to what extent knowledge cumulates in our field. With seed funding from Leuphana University, we have been applying this coding scheme to empirically analyse the body of published knowledge of the Earth System Governance research community. Moreover, we have curated a Special Issue in Environmental Policy and Governance on the project's topic.