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 governance research (EGR) 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 the interdisciplinary field of EGR, cumulation of knowledge faces a number of challenges, including epistemological discrepancies; an interdisciplinary plurality of concepts, theories, methods and research questions; and an academic incentive system that prioritises novelty and originality over deep engagement with previous research.
For the first time in EGR, this Special Issue conceptually and empirically explores (a) how knowledge cumulation relates to interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity, epistemic justice, action orientation, and policy relevance; (b) how the degree of knowledge cumulation in the field can be assessed, and what such assessments reveal; (c) which methods support the cumulation of knowledge; and (d) what generally hinders knowledge cumulation, and how these obstacles can be overcome.
The eight contributions to the Special Issue offer diverse perspectives on the topic of knowledge cumulation in EGR, which are synthesised with regard to aspects (a) to (d) in the guest editors' introduction to the Special Issue topic (Rose, Newig & Leipold). The first six articles address conceptual and empirical aspects of knowledge cumulation within specific subfields and publication outlets of EGR: The journal Environmental Policy and Governance (Khmara), the Earth System Governance research community (Newig & Rose), research on the environmental governance process (Wood et al.), social-ecological systems research (Eisenack et al.), water governance research (García & Bodin), and research on forest carbon offsetting in developing countries (Purdon & Byakagaba). The final two articles focus specifically on knowledge cumulation at the interfaces between science, society and policy (Gosselin & Gauquelin; Hofmann et al.). Notably, the two articles by Purdon & Byakagaba and Gosselin & Gauquelin serve as bridges between the two parts of the Special Issue, offering critical reflections on the epistemological preconditions for knowledge cumulation.