TY - JOUR

T1 - Revisiting the sustainability science research agenda

AU - Sahle, Mesfin

AU - Lahoti, Shruti Ashish

AU - Lee, So Young

AU - Brundiers, Katja

AU - van Riper, Carena J.

AU - Pohl, Christian

AU - Chien, Herlin

AU - Bohnet, Iris C.

AU - Aguilar-Rivera, Noé

AU - Edwards, Peter

AU - Pradhan, Prajal

AU - Plieninger, Tobias

AU - Boonstra, Wiebren Johannes

AU - Flor, Alexander G.

AU - Di Fabio, Annamaria

AU - Scheidel, Arnim

AU - Gordon, Chris

AU - Abson, David J.

AU - Andersson, Erik

AU - Demaria, Federico

AU - Kenter, Jasper O.

AU - Brooks, Jeremy

AU - Kauffman, Joanne

AU - Hamann, Maike

AU - Graziano, Martin

AU - Nagabhatla, Nidhi

AU - Mimura, Nobuo

AU - Fagerholm, Nora

AU - O’Farrell, Patrick

AU - Saito, Osamu

AU - Takeuchi, Kazuhiko

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Japan KK 2024.

PY - 2024/10/24

Y1 - 2024/10/24

N2 - Identifying research gaps and priorities is paramount to advance sustainability science and contribute to a sustainable future. This editorial contributes to this effort by contemplating the sustainability science research agenda and aligning it with recent changes in global dynamics. Drawing on consultations with the editorial board members of the Sustainability Science journal and a review of relevant literature, we identified 12 key research topics. These topics are interpreted within a strategic framework encompassing three key themes: (1) goals that drive sustainability science, (2) approaches to attain these goals, and (3) tools to advance sustainability science research. In so doing, this editorial emphasizes a sustainable development agenda extending beyond 2030, fostering equity and justice, and tackling issues related to power dynamics and geopolitical conflicts. It underscores the significance of research approaches to attaining sustainability goals, in particular, theorizing, co-production of knowledge and action, attaining clarity in conceptual descriptions, and developing systems-oriented analytical frameworks. Additionally, it highlights the value of place-based approaches, learning from significant systemic shocks, and nurturing inner transformations. It also underlines the need to explore emerging technologies and data-intensive methodologies as a tool to address sustainability concerns. The systematic contemplation of the sustainability science research agenda presented in this editorial piece aims to invoke further discussion among researchers and practitioners about a fresh and relevant agenda that promotes the sustainable integration of nature and society.

AB - Identifying research gaps and priorities is paramount to advance sustainability science and contribute to a sustainable future. This editorial contributes to this effort by contemplating the sustainability science research agenda and aligning it with recent changes in global dynamics. Drawing on consultations with the editorial board members of the Sustainability Science journal and a review of relevant literature, we identified 12 key research topics. These topics are interpreted within a strategic framework encompassing three key themes: (1) goals that drive sustainability science, (2) approaches to attain these goals, and (3) tools to advance sustainability science research. In so doing, this editorial emphasizes a sustainable development agenda extending beyond 2030, fostering equity and justice, and tackling issues related to power dynamics and geopolitical conflicts. It underscores the significance of research approaches to attaining sustainability goals, in particular, theorizing, co-production of knowledge and action, attaining clarity in conceptual descriptions, and developing systems-oriented analytical frameworks. Additionally, it highlights the value of place-based approaches, learning from significant systemic shocks, and nurturing inner transformations. It also underlines the need to explore emerging technologies and data-intensive methodologies as a tool to address sustainability concerns. The systematic contemplation of the sustainability science research agenda presented in this editorial piece aims to invoke further discussion among researchers and practitioners about a fresh and relevant agenda that promotes the sustainable integration of nature and society.

KW - Expert consultation

KW - Research prioritization

KW - Sustainability transformation

KW - Sustainable development

KW - Transdisciplinarity

KW - Biology

KW - Sustainability Governance

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85207188998&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/a42ba759-b492-3e63-b207-6145666d06b6/

U2 - 10.1007/s11625-024-01586-3

DO - 10.1007/s11625-024-01586-3

M3 - Other (editorial matter etc.)

AN - SCOPUS:85207188998

JO - Sustainability Science

JF - Sustainability Science

SN - 1862-4065

ER -