Sociology for sustainability science

Summary, in English

Sociological insights are often underutilized in sustainability science. To further strengthen its commitment to interdisciplinary problem-driven, solutions-oriented research, sustainability science can better incorporate fundamental sociological conceptions into its core. We highlight four aspects of sociological thought that we consider crucial for advancing sustainability science research: (1) social construction and critical realism, (2) structure and agency, (3) historical specificity, and (4) collective action. We draw on examples from sociology to support a dynamic understanding of how social relations interact with the bio-geo-physical world. This necessary integration of sociological insights, we argue, is critical to generate comprehensive assessments of the causes and consequences of human-induced environmental change, and tend to be overlooked or oversimplified within the field of sustainability science. Beyond that, it can stimulate the development and implementation of viable solutions to sustainability challenges.

• Author: Stefano Longo; Ellinor Isgren; Brett Clark; Andrew K. Jorgenson; Anne Jerneck; Lennart Olsson; Orla M. Kelly; David Harnesk; Richard York
• Department/s: Sociology; LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies); Faculty Office
• Publishing year: 2021-10-27
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: Discover Sustainability
• Volume: 2
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s43621-021-00056-5
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Springer
• Topic: Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)
• Keywords: Critical realism; Social structure; Collective action; Social relations; Environmental sociology
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 2662-9984