Core 4: Sustainable development and social change: actors, institutions and governance

Core Chair: Prof. G. Spaargaren

> Browse the research projects in Core 4 HERE!

Are you not listed in the list of research projects? Register now or login and add yours.

Mission and aims

It is increasingly recognized that important changes in production and consumption systems will be required to meet the needs and the aspirations of a growing world population while using environmental resources in a sustainable manner. The complex character of such changes is labelled with the term 'industrial transformation'. Industrial transformation research seeks to understand complex society-environment interactions, identify driving forces for change, and explore development trajectories that have a significantly smaller burden on the environment.

The aim of the research in Core programme 4 is to analyse the feasibility of such a transformation. A basic question is how to produce and consume energy and materials in a more sustainable way. The research emphasis is more and more on strategies that can help in developing and adopting these sustainable ways of production and consumption. Technological, social and environmental aspects need to be dealt with in a coherent way.

Participating research groups and group leaders

Wageningen University

• Environmental Policy Group - Prof.dr. A. Mol

VU University Amsterdam

• Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) - Dr. M. Hofkes/Prof.dr. J. Boersema

Utrecht University

• Dept. of Science, Technology and Society - Prof.dr. W. Turkenburg
• Environmental Policy and Management - Prof.dr. P. Glasbergen

Leiden University

• Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) - Prof.dr. G.R. de Snoo

University of Amsterdam

• IBED, Environmental Sciences Group - Prof.dr. L. Reijnders

Groningen University

• Center for Energy and Environmental Studies (IVEM) - Prof.dr. T. Schoot Uiterkamp