Zoom Link for the Meeting:

https://helsinki.zoom.us/j/65068336690?pwd=T1pONVhUVnc3cGR6R2gxQ25PcmRBZz09&from=addon#success

Passcode: 

globalS

More info HERE

Speakers:

• Sabaheta Ramcilovic-Suominen
• Leah Temper
• Constance McDermott

Commentator: Juha Hiedanpää

Chairs: Kaisa Korhonen-Kurki and Franklin Obeng-Odoom

In this HELSUS Seminar we tackle the key question: How to avoid dispossession and other forms of injustices in the transitions to low-carbon and bio-based futures and how to facilitate just and socially inclusive transformations globally?

We focus particularly on the policy discourse of bioeconomy, which plays a central role in the industrialized countries’ transitionary pathways towards low-carbon futures. Despite the potential of transitions to low-carbon and bio-based futures, they may also generate externalities of profound socio-economic, political and justice implications. Such implications are usually felt in places distant from where policies are made and by more vulnerable segments of society. The existing instruments commonly put in place to meliorate negative externalities – such as ‘multi-stakeholder’ processes, social licenses to operate (SLO), Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) – are proving ineffective, or in some cases exacerbate and reproduce the existing inequalities and power struggles. Societal transition to bioeconomy and low-carbon futures need to be socially inclusive, incorporate and consider the intersectional power dynamics, and strengthen commitment to the different dimensions of environmental and social justice.

In JUST GLOBE project, we study how transitions to bioeconomy relate to, and affect the existing socio-ecological injustices and power asymmetries at different policy scales, and what kind of conflicts emerge between those who do not share same aspirations, worldviews and interests. By identifying the social and environmental injustices, risks and conflicts, we aim to identify the conditions towards socially inclusive, fair and just climate and bioeconomy policies. If these research topics interest, you please join us and consider contributing to our Special Issue on Power and Justice in Bioeconomy. The CfP is open until 31.3.2021.

Sabaheta Ramcilovic-Suominen will introduce the JUST-GLOBE project. Leah Temper will address the relevant environmental justice dimensions in the context of bioeconomy and Constance McDermott will highlight the power dynamics and inequalities in the global natural resource governance. Juha Hiedanpää will provide a commentary concerning the role and significance of different institutions in sustainability transformations.