GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society
GAIA – Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society is a peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to inter- and transdisciplinary research on and for sustainability transformations.
Submission of an original manuscript to GAIA will be taken to mean that the article is original, has not been published in any other peer-reviewed journal, is not under consideration for publication by any other journal and does not infringe any existing copyright or any other third party rights. Articles in GAIA are published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license CC BY 4.0. Under this license, anyone may access, copy, distribute, or reuse these articles, as long as the author and original source are properly cited. By sending your article to GAIA, you agree to the publication of your article under this license. Please contact us if you do not want to have your article be published under CC BY 4.0.
Uneven Democracies of Energy: Institutional Pathways and Justice Claims in Community Energy Transitions in Germany and Sweden
Community energy (CE) is frequently heralded as a democratic alternative to centralized power systems, yet its outcomes depend on national contexts. This article compares CE trajectories in Germany and Sweden, two countries that share high institutional trust and environmental ambition but differ in energy governance. Using case studies of citizen-led projects in Germany’s coal-transition regions, tenant-electricity cooperatives, and Swedish community initiatives, we analyze how laws, political cultures, and grid regimes shape participation, ownership, and justice. Germany’s once-vibrant CE sector now faces mounting barriers: rising professionalization, restrictive auction rules, and uneven benefits that dampen grassroots involvement. Sweden, by contrast, retains a centralized electricity system; slow transposition of EU energy-community directives and the gatekeeping role of distribution system operators have confined bottom-up efforts to small experimental pockets. Our findings show that CE is not intrinsically democratic; it requires supportive legal, financial, and civic infrastructures to deliver equity and empowerment. Recognizing these conditionalities, we propose policy measures—simplified market access, social justice safeguards, and collaborative governance—that can nurture inclusive CE ecosystems across Northern Europe and advance an equitable green transition aligned with EU objectives.
Copyright (c) 2026 Jörg Radtke, Henner Busch, Frida Mundbjerg, Marie Bredkjær Thomsen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Towards a One Health Region: Insights from Stakeholders of an Innovation Alliance in Western Pomerania, Germany
The One Health approach is crucial for addressing complex environmental and health issues by considering the interdependencies between human, animal, and environmental health. The T!Raum alliance ‘One Health Region Western Pomerania’ aims to implement One Health principles in the region of Western Pomerania in the northeast of Germany through transdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge transfer. This article explores necessary transformation processes to establish a One Health Region from the perspective of local stakeholders. Qualitative interviews with 32 regional stakeholders from various sectors revealed a range of issues discussed. Key objectives identified include the promotion of regionality, enhancement of collaboration and networking, raising awareness and imparting knowledge, advancement in medical care and general health services, and improvement of local public transport and related transport infrastructure.
Copyright (c) 2025 Susan Thomschke, Lena Schmeyers, Prof. Dr. Steffen Fleßa, Prof. Dr. Daniel Schiller https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Rethinking Research Assessments: Transformative Socio-Ecological Science at the Crossroads of Change
Research assessments shape scientific life. However, current performance criteria are inadequate for transformative socio-ecological research. The Working Group Social-Ecological Transformation of the Climate Change Centre Austria addressed reform movements in research assessments and associated opportunities for transformative socio-ecological research. The use of qualitative criteria and the recognition of a broad range of research outcomes would support transformative socio-ecological research, but call for accompanying support and training for reviewers and researchers. Such changes in assessments, new curricula and career paths are needed if research is to better address societal needs.
Mitglieder der Arbeitsgruppe Sozial-ökologische Transformation des Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA) und Workshop-Teilnehmende
Copyright (c) 2026 Mitglieder der Arbeitsgruppe Sozial-ökologische Transformation des Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA) und Workshop-Teilnehmende, Marianne Penker https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Polanyian contributions for transformation research against climate backlash
Copyright (c) 2026 Prof. Andreas Novy, Nora Dornis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Bridging knowledge systems within transdisciplinary PhD schools
Addressing the current polycrisis requires a recognition that no single knowledge system is sufficient for generating solutions. Bridging knowledge systems is central to inter- and transdisciplinary research. Yet, the operationalisation remains challenging with academic structures still largely characterised by disciplinary silos. Doctoral education plays a key role in training early-career academics to overcome these divisions and work across knowledge boundaries. We analyse 37 theses conducted in three consecutive phases of doctoral programmes centred on inter- and transdisciplinary research at BOKU University, Vienna, Austria, focusing on how students managed to bridge knowledge systems. We find that most students were able to incorporate elements of interdisciplinarity and experiential knowledge, yet the depth and intensity of integration varied considerably. Knowledge co-production and reflexive engagement with inter- and transdisciplinary approaches were the exception rather than the rule. We conclude that while knowledge integration is extensively addressed in the investigated PhD curricula, it may have been sidelined by other factors such as publication requirements, time pressure and particular project contexts.
Copyright (c) 2026 Alexander Mitrofanenko, Charlotte Voigt, Ephraim Mpofu, Carmen Séra-Penker, Maria Wirth, Markus Fiebig, Thomas Thaler, Zollitsch Werner, Christoph Winckler https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Vom Pendeln, vom Warten auf die Abfahrt in öffentlichen Räumen, vom Ankommen (auch in der Mobilitätswende)
Der Essay vertieft einen Blogbeitrag, den der Autor vor fast einem Jahr für die DASL schrieb, um die Querverbindungen zwischen Mobilität und Transformationserfordernis einerseits und Stadtentwicklungspolitik und Städtebau andererseits auszuleuchten. Die Vertiefung verknüpft Argumente des damaligen Blogbeitrags mit aktueller Forschung bzw. damit verbundenen Netzwerkaktivitäten. Er plädiert - getreu dem Titel des ARL-Arbeitskreises, dem der Autor co-vorsitzt - für ein Transit Oriented Development in der Bestandsentwicklung, das heißt für ein Begreifen von Quartieren rund um Bahnhöfe als herausgehobene Aufgabe für Städtebau und Stadterneuerung - als stadtentwicklungspolitisches Pendant zur Verkehrswende.
Copyright (c) 2026 Arvid Krüger https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The olive Elephant in the Room: Militaries and Rearmament as a Desideratum of socio-ecological Transformation (Research)
The relationship between the military and the environment is characterised by a multitude of complexities. Current research highlights that increasing geopolitical conflicts and escalating global military spending jeopardise climate change mitigation as well as the compliance with environmental policy goals. The military sector cannot longer be ignored by socio-ecological transformation and sustainability research.
Copyright (c) 2026 Prof. Dr. Bernd Sommer; Dr. Frank Reichherzer, Dr. Kerrin Langer https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Can you have your cake and eat it too? Navigating between societal and scientific impacts in transdisciplinary research
Ideal-typical transdisciplinary research (TDR) aims to generate impacts both in science and society. This goes along with challenges for everybody who is involved. This article sheds light in this ambivalent field of TDR and introduces a special section of articles addressing the tensions that may emerge when aiming for impacts in both realms. We would like to stimulate a discussion about the transformative power of existing strategies and on what else is needed to create a nurturing environment for impactful TDR.
Copyright (c) 2026 Emilia Nagy, Lena Theiler, Oskar Marg, Martina Schäfer, Alexandra Lux https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Nordic versions of Citizen Energy communities
The EU directive on energy communities introduced new rules to enable active consumer participation, individually or through citizen energy communities, in all markets, by generating, consuming, sharing or selling electricity, or by providing flexibility services through demand-response and storage. Looking at Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland we find hybrids of citizen energy communities that have existed for decades. This might explain the hesitant implementation of the revised Renewable energy directive by the Nordic governments, because there are currently no legal obstacles for energy communities to participate on the energy market.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Kristian Borch, Prof. Jenny Palm, Prof. Jouni Juntunen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Balancing local climate and energy planning: understanding nine inter-dependent aspects
The green transition requires a careful and strategic local climate and energy planning (LCEP) in the municipalities, not least due to an increasing need for community support instead of opposition. This paper identifies the imbalances in current LCEP that are linked to public opposition. They are reflected in nine inter-dependent LCEP aspects identified in the paper. We label the current imbalanced LCEP practice as a developer-driven LCEP, as private actors and interests can dominate and close important early stages of renewable energy development. Instead of seeking to improve upon this paradigm, we propose a shift towards a more balanced LCEP, in which municipalities and local communities are the main responsible actors in the strategic, pre-project phases. Some municipalities have already gone in this direction, showing how an early and active public dialogue can be done through prioritising resources and an entrepreneurial approach. To make this common practice, however, this new LCEP approach would need systematic and continuous governmental support and funding.
Copyright (c) 2026 Karl Sperling, Poul Thøis Madsen, Kristian Borch, Aksel Bang https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Norwegian Wind Power Development as Land Grabbing: The Fosen and Frøya wind farms.
The expansion of onshore wind power in Norway has sparked controversy over land use, Indigenous rights, and democratic participation. This article examines two key cases, Fosen and Frøya, highlighting how state-led wind power development leads to land grabbing in both Indigenous and rural contexts. Through ethnographic research, the study differentiates between colonial and non-colonial dispossession. In Fosen, the Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that wind power development violated human rights by disrupting Indigenous South Saami reindeer herding lands, yet land pressure persists. Meanwhile, Frøya has seen local activism against wind power development, which has often marginalized social and ecological concerns. Both cases illustrate the creation of "green sacrifice zones," where rural and Indigenous landscapes are transformed for national energy goals, compromising local agency and ecological justice. This article enhances our understanding of the complexities surrounding energy transitions by linking land grabbing to colonial legacies and current sustainability policies.
Copyright (c) 2026 Henrikke Sæthre Ellingsen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Scientific and societal relevance in inter- and transdisciplinary research: navigating tensions, harnessing potentials
In order to address contemporary societal challenges, universities and funders increasingly call upon researchers to generate both scientifically and societally relevant knowledge. The ambition to simultaneously harness multiple spheres of knowledge creates tensions, which raises the question as to whether ‘one can really have it all’. We explore such tensions using empirical examples from three recent inter- and transdisciplinary (ITD) research initiatives in Switzerland and show that tensions also entailed distinct potentials for enhanced reflection, integration and innovation. We discuss the strategies and conditions that proved beneficial for realizing these potentials and conclude that a multi-level approach and concerted efforts by various actors are needed to create the enabling conditions for generating both societally and scientifically relevant knowledge in future ITD initiatives.
Copyright (c) 2026 Lisa Deutsch, Jana Thierfelder, Benjamin Hofmann, Hanna Salomon, Jialin Zhang, Sabine Hoffmann https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Retrospective on the first Regulatory Sandbox for the Energy Transition: Lessons Learned on the transdisciplinary Approach from SmartQuart
Societal transformation processes, such as the energy transition, require research approaches capable of capturing complex sociotechnical interactions. Integrating regulatory sandboxes and real-world laboratories provides a methodological foundation for such interactions by incorporating scientific and nonscientific perspectives through transdisciplinary cooperation. This design report reflects the SmartQuart project, which was funded by the BMWK as the first regulatory sandbox for the energy transition. It focuses on the evaluation of research and communication strategies in the interaction of a consortium of science, industry, and municipalities. A qualitative online survey of the project participants formed the empirical basis. The results showed that an open communication culture, personal encounters, and flexible exchange formats in particular contributed to successful cooperation. However, staff turnover, unclear definition of objectives, and the lack of independent, moderating project management posed challenges. Based on the analyzed experiences, the report derives design-relevant lessons learned for future regulatory sandboxes for the energy transition.
Copyright (c) 2026 Lisa von Wittenhorst, Sarah Welter, Elisabeth Beusker, Jérôme Frisch https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The City As a Laboratory: Do-it-yourself culture as a practice of transdisciplinary learning
Exploring urban space as a laboratory for experimental learning, the article reveals how do-it-yourself cultures such as makerspaces, FabLabs, community gardens and repair cafés, function as forums of transdisciplinary exchange. Academic knowledge fuses with craft, experiential and situated insight to probe responses to climate, social and democratic crises. Berlin’s Haus der Statistik, Leipzig’s Café kaputt, Hamburg’s PARKS and Braunschweig’s Ludwigsgarten illustrate how vacant plots and brownfield sites become classrooms for hands-on skills, ecological literacy and shared governance. Although such spaces promise educational innovation for universities, they can thrive only if policy protects non-commercial niches from property markets and illiberal backlash. The authors urge clear education guidelines, fair power-sharing and lasting alliances between scholars, citizens, artists and planners so the emancipatory promise of the city as a laboratory for self-efficacy, sustainability and democratic conviviality endures.
Copyright (c) 2025 Thorsten Philipp, Robert Jende https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Towards regional geographies of health - Conceptualizing social innovations in the peripheral care sector
This article wants to demonstrate how geographical research perspectives on health and care can both inform the debate on planetary health and link it to the regional and local level. We develop our arguments on a few empirical cornerstones from research in East Brandenburg as well as debates in social sciences and social geography on social innovations and new governance arrangements.
Copyright (c) 2025 Bastian Lange, Henning Nuissl https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Spinning The Wheel of Participation: Exploring Participatory Modelling for Energy Scenarios
Achieving sustainable energy transitions is complex due to interactions between technology, society, and diverse stakeholders with differing interests. Scenario approaches often fail to capture these complexities. Participatory modelling (PM) addresses this by involving stakeholders in energy scenario development, integrating multiple perspectives for better policy decisions. This paper reviews 48 studies using PM in energy transitions, focusing on two key aspects: when stakeholders are involved and their level of participation. We identify six PM techniques and analyze their application using Davidson’s Wheel of Participation. Findings show that while a co-construction approach is common is common, most participation remains at the consulting level. This means stakeholders provide input but have limited decision-making power. The paper recommends future research directions as well as strategies for adapting PM techniques.
Copyright (c) 2026 Jair Campfens, Dr. Mert Duygan, Prof. Claudia R. Binder https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Transformationsraum N - Offene Initiative für beschleunigte Nachhaltigkeit vor Ort
Die Initiative den Transformationsraum N stellt hiermit einen Vorschlag zur Diskussion, um die Große Transformation mit der notwendigen Konsequenz und Dringlichkeit insbesondere vor Ort voranzubringen. Die bisherigen Fortschritte auch unserer Arbeit sind zu klein und in Summe nicht ausreichend. Es fehlt an einem systemischen Vorgehen – von Forschung bis zur Umsetzung -, das den komplexen Problemen gerecht werden kann. Dieses skizziert der Transformationraum N unter Berücksichtigung von acht leitenden Prinzipien.
Copyright (c) 2025 Herbert Brüning, Jasmin Jossin, Busso Grabow https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Integrated Health Approaches - One Health, Global Health, Planetary Health, and Social Ecology - Frameworks for Vector-Borne Disease Research: Systematic Review
Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs) are viral, bacterial or parasitic diseases, transmitted by living organisms called vectors, such as mosquitoes or ticks. The complex transmission mechanisms and diversity of VBDs pose significant research challenges. This paper reviews the concepts and discusses the need for Integrated Health Approaches to VBD research and explores the different perspectives of One Health, Global Health, Planetary Health and Social-Ecology. The interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health is fundamental to our argument. These approaches are essential for research, surveillance, prevention and control strategies and for formulating and implementing effective polices in different contexts. We examine differences and similarities and analyze their applicability to the study of VBDs.
Copyright (c) 2025 Maria-Luisa Espinel-Ramos, PD Dr. Timo Falkenberg https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Real-world Labs for ecosystem strengthening coastal protection – Representation of spatio-temporal relations of humans and non-humans
Ecosystem-strengthening coastal protection is a complex task that not only poses technical challenges but also involves many diverse stakeholders. Apart from human interests, the interests of animals and plants, whose habitats require preservation and enhancement, are also at stake. This paper discusses the representation of these spatio-temporal relationships and their value in participatory processes, focusing on the mapping method of Gaiagraphy. Recently developed by Alexandra Arènes, Jérôme Gaillardet and Bruno Latour, this method is based on the Gaia hypothesis proposed by Lynn Margulis and James Lovelock, and it visualizes the spatiotemporal interactions between humans, animals, plants, and even non-living things such as sand or water. We tested the potential of the method in a coastal research project during workshops with stakeholders and residents on the island of Spiekeroog and in the coastal town of Dornumersiel. It turned out that Gaiagraphy is a promising tool for communicating socio-ecological processes, yet it needs to be adapted when used in short-term participatory workshops.
Copyright (c) 2025 David Kreis, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Prominski https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Protecting and promoting health within planetary boundaries: challenges and opportunities for global governance
Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution are not just environmental crises - they are major threats to global health. Rising temperatures fuel disease outbreaks, air pollution causes millions of deaths, and degraded ecosystems threaten food and water security. Yet, global policies often fail to reflect the deep interconnection between health and the environment. This article examines how planetary boundaries and global health governance intersect, highlighting key challenges in international policy and the need for more integrated approaches at the global level.
Copyright (c) 2025 Greta Sievert https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Negotiating planetary agency of Anthropocenic health. The academic debate on satisfying the global demand for human cornea.
The global demand for corneal tissue far exceeds supply, with considerable disparities between countries that can meet their domestic needs and those lacking the necessary infrastructure. While the World Health Organization advocates for national self-sufficiency in organ and tissue donation to prevent unethical practices, debates on transnational corneal exchange have emerged, particularly among Australian clinicians and researchers. This article examines these discussions, framing them within the broader context of Anthropocenic health and planetary interdependencies. By analyzing recent academic contributions on corneal export and import, we explore how notions of agency, scarcity, and transparency shape policy and practice in eye banking. The article highlights the tensions between self-sufficiency and global solidarity, as well as the challenges posed by commodification and biopolitical governance in corneal procurement and distribution. We argue that these debates exemplify the complexities of agency in the Anthropocene.
Copyright (c) 2025 Anna-Maria Grabowski, Frank Meyer https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Planetary Health Policy? Persistence of modern concepts and pitfalls of implementation
Planetary Health and One Health as two related but also distinct answers to the planetary crisis. Both proclaim a paradigm shift towards the interrelatedness of environment and health. We detail some persistent pitfalls undermining this paradigm shift.
Copyright (c) 2025 PD Dr. Henning Füller, Prof. Dr. Iris Dzudzek, Prof. Dr. Thomas Kistemann, Dr. Timo Falkenberg https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Developing a Theoretical Framework for Climate Crisis Mitigation and Adaptation in Accra: The Role of Healthcare Professionals
The climate crisis poses significant threats to human and planetary health, resulting in increased demands for health services due to the spread of infectious diseases and the intensification of extreme weather events. However, the role of primary healthcare providers in addressing climate change in urban Ghana remains underexplored. This scoping review aims to identify how healthcare providers can serve as change agents at the climate-health nexus. Existing frameworks related to planetary health education, climate communication within healthcare, and health counselling that promote environmentally friendly behaviour were examined. Based on our findings, we developed a framework for the primary healthcare context in Ghana. This can assist educators and researchers in assessing the challenges faced by local healthcare providers in addressing climate-sensitive health threats. Future research should focus on evaluating the effectiveness of climate-sensitive health counselling among various healthcare professionals.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jaqueline Hildebrandt, Ana Maria Perez Arredondo, Thomas Kistemann, Timo Falkenberg https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Narrative Futures: Inter- and transdisciplinary perspectives on the role of narratives in sustainability transformations
Narrative futures play an important role in sustainability transformations. Whether and how narratives built around positive visions or dystopian scenarios can motivate collective action and catalyze change is a particularly important question in transdisciplinary research. We explore insights from literary studies and critical discourse theory, arguing that they can enhance our understanding of narrative futures. They offer ways to explore how narrative futures interact with broader societal discourses and political struggles, how they are constructed, and what impact they may have.
Copyright (c) 2025 Karoline Augenstein, Boris Bachmann, Jenny Künkel, Tim Lanzendörfer, Andre Schmale, Julia Shapiro https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Vital Entanglements on Planet Earth. The full significance of health to political ecology
The concept of planetary health is based in ecological research on planetary boundaries, with the objective of identifying points at which human impacts exceed the Earth's capacity. Perceiving the global biosphere as a vital system of diverse species working together to stabilise the planet’s habitability, the concept reaches its full potential when combined with the biopsychosocial model of health. A critical mode of knowledge integration for sorting the highly fragmented landscape of scientific disciplines working incrementally, is suggested with the aim of gaining political impetus for societal transformation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Klaus Geiselhart https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Planetary Health and Urban Planning: How an Ethics of Care could guide Transdisciplinary Research
The concept of Planetary Health, building on the premise that the vitality of ecosystems is fundamental to human health, entails conceptual readjustments and changes priorities in urban planning. This article considers the added value Planetary Health can contribute to urban planning contexts, highlighting its potential to serve as a means of academic decolonization, and advocates for an ethics of care as a central guide to urban planners and researchers drawing up transdisciplinary research designs.
Copyright (c) 2025 David Spenger, Leah Burgard https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Designing a successful serious game: Lessons from the ex-post analysis of Foodscape
How to design a successful serious game on sustainability? Many researchers develop serious games to communicate their science. But how many of those games have actually been played by the target users? In this article, we reflect on the design of the serious game Foodscape, using the Triadic Game Design framework to identify key success factors. We discovered that the ability to compromise in conflict situations is constructive and building mutual understanding within a team over time is necessary. In addition, technical considerations, such as choosing context-appropriate and stable technology are important. Finally, placing the user at the center of the development and communication strategy matters. Future research should formally evaluate the effects of serious games for sustainability.
Copyright (c) 2025 Alice H. Aubert, René Bauer, Nija Sonja Böckler, Isabel Jaisli, Ennio Mariani, Stefan Schmidlin, Sonja Trachsel https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Transdisciplinary Projects: Effects on and Challenges for Early-Career Researchers and the Design of the Transdisciplinary Process
Interdisciplinary collaboration is fundamental to addressing sustainability problems, such as climate change adaptation, in transdisciplinary projects. In this contribution, we, sociologists and hydrologists, reflect on effects and challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration in transdisciplinary processes for 1) early-career researchers and 2) the process design. Based on our experiences in a transdisciplinary project, we discuss career effects through interdisciplinary negotiations and method development on early career researchers. Challenges for the researchers have arisen due to disciplinary qualification regulations influencing the research modes and different paradigms of natural and social scientists. To satisfy the paradigms and involve the needs of stakeholders at the same time, methods were developed and applied that effectively supported knowledge integration. However, negotiations are time-consuming and limit time for designing the process. Overall, reflexive interdisciplinary collaboration in transdisciplinary processes offers opportunities for personal development and careers, and facilitates identifying comprehensive societal solutions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Laura Müller, Max Czymai, Prof. Dr. Petra Döll, Prof. Dr. Birgit Blättel-Mink https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
“Colleagues think: What else?“– Teachers’ personal perspectives and expectations on the realization of ESD in schools
Sustainable Development in school education is a key research area with significant political and pedagogical relevance. This work examines teachers’ perspectives as central agents in implementing “Education for Sustainable Development” (ESD), focusing on how their self-efficacy and outcome expectations influence their actions and learners' awareness. In an online survey, 299 German primary and secondary school teachers shared their perceptions of obstacles, concerns, and their school communities’ attitudes toward sustainability. Findings emphasize the importance of fostering a collaborative culture and shared values. Students' interest, influenced by parents, media, and their social environment, was identified as a decisive factor shaping teachers' beliefs. Furthermore, the reduction of structural and emotional barriers was found essential for bridging the gap between policy goals and their practical implementation. This research provides valuable insights into the challenges and realities of implementing ESD from the perspective of directly involved teachers. Our findings suggest pathways for targeted interventions and underscore the importance of interdisciplinary research, particularly regarding the long-term effects of teacher training and emotional engagement on the transformation of sustainable educational practices.
Copyright (c) 2025 Simone Wagner, Melanie V. Keller, Kerstin Schlögl-Flierl, Martin Daumiller https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Economic perspectives and expert judgments on sustainable transformations: Results of a Berlin Group Delphi
As one component of the EU project REAL DEAL the international research team conducted a Group Delphi involving experts from economics and consumer research. Group Delphi processes represent participatory formats aimed at providing a most accurate, fair and complete representation of expert judgments regarding a specific topic. During the Delphi process in Berlin 16 experts representing different schools of thought in economics were asked to assess and evaluate economic instruments and measures to implement the Green Deal objectives with a focus on transport, housing, nutrition and climate action. The results of the Delphi revealed a large diversity among the experts, in particular on the issue of state interventions into the economy. However, there was a broad consensus that subsidies that encourage non-sustainable practices were rejected, and effective carbon pricing recommended. The outcome of the Delphi was used as information for a subsequent citizen panel with randomly selected citizens.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ortwin Renn, Eileen Roth, Judith Hermann, Luca Johansen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0