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Environmental Innovation and Sustainability Transitions in Regional Studies

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  • Bernhard Truffer
  • Lars Coenen

Abstract

Truffer B. and Coenen L. Environmental innovation and sustainability transitions in regional studies, Regional Studies . Sustainable development and environmental innovations have received increasing attention in regional studies and the related literature. In how far sustainability concerns might also lead to fundamental transformations in technologies, industries and lifestyles (so-called sustainability transitions) has, however, found much less resonance. Sustainability transitions have been in the focus of scholars from the field of innovation studies. However, until recently, these approaches mostly disregarded spatial aspects. This paper therefore maps out a field of future research -- the geography of sustainability transitions -- that might be beneficially laboured by both traditions. The paper introduces the core concepts, but also the limitations of the transitions literature. After reviewing salient lines of sustainability-related research in regional studies, the paper specifies promising research areas at the interface between both fields. Empirical illustrations will be provided from recent work in sustainability transitions research venturing into this interface. Truffer B. and Coenen L. 区域研究中的环境创新与可持续性转型,区域研究。可持续发展与环境创新在区域研 究与相关领域正得到持续的关注。然而,对于可持续性的考量在多大程度可能导致技 术、产业以及生活方式(所谓的可持续性转型)发生根本性转变并未得到充分的研究 论证。可持续性转型虽已成为创新研究领域的关注重点,然而迄今为止,上述研究方 法都忽略了空间要素。本文在综合上述两大研究领域的基础上,勾勒了未来可能的研 究方向—可持续性转型的地理学。本文引介了转型研究中的核心概念并指出其局限性 。在回顾了《区域研究》中有关可持续性的研究后,本文明确了上述两个领域中有前 景的交叉研究领域, 并提供了目前在可持续性转型方面的实证研究。 可持续性 环境创新 转型地理学 Truffer B. et Coenen L. L'innovation �cologique et le transition à la durabilit� dans les �tudes r�gionales, Regional Studies . R�cemment, on a prêt� beaucoup plus d'attention dans les �tudes r�gionales et dans la documentation connexe au d�veloppement durable et aux innovations �cologiques. Cependant, il s'avère que le point jusqu'auquel la question de la durabilit� pourrait entraîner des transformations fondamentales de la technologie, de l'industrie et du style de vie (les soi-disant passages à la durabilit�) a fait beaucoup moins d’�cho. Les passages à la durabilit� sont dans les collimateurs des sp�cialistes des �tudes de l'innovation. Cependant, jusqu’à r�cemment, ces façons n'ont pas tenu compte pour la plupart des effets spatiaux. Cet article cherche alors à esquisser un champ de recherche future -- à savoir, la g�ographie de transitions à la durabilit� -- au profit des deux traditions. L'article introduit les notions centrales mais �galement les limites de la documentation sur les transitions. Une fois fait la critique dans regional studies du bien-fond� de la recherche, l'article pr�cise des champs de recherche prometteurs à l'interface des deux domaines. On fournit des exemples empiriques provenant du travail r�cent à propos de la recherche sur les passages à la durabilit� qui s'aventure dans cette interface. Durabilit� Innovations �cologiques G�ographie de transitions Truffer B. und Coenen L. Innovationen im Umweltbereich und Nachhaltigkeits-Transitionen in der Regionalwissenschaft, Regional Studies . In regionalwissenschaftlichen Studien und der dazugehörigen Literatur spielen nachhaltige Entwicklung und Innovationen im Umweltbereich eine immer wichtigere Rolle. Viel weniger Beachtung findet hingegen die Frage, inwiefern Bedenken hinsichtlich der Nachhaltigkeit auch zu grundlegenden Veränderungen bei den Technologien, Wirtschaftssektoren und Lebensgewohnheiten (so genannten Nachhaltigkeits-Transitionen) führen können. Für Wissenschaftler im Bereich der Innovationsstudien sind Nachhaltigkeits-Transitionen ein zentrales Thema. Allerdings wurden bei diesen Ansätzen räumliche Aspekte bis vor Kurzem größtenteils außer Acht gelassen. In diesem Beitrag wird daher ein künftiges Forschungsgebiet -- die Geografie von Nachhaltigkeits-Transitionen -- entworfen, in dem sich beide Traditionen nutzbringend betätigen könnten. Vorgestellt werden die zentralen Konzepte, aber auch die Grenzen der Tranistionsliteratur. Nach einer Überprüfung der sich abzeichnenden Linien der Nachhaltigkeitsforschung in regional studies definieren wir in diesem Beitrag vielversprechende Forschungsgebiete an der Schnittstelle zwischen den beiden Bereichen. Ebenso liefern wir empirische Illustrationen anhand der aktuellen Forschungsarbeit über Nachhaltigkeits-Transitionen, die sich im Bereich dieser Schnittstelle bewegt. Nachhaltigkeit Innovationen im Umweltbereich Geografie der Transitionen Truffer B. y Coenen L. Innovación medioambiental y transiciones de sostenibilidad en estudios regionales, Regional Studies . El desarrollo sostenible y las innovaciones medioambientales últimamente han recibido una mayor atención en los estudios regionales y la bibliograf�a relacionada. Sin embargo, ha tenido mucha menos resonancia la cuestión de en qu� medida las preocupaciones relativas a la sostenibilidad podr�an llevar tambi�n a transformaciones fundamentales en las tecnolog�as, las industrias y los estilos de vida (las denominadas transiciones de sostenibilidad). Las transiciones de sostenibilidad han sido un tema principal entre los acad�micos del campo de estudios de innovación. No obstante, hasta ahora en estos enfoques se sol�an ignorar los aspectos espaciales. Por tanto, en este art�culo analizamos un campo de futura investigación --la geograf�a de las transiciones de sostenibilidad-- en el que podr�an trabajar beneficiosamente ambas tradiciones. Aqu� introducimos los conceptos básicos pero tambi�n las limitaciones de la bibliograf�a sobre transiciones. Despu�s de revisar las l�neas destacadas de la investigación relacionada con la sostenibilidad en regional studies, en este art�culo especificamos las áreas de investigación prometedoras en la interfaz entre ambos campos. Tambi�n aportamos ilustraciones emp�ricas del trabajo reciente en la investigación sobre transiciones de sostenibilidad que explora esta interfaz. Sostenibilidad Innovaciones medioambientales Geograf�a de las transiciones

Suggested Citation

  • Bernhard Truffer & Lars Coenen, 2012. "Environmental Innovation and Sustainability Transitions in Regional Studies," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(1), pages 1-21, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:46:y:2012:i:1:p:1-21
    DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2012.646164
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    1. World Commission on Environment and Development,, 1987. "Our Common Future," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780192820808, Decembrie.
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