You may rightly ask if we really need another research network. Do we even need more research? The initiation of this network was coupled with the conviction that the world already had enough scientific knowledge to ignite sustainable change. What is missing is putting it in use. Other priorities often continue to rule, however, and most research, just like human activity in general, is based on concerns and aims other than sustainable change, or is even against such change.
Even policies and activities under sustainability labels are often problematic, as they tend to be add-ons to priorities and practices which in their essence are both environmentally destructive and unjust in terms of the distribution of costs and benefits. While this kind of weak sustainability is still to be preferred over vigorous destructive forces such as Bolsonaro and Trump, it might also be a more realistic target for a radical research-based dialogue.
Research and research-based activities are not least needed in order to expose the rift between mainstream sustainability policies and the need for change. More environmentally realistic and ethically inclusive voices are also needed within the research community, to promote paradigmatic changes within scientific disciplines, and radical researchers need to be involved in various activities in society, developing visions and new practices for sustainable well-being.
The world with its inhabitants are in dire need of sustainable change, a change that must go much further and deeper than present ambitions in the mainstream social and economic landscape. Such change must also build alternatives to many of our dominant perspectives and theories within science. Obvious examples are alternatives to economic growth as measure of progress and alternatives to the instrumental view normally adopted towards nature.
Jeremy Leggett once argued that we have been partners in crime since the first IPCC report, and while we can discuss the “we” in such a claim, it is a relevant description of most of the educated wealthy elite of the world, its policymakers and corporate executives, as well as us in the research community. How to change this? The proof will be in the pudding: The forms and details are up to us, to what happens with the network as a facilitator of the exchange of ideas and activities that promotes sustainable change.
With this introduction, we welcome the present and future members to use this emerging platform in support of sustainable change. At this moment, we particularly ask you to initiate action and share it with us in the event calendar and in this blog. These actions can include, but are not limited to, organising working groups and seminars; editing special issues and books; publishing guest editorials, scientific articles, chapters, and other texts; communicating outside the network about the network; attracting new members and arousing interest in relevant parties; and participating in direct action.
Please inform the Steering Committee via email suchresearch.net@gmail.com so that we can add your initiatives on the SUCH webpage, and thus inspire others to engage in sustainable change. The time is now.
Too warm regards
Karl and Pasi