SESD, Martin 2024

What can disagreement on sustainability pathways lead to

marginalisation conflict and inaction

Why is there disagreement on sustainability pathways

different observers prioritise different values and frame problems differently

Why are sustainability pathways normative

they reflect beliefs about how humans should live in nature

What shapes sustainability pathways

values about nature and humans shape decisions

What do pathways to sustainability broadly agree on

protecting nature for future generations

What dominates global sustainability policy discourse

the green economic growth narrative

What is a key feature of sustainability pathways

different ways of valuing nature

What are the three main biodiversity conservation pathways

biocentric anthropocentric biocultural

What is a biocentric pathway

nature for itself nature protection

What is an anthropocentric pathway

nature for people green economy

What is a biocultural pathway

people and nature together earth stewardship and biocultural diversity

What is a cross cutting pathway

degrowth and post growth emphasising multiple values

What types of values does degrowth emphasise

intrinsic instrumental and relational values

What are broad values

overarching principles and goals

What are specific values

context dependent expressions of value

What is the nature protection pathway

traditional conservation focused on intrinsic value

What value does nature protection prioritise

intrinsic value of nature

What is a key ecological concern in nature protection

habitat fragmentation zoonosis and ecosystem network disruption

How is biodiversity protected in nature protection

protected areas and conservation zones

What does nature protection argue about human use of nature

only protecting useful nature is insufficient for ecosystem functioning

What is ecological justice in this pathway

caring for and protecting non human nature

How is social justice viewed in nature protection

secondary and separable from ecological concerns

What is the Half Earth proposal

half the planet should be protected for nature

What is a critique of Half Earth

it can be socially unjust and displace people

What alternative is proposed to Half Earth

land sharing and human nature coexistence

What are major drivers of biodiversity loss

land use intensification habitat fragmentation climate change invasive species over exploitation

What is the green economy pathway

integrating environmental values into economic decision making

What is the main goal of the green economy

decouple economic growth from environmental harm

What assumption does the green economy make

technological innovation enables decoupling

What tools does the green economy use

taxes subsidies cap and trade payments for ecosystem services

What are environmental externalities

unpriced environmental costs of economic activity

What does green economy focus on

nature’s instrumental value to humans

How is nature valued in the green economy

as benefits to people

What is the role of GDP in green economy

GDP does not capture nature’s value

What is the goal regarding welfare in green economy

improve human well being equity and sustainability

What is a key inequality issue in green economy

nature’s value depends on income and wealth

What is the aim regarding consumption in green economy

reduce material use while allowing non material growth

What is a key criticism of green economy

it fails to fully decouple growth from environmental damage

What is the earth stewardship and biocultural pathway

integrating cultural and ecological systems

What does biocultural mean

interface between biological and cultural systems

What is biocultural diversity

link between biodiversity and cultural diversity

What is earth stewardship

care for human and non human nature using multiple knowledge systems

What knowledge systems are integrated

traditional ecological knowledge and scientific knowledge

What is a key goal of this pathway

social and environmental justice

What is biocultural homogenisation

loss of cultural and biological diversity often through land grabbing

What is a key principle of this pathway

link conservation to local community wellbeing

What are biosphere reserves

areas that support conservation and people nature relationships

What role does education play in this pathway

it is a foundation for change

What is the degrowth pathway

political and economic movement reducing production and consumption

What does degrowth oppose

consumerism capitalism and endless growth

What is the main aim of degrowth

organised reduction of economic activity to reduce harm

How does degrowth view the economy

as a subsystem of the biosphere

What limits the economy in degrowth

ecological limits of Earth systems

What is the relationship between justice and sustainability in degrowth

they are inseparable

What does degrowth prioritise

redistribution over economic growth

What does degrowth criticise

dominance of market values and commodification of nature

What policies are associated with degrowth

work time reduction green taxes repair incentives anti planned obsolescence

What economic system change does degrowth propose

reduced globalisation and reduced capital mobility

What is a key goal of degrowth policy

alternative wellbeing indicators and reduced inequality

How do pathways differ in justice framing

nature protection ecological justice green economy utilitarian biocultural relational degrowth distributional

What is ecological justice

justice for non human nature

What is green economy justice

utilitarian human centred justice

What is biocultural justice

justice for marginalised cultures and voices

What is degrowth justice

distributional justice within ecological limits

What is value pluralism

recognition of multiple valid values of nature

Why is value pluralism important

it supports better decision making across pathways

What is an example of value pluralism in policy

Ireland Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss

What did the Ireland Citizens Assembly do

combined intrinsic instrumental and wellbeing values

What does the UN Convention on Biological Diversity recognise

intrinsic instrumental and relational values

What limits pathway coexistence

institutional constraints and decision rules

What are institutions

rules and norms shaping decision making

Why is power important in sustainability pathways

it determines which values dominate decisions

What is a key Indigenous conservation issue

land rights and resistance to exclusionary conservation

What do all pathways share in common

intergenerational justice

What is the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

global biodiversity agreement

What is Target 2 in the framework

restore degraded ecosystems by 2030

What is Target 3 in the framework

conserve and equitably manage 30 percent of land and sea by 2030

What is a concern with 30 by 30

target risk of Indigenous displacement and social injustice