KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS

Transcription

1 KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS

2 Ecosocial innovations promoting sustainable communities Aila-Leena Matthies, with Tuuli Hirvilammi, Ingo Stamm, Kati Närhi, University of Jyväskylä, Finland ERASMUS- teaching at HIG, Gävle, Sweden KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS

3 Content of the lecture Reseach project as background Definition of ecosocial innovations updating the concept of sustainable communities Cases of ESI Main analysis of ESI Promotion of sustainable communities discussion KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS

4 Starting point theses of the ECOSOS research project (Matthies, 2014) The individual and collective solutions created by and with people at the margins of the main stream economy are worth investigation as potential sustainable models towards sustainable societies. Since Social Work has the aim to fight poverty, it is predestined to support such sources of income and livelihood, which are not based on further exploitation of the natural resources of current and future generations. (Global Agenda of Social Work; Silvia Staub-Bernasconi) Short discussion? KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS

5 ECOSOS research project Funded by the Academy of Finland Research team: Aila-Leena Matthies, Kati Närhi, Tuuli Hirvilammi, Ingo Stamm Research questions: What kind of ecosocial innovations (ESI) there exist in Europe? How social workers can support ESI as a perspective for people in marginalised labour market positions? How systems of social income security promote or hinder ESIs? In this presentation: How the ESIs can promote sustainable communities? - Expecting your comments! KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS

6 ECOSOCIAL INNOVATIONS Interlinking: Social innovations with a clear ecological approach Beyond Market: Cooperatives, associations, projects in the field of social / solidarity economy Supporting transition to sustainability: Creating novel and alternative practices for livelihood, work and participation KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS

7 Sustainability the radical version Interlinking and balancing social, environmental and economic sustainability (Brundtland Commission) Apply /develop a regenerative economy serving the human needs of communities in the given ceiling of the Earth (Raworth) = the Economy must change! No green-washing or lips-serving sustainability to maintain the current status or to promote economic growth KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS

8 Scenarios of Transition to Sustainable Society (Hopkins 2008; Fischer-Kovalski 2014) No policy change Conventional environmentalism The Transformative approach AIMS Defending the status quo Greener growth by market instruments Smart, lean and fair holistic societal change in economic de-growth MEANS & TOOLS Business as usual - mode Emission trading, lobbying, ICT, recycling Eco-tax reform from labor to resources, upcycling OUTPUTS Current level consumption/ production defended Investments in green production/ consumer choice and price policy Changed policies of food, work, mobility, housing, welfare etc. to less resource intensive NORMS Partial application of existing sustainability Correct price seeking, carbon footprint, lifespan of products Global justice, holistic wellbeing, resilience indicators DRIVING FORCE No effective control measurements no pressure Individual choice Collective, community based participation, glocal

9 Empirical Research Mapping by snowball method in 5 countries: - Germany/Berlin, Belgium/Leuven, Italy/South Tyrol, UK/Durham, and Finland => 48 ESI 6 Case studies, including semi-structured interviews, documents, self-descriptions, field visit documentation ESIs typically: local projects applying recycling and upcycling, community gardening and social restaurants, social economy models for employment, services and spaces for creative community actions, with the purpose of participation, inclusion and community building

10 VELO in Leuven, Belgium VELO in Leuven, Belgium

11 Est Social economy Alternative mobility & support for young unemployed people

12 VINTERRA in Mals, South Tyrol, Italy dgdg 12

13 Est Social cooperative Organic agriculture & workers with mental impairments 13

14 in Berlin, Germany 14

15 Est Community association Re-use, arts & education 15

16 Hirvitalo Center of Contemporary Art Pispala (since 2006) Aims at enriching local cultural activities Provides an open space with exhibitions, social kitchen, events, gardening, sauna etc. Mainly based on voluntary activism 1-2 unemployed work trainers (6 months periods)

17 Oma maa An organic food co-operative (since 2013) Follows the ideas of Community supported agriculture Aims at transforming food production system Producers and food members, mainly based on voluntary work 1-3 paid gardeners during the summer months

18 Lapinlahden lähde An open space for holistic wellbeing and cultural events managed by the Association of Mental Health in Finland (since 2014) Vegetarian lunch café, gallery space, sauna, events, upcycling shop etc. Aims at provide meaningful work especially for young people Workers paid by the project funding, subsidized work, work trainers, rehabilitation 18

19 Discussion break: YOUR CASES? KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS

20 What enables ecosocial, innovative, sustainable work in ESI Established as organisations - from informal to formal Diversity of activities in one project Strong local and national networking with other movements and groups Focusing on essential issues of life: food and livelihood, work, wellbeing, mobility Established relationships keep the innovations running KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS

21 Challenges what hinders the work of ESIs Insufficient financial resources The labour market and social security regulations the current narrow conception of economy and work Instability of conditions of space, rent and staff Unclear internal structures ESIs challenge the main stream society and its economy KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS

22 Contribution to sustainable communities by ESIs? Community organising ESI are communities as such, doing together, solving issues together Create communicative space Established in local communities Networked with other communities Sustainability Combine social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable development Based on re-use of natural resources or organic cultivation Develop new livelihood not based on further exploitation of nature and human communities KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS

23 Conclusions To achieve a transition towards sustainable communities and societies, the people have to change the economy! To change the economy, alternative concepts working in practice are needed => ESIs are worth investigation The knowledge provided by ESIs at the local community level (nisches) has to be up-scaled to the regime level and to get connected with the further landscapes for sustainability (Multilevel perspective theory, MLP, Geels 2011) Social Work needs these models and the encouragement to collaborate, support, initiate <= SW as part of the regime level Otherwise SW: not a solution for communities in global and local poverty, but SW remains part of the problem KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS

24 References Stamm, Hirvilammi, Matthies & Närhi (2017) Ecosocial Innovations as part of social and solidarity economy: Local models for a sustainable development. RISUS - Journal on Innovation and Sustainability, 8 (4), Geels, Frank W. (2011) The multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions: Responses to seven criticisms. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 1 (2011) KOKKOLAN YLIOPISTOKESKUS CHYDENIUS