The report “Transformative Change for a Sustainable Future” , published by the European Research Council (ERC), highlights more than 300 funded projects that seek to address the global challenges arising from climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, among other issues. This research underlines the need for transformative changes in economic, social and political systems to enable a sustainable and just transition. The ERC stresses the importance of adopting interdisciplinary approaches that combine scientific and local knowledge, in order to overcome existing barriers and identify key points that facilitate progress towards more equitable and resilient societies. It also emphasizes the role of social sciences and humanities in ensuring that these transformations are inclusive and respect cultural diversity.
The projects highlighted in the report cover topics ranging from new economic models to sustainable solutions in energy, natural resources and urban infrastructure. The ERC also emphasizes the urgency of considering the social impacts of green transition policies, especially on vulnerable communities, ensuring that these initiatives contribute to intergenerational and global justice. Furthermore, the results of this research offer practical recommendations for policymakers, helping to design and implement actions that combine mitigation and adaptation to environmental challenges.
In this context, researcher Mario Pansera (UVIGO-CISPAC) leads the ERC-funded Prospera project, which explores post-growth economic paradigms and promotes sustainable innovation models. Pansera’s work highlights the need to reorient the economy towards human and environmental well-being, overcoming the traditional logic based on unlimited growth. The report itself contains the researcher’s words, which state:
“There is an obsession with innovation and technological development. In reality, we are innovative perhaps 1% of our time, while the remaining 99% of our time we spend on caring and maintenance. However, society does not value maintaining and caring enough. That is why we need science-technology policies focused more on maintenance”.
Mario Pansera, Transformative change for a sustainable future, p. 135
Analyzing the role of research in the sustainable transition, the report concludes that transformative changes are complex and require a combination of technological, cultural and political approaches. The creation of collaborative networks between different disciplines and social actors appears as one of the keys to fostering innovative and lasting solutions.
You can find more information about the Prospera project at the following link , as well as download the full report below.
