TY - JOUR
T1 - Act global, think local? Local perspectives towards environmental sustainability in semi-rural communities of Alberta, Canada
AU - Venneman, Breana
AU - Kriechbaum, Michael
AU - Brudermann, Thomas
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge the financial support by the University of Graz.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Despite the increasing popularity of the notion of sustainability, there have been global challenges in effectively addressing environmental problems. One of the key strengths of the sustainability concept is its ability to coordinate and unite otherwise contending groups. Because of this bridging function, however, the concept remains necessarily ambiguous, which can obscure existing inconsistencies and tensions and thereby block the successful translation into concrete policy action. In this study, we analyse how environmental sustainability is understood within semi-rural communities in the Canadian province Alberta, which exhibits a heavy economic reliance on fossil fuels and a strong conservative voter base. By carrying out a Q-method study in two characteristic towns, we were able to identify three competing sustainability perspectives: ‘Radical transition towards a post-fossil society’, ‘Maintaining the Albertan way of life’, and ‘Technological innovation and growth’. The study findings emphasize the embeddedness of sustainability framings in the cultural and socioeconomic context. Furthermore, the uncovered perspectives not only reveal conflicting viewpoints, but also areas of consensus as well as points which could be considered as neutral. It is argued that policy action should acknowledge both the place-specific nature as well as the nuance and complexity of environmental discourses to be effective.
AB - Despite the increasing popularity of the notion of sustainability, there have been global challenges in effectively addressing environmental problems. One of the key strengths of the sustainability concept is its ability to coordinate and unite otherwise contending groups. Because of this bridging function, however, the concept remains necessarily ambiguous, which can obscure existing inconsistencies and tensions and thereby block the successful translation into concrete policy action. In this study, we analyse how environmental sustainability is understood within semi-rural communities in the Canadian province Alberta, which exhibits a heavy economic reliance on fossil fuels and a strong conservative voter base. By carrying out a Q-method study in two characteristic towns, we were able to identify three competing sustainability perspectives: ‘Radical transition towards a post-fossil society’, ‘Maintaining the Albertan way of life’, and ‘Technological innovation and growth’. The study findings emphasize the embeddedness of sustainability framings in the cultural and socioeconomic context. Furthermore, the uncovered perspectives not only reveal conflicting viewpoints, but also areas of consensus as well as points which could be considered as neutral. It is argued that policy action should acknowledge both the place-specific nature as well as the nuance and complexity of environmental discourses to be effective.
KW - Environmental discourses
KW - Environmental policy
KW - Subjectivity
KW - Sustainability narratives
KW - Sustainability transitions
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130173231&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/1523908X.2022.2073206
DO - 10.1080/1523908X.2022.2073206
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85130173231
SN - 1523-908X
VL - 24
SP - 839
EP - 851
JO - Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning
JF - Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning
IS - 6
M1 - 6
ER -