Structuring and advancing solution-oriented research for sustainability : This article belongs to Ambio's 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Solutions-oriented research

Daniel J Lang; Arnim Wiek

doi:10.1007/s13280-021-01537-7

Structuring and advancing solution-oriented research for sustainability : This article belongs to Ambio's 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Solutions-oriented research

Ambio. 2022 Jan;51(1):31-35. doi: 10.1007/s13280-021-01537-7. Epub 2021 Mar 14.

Authors

Daniel J Lang^{1

2}, Arnim Wiek^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21339, Lüneburg, Germany. daniel.lang@leuphana.de.
² Center for Global Sustainability and Cultural Transformation, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany. daniel.lang@leuphana.de.
³ Center for Global Sustainability and Cultural Transformation, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
⁴ School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.

Abstract

The sustainability challenges the world faces today call for concerted and immediate action. Complementing problem-oriented, descriptive-analytical research with solution-oriented research could strengthen sustainability science's contribution to address these challenges. We introduce different types of solution-oriented sustainability research to structure the discourse, outline opportunities to advance this research trajectory, and close with recommendations on how to support particularly students and early career researchers in getting involved with solution-oriented sustainability research.

Keywords: Connection of research efforts; Cross-case comparisson; Enabling actions; Leverage points; Opportunities for advancement; Typology.

MeSH terms

Anniversaries and Special Events*
Environmental Monitoring*
Humans