ORSI held a seminar What states can do for sustainability transformations? via Zoom on 17 February 2021 at 10-12 am (Finnish time GMT +02:00). The seminar slides and recording are now published (see below).
Speakers of the webinar include professor Robyn Eckersley from the University of Melbourne, professor Max Koch from Lund University, professor Ian Gough from the London School of Economics, and professor Eeva Furman from the Finnish Environment Institute.
This event brings together distinguished scholars from different disciplines to discuss the potential role of state in sustainability transformation. What kind of states can be leading actors in sustainability transformation? What are the current obstacles of states to promote the transformation? How to change welfare states to better address the ecological crisis? What needs to change in the state, the society, and the actors on the journey towards an ecowelfare state?
Crises challenge the role of the public sector to change. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the flaws of the current system more apparent. As a global crisis it can be seen as a trial run to prepare us the tools to tackle ongoing long-term crises such as climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty, and social exclusion. During the next decade, states need to adapt to sustainable operating models demanding various systemic changes. Dysfunctional structures require updating to resilient ones.
For a long time, the main actors of the sustainability transformation have been considered to be private sectors, grassroots movements or individual consumers. The focus has been on private sector and technological innovations, or individual actors, often bypassingless focus on state institutions. However, recent research suggests a need for an active state within these different actors could work together. The state has a role orchestrating this cooperation between various actors.
This event will include short presentations and a panel discussion. The discussion is facilitated by Liisa Häikiö, professor and leader of the ORSI-research project.
The webinar is organized by the multidisciplinary research project Towards EcoWelfare State: Orchestrating for Systemic Impact (ORSI) that is funded by the Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finland.
Link to Liisa Häikiö’s presentation.
Link to Max Koch’s presentation.
Link to Eeva Furman’s presentation.
