IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jchals/v14y2023i1p5-d1031862.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Education for Sustainability: Understanding Processes of Change across Individual, Collective, and System Levels

Author

Listed:
  • Elin Pöllänen

    (Center for Social Sustainability, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
    Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Walter Osika

    (Center for Social Sustainability, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
    Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Eva Bojner Horwitz

    (Center for Social Sustainability, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
    Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
    Department of Music, Pedagogy and Society, Royal College of Music, 11591 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Christine Wamsler

    (Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS), Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden)

Abstract

Researchers and practitioners increasingly emphasise the need to complement dominant external, technological approaches with an internal focus to support transformation toward sustainability. However, knowledge on how this internal human dimension can support transformation across individual, collective, and systems levels is limited. Our study addresses this gap. We examined the narratives of participants in the sustainability course “One Year in Transition”, using micro-phenomenology and thematic analysis. Our results shed light on the dynamics of inner–outer change and action and the necessary capacities to support them. This related to changes regarding participants’ perspectives, which became more relational and interconnected. We also showed that participants increasingly seek an inner space that provides direction and freedom to act. The data suggested that this, over time, leads to increasing internalisation, and the embodiment of a personal identity as a courageous and principled change agent for sustainability. Our results complement extant quantitative research in the field by offering a nuanced picture of the entangled nature of inner–outer transformation processes and associated influencing factors. In addition, they point towards ways in which inner dimensions can be leveraged to achieve change, thus filling existing knowledge gaps for reaching sustainability and associated goals across all levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Elin Pöllänen & Walter Osika & Eva Bojner Horwitz & Christine Wamsler, 2023. "Education for Sustainability: Understanding Processes of Change across Individual, Collective, and System Levels," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:14:y:2023:i:1:p:5-:d:1031862
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/14/1/5/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/14/1/5/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. W. Neil Adger & Jon Barnett & Katrina Brown & Nadine Marshall & Karen O'Brien, 2013. "Cultural dimensions of climate change impacts and adaptation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(2), pages 112-117, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Susan L. Prescott, 2023. "Planetary Health Requires Tapestry Thinking—Overcoming Silo Mentality," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-6, February.
    2. John Zelenski & Sara Warber & Jake M. Robinson & Alan C. Logan & Susan L. Prescott, 2023. "Nature Connection: Providing a Pathway from Personal to Planetary Health," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-23, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Heather McMillen & Lindsay K. Campbell & Erika S. Svendsen & Renae Reynolds, 2016. "Recognizing Stewardship Practices as Indicators of Social Resilience: In Living Memorials and in a Community Garden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-26, August.
    2. Jeetendra Prakash Aryal & Tek B. Sapkota & Ritika Khurana & Arun Khatri-Chhetri & Dil Bahadur Rahut & M. L. Jat, 2020. "Climate change and agriculture in South Asia: adaptation options in smallholder production systems," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 5045-5075, August.
    3. Caviedes, Julián & Ibarra, José Tomás & Calvet-Mir, Laura & Álvarez-Fernández, Santiago & Junqueira, André Braga, 2024. "Indigenous and local knowledge on social-ecological changes is positively associated with livelihood resilience in a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    4. Iwowari Beatrice Dute, 2020. "The Influence of Cross-Cultural Language and Background on Climate Change Perception – An Empirical Investigation," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 7(9), pages 50-55, September.
    5. Koteswara Rao Kodirekkala, 2018. "Cultural adaptation to climate change among indigenous people of South India," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 147(1), pages 299-312, March.
    6. Ryan S. Naylor & Carter A. Hunt & Karl S. Zimmerer & B. Derrick Taff, 2021. "Emic Views of Community Resilience and Coastal Tourism Development," Societies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, August.
    7. Daniela Salite, 2019. "Explaining the uncertainty: understanding small-scale farmers’ cultural beliefs and reasoning of drought causes in Gaza Province, Southern Mozambique," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 36(3), pages 427-441, September.
    8. Gül Aktürk & Martha Lerski, 2021. "Intangible cultural heritage: a benefit to climate-displaced and host communities," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 11(3), pages 305-315, September.
    9. Graham, Sonia & Barnett, Jon & Mortreux, Colette & Hurlimann, Anna & Fincher, Ruth, 2018. "Local values and fairness in climate change adaptation: Insights from marginal rural Australian communities," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 332-343.
    10. You Xuemin & Rafeah Legino & Pan Xiao & Mohd Fuad Md Arif & Wang Ling, 2024. "Sustainable Production Strategies: Incorporating Internet Celebrity Aspects into Yingjing Black Sand Craft Design," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(8), pages 4575-4586, August.
    11. Nadzirah Hosen & Hitoshi Nakamura & Amran Hamzah, 2020. "Adaptation to Climate Change: Does Traditional Ecological Knowledge Hold the Key?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
    12. Nicholas A Cradock-Henry & Joanna Fountain & Franca Buelow, 2018. "Transformations for Resilient Rural Futures: The Case of Kaikōura, Aotearoa-New Zealand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-19, June.
    13. Digby Race & Supriya Mathew & Matthew Campbell & Karl Hampton, 2016. "Understanding climate adaptation investments for communities living in desert Australia: experiences of indigenous communities," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 461-475, December.
    14. Katherine E. Bishop-Williams & Lea Berrang-Ford & Jan M. Sargeant & David L. Pearl & Shuaib Lwasa & Didacus Bambaiha Namanya & Victoria L. Edge & Ashlee Cunsolo & IHACC Research Team & Bwindi Communit, 2018. "Understanding Weather and Hospital Admissions Patterns to Inform Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in the Healthcare Sector in Uganda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-14, October.
    15. Jianchu Xu & R. Grumbine, 2014. "Integrating local hybrid knowledge and state support for climate change adaptation in the Asian Highlands," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 124(1), pages 93-104, May.
    16. Alexandra Sawatzky & Ashlee Cunsolo & Andria Jones-Bitton & Dan Gillis & Michele Wood & Charlie Flowers & Inez Shiwak & Sherilee L. Harper, 2020. "“The best scientists are the people that’s out there”: Inuit-led integrated environment and health monitoring to respond to climate change in the Circumpolar North," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 160(1), pages 45-66, May.
    17. Wang, Weijun & Zhao, Xueyan & Cao, Jianjun & Li, Hua & Zhang, Qin, 2020. "Barriers and requirements to climate change adaptation of mountainous rural communities in developing countries: The case of the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    18. Robert Inkpen & Brian Baily, 2020. "Environmental beliefs and their role in environmental behaviours of undergraduate students," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 10(1), pages 57-67, March.
    19. Xiao, Xiao & Seekamp, Erin & van der Burg, Max Post & Eaton, Mitchell & Fatorić, Sandra & McCreary, Allie, 2019. "Optimizing historic preservation under climate change: Decision support for cultural resource adaptation planning in national parks," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 379-389.
    20. Elise Talgorn & Helle Ullerup, 2023. "Invoking ‘Empathy for the Planet’ through Participatory Ecological Storytelling: From Human-Centered to Planet-Centered Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-31, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:14:y:2023:i:1:p:5-:d:1031862. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.