Reflections on the popularity of the circular bioeconomy concept : the ontological crisis of sustainability science
Giampietro, Mario (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)

Date:	2023
Abstract:	I argue that the popularity of the circular bioeconomy concept in policy-making is symptomatic of a profound crisis in sustainability science, which is generated by the adoption of an obsolete scientific paradigm, i. e. , obsolete ontologies used to describe our interaction with the external world. The result is a systemic lack of quality control on the science-policy interface. The growing awareness of a pending collapse of our life support systems and the rapidly changing world order would require society to rediscuss its identity. However, current mechanisms of control of the quality of the scientific input used for governance do not allow us to do so. The problem is how to detect and change obsolete scientific paradigms referring to sustainability science. I conclude that a swift move to a new scientific paradigm would require a more reflexive science and a more reflexive society.
Grants:	Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación CEX2019-000940-M Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2017/SGR-230
Note:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-M
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Bio-based economy ; Circular economy ; Ontological crisis ; Paradigm shift ; Reflexivity ; Post-normal science ; Sustainability science ; Science and society ; SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth ; SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
Published in:	Sustainability science, Vol. 18, Issue 2 (March 2023) , p. 749-754, ISSN 1862-4057

DOI: 10.1007/s11625-022-01267-z

6 p, 421.1 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles