Where's the data? Challenges in characterizing the sustainability of socioecological systems
Boucher, Jean Léon (The James Hutton Institute)
Alfonso-Bécares, Diana (Institut Metròpoli)
Larrabeiti-Rodríguez, J. J. (Universidad de Andorra)
Marcos-Valls, Alejandro (Universitat de Barcelona)
Parra Jácome, Rony Mauricio (Universidad Central del Ecuador. Instituto de Investigaciones Hidrocarburíferas)
Ripa, Maddalena (Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale)
Taghdisian, Alireza (McGill University. Department of Bioresource Engineering)
Velasco-Fernández, Raúl (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Matthews, Keith (The James Hutton Institute)

Data:	2025
Resum:	In an era of great need regarding nexus-type research and assessments, this study investigates the challenges of missing data encountered by ten (N = 10) societal metabolism scholars who use MuSIASEM (Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism)-a rigorous nexus-type research method. We explore how these scholars tried to overcome data challenges, their reflections on data availability, and how governments and other institutions might benefit if they had the missing data the scholars sought. Additionally, the study delves into the scholars' interpretations of why the data is missing in the first place. Using a grounded approach, this qualitative study examines interview texts and reveals a range of issues that scholars faced, including an excess of aggregated data-a lack of disaggregated data-problems with data categorization, and other issues. On the whole, respondents' reflections align with the foundational arguments of MuSIASEM's developers, suggesting that more comprehensive, granular, and therefore effective approaches are needed to address socioecological challenges, sustainability issues, and net-zero goals. Respondents also noted that much of the missing data could be attributed to a dominance of economic logics and conceptual frames that often obfuscate the material and biophysical foundations of those economic systems themselves. This study advocates for revisiting and enhancing those conceptual frameworks that shape "what data is collected" and how it is made available in order to enhance analyses and broaden collective deliberations toward more informed sustainability and related policy decisions.
Ajuts:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación CEX2024-001506-M European Commission 101071647
Nota:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-M
Drets:	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.
Llengua:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Matèria:	Data availability ; Missing data ; Socioecological challenges ; Societal metabolism ; Sustainability ; SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
Publicat a:	Sustainability Nexus Forum, Vol. 33, Issue 1 (December 2025) , art. 15, ISSN 2948-1627

DOI: 10.1007/s00550-025-00571-3

18 p, 1.2 MB

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