The speed and intensity of global disruption are pushing us up against the wall. Technological innovation alone, and the idea of a decoupling between the intensity of human activities and their impact on the earth, will not be enough to make life compatible with planetary boundaries. Based on this observation, the researchers gathered for issue 4 of Transitions consider that a major change in production and consumption systems is unavoidable. In fact, in the very short term, such is the alarming state of affairs.
Climate, biodiversity, chemical contaminants, water resources: with their backs to the wall, the world of research and higher education is analyzing, examining and communicating possible paths to socio-ecological futures. At the crossroads of the humanities, social sciences and environmental sciences, this one-day event is an opportunity to examine the relationship between technology and politics and possible avenues for public action, and to consider the implications for society of putting transitions into practice.
