<% Response.Redirect "http://www.wanhasatama.com/Sites1/FutureInfinite/en/Presentations/Pages/default.aspx" %> SUSTAINABLE FUTURES IN A CHANGING CLIMATE - 11-12 June 2014, Helsinki, FINLAND

 

16th Futures Conference

 

June 11-12, 2014
Wanha Satama, Helsinki, Finland


Organiser: Finland Futures Research Centre,
University of Turku

 

Topics of interest:
 
Theoretical, methodological and empirical contributions are solicited in (but not limited to) the following topics:

·         Sustainable low-carbon futures

·         Goals and objectives for sustainable development

·         Measuring sustainable development

·         Beyond conventional growth paradigms: Neo-growth, green growth and de-growth

·         Transformations, transitions & sustainability pathways

·         Eco-innovations and clean tech

·         Climate change adaptation

·         Climate change mitigation

·         Climate governance and changing north-south dynamics

·         National and regional climate policies

·         Alternative energy futures

·         Futures studies methodologies

The 16th International Conference organised by Finland Futures Research Centre will deal with the different dimensions of Sustainable Futures in a Changing Climate. The United Nations Rio +20 summit in 2012 and the commitments of governments to create universal Sustainable Development Goals have generated new and fresh debate on sustainability challenges and how to best pursue environmental sustainability with social equity. At the same time it has become globally acknowledged that sustainable development cannot be thought of without reference to climate change – and vice versa.

Sustainable development and climate change are themes which operate on local, regional and global scales and require multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral research and cooperation. Environmentally, socially and economically sustainable development as well as successful climate change adaptation and mitigation can be achieved only by encouraging knowledge sharing and cooperation between various sectors and decision-makers. The methods of futures studies include tools for describing possible, probable and desirable variations of the present and drafting possible images of the future. By looking at the variety of different possibilities, we can come closer to shaping the future – rather than predicting it. Future studies offer valuable tools to understand and shape the development of our societies.

The conference will bring together the best experts from the fields of Futures Studies, Climate Change and Sustainable Development and enhance interaction and cooperation between the scientific community, policymakers and representatives of companies. By developing images of alternative futures, the goal of the conference is to present current academic research and give new viewpoints and novel ideas to decision-makers to assist them towards more feasible decisions for sustainable development.

Key audiences:

o    Academics and researchers

o    Research and development managers

o    Representatives of governmental and municipal sectors

o    Strategic planners

Keynote speakers:

The following key note speakers have confirmed their participation:
- Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Chairman of IPCC
-
Prof. Ying Chen, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
- Prof. Joyeeta Gupta, Governance and Inclusive Development (GID), Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam
- Dr. Louis Lebel, Unit for Social and Environmental Research, Chiang Mai University
- Prof. Sohail Inayatullah, Tamkang University & University of Sunshine Coast

 
- President Tarja Halonen, co-chaired the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (to be confirmed)

 

Call for papers:

Papers will be reviewed by their abstracts (max. 200 words). Abstracts should contain the paper title, the body of the paper with author names, affiliations and contact information.

Consistent with standard practice each submitted paper will receive a minimum of three reviews. A scientific board will evaluate the abstracts.

Final papers should be original, unpublished and not more than ten single-spaced pages with minimum font size of 12 pt. Papers should be submitted in .doc, .docx or .rtf format, and should only contain the paper title and the body of the paper, with author names and affiliations. Final papers should be sent to the conference secretariat by the 5th of May, 2014.

All accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings. The organisers are negotiating a special issue in an international journal for selected papers from the conference.
 

Working groups:

The following working group proposals have been accepted by the organizers. All abstracts related on these and other topics are warmly welcome!

  1. Forests and climate change: from global trends to local landscapes
    Markku Kanninen, University of Helsinki, Finland

  2. Institutional Analysis and Energy Transitions
    Arho Toikka, University of Helsinki & Matti Kojo, University of
    Tampere, Finland

  3. North-South Research Collaborations – For Whom and For What?
    Eva Kagiri, UniPID (University of Jyväskylä) & Kajsa Ekroos, UniPID (University of Helsinki
    ), Finland

  4. Climate change and corporate actions
    Marileena Koskela, University of
    Turku, Finland

  5. Are there sustainable futures for the Arctic?
    Sofi Kurki & Sirkka Heinonen, University of Turku, Finland

  6. Climate change mitigation opportunities in rural futures
    Vilja Varho & Pasi Rikkonen, MTT Agrifood Research Finland

  7. Climate Governance in the South: Policies and Politics in Mitigation and Adaptation
    Mira Käkönen, University of Turku, Finland

  8. Urban Adaptation in a Changing Climate: Enhancing the Usefulness of Adaptation Science/Policy Linkage
    for Practice and Planning” for Sustainable Futures in a Changing Climate

    Johanna Mustelin, Griffith University, Australia & Sirkku Juhola, University of
    Helsinki, Finland
     

Important dates:

Deadline for abstracts (extended): January 16, 2014
Notification of acceptance (extended): February 28, 2014
Deadline for full papers: May 5, 2014

 

Registration fee:

Early bird registration fee: 350 €.
A reduced price will be announced for students.

 

Conference venue:

The conference will be held at Wanha Satama in Helsinki, Finland. 
 

Contact address: futuresconference2014@utu.fi

www.futureinfinite.fi