Welcome to the third release in our series Discover DUST, where we spotlight each of the partners in the project and share their roles and interests in Democratising Just Sustainability Transitions! Today, we introduce another key partner in the project: Nordregio
Founded in 1997, Nordregio (www.nordregio.org) stands as a prominent international Nordic research institute specialising in regional studies. One of Nordregio's primary missions is to actively contribute to the formulation of sustainable regional policies, fostering growth across Nordic countries. The institute conducts both quantitative and qualitative analyses in multiple locations and at multiple scales. Nordregio's key areas of focus include; sustainable regional development, urban and rural system dynamics, demography, effective governance with democratic participation, gender dynamics, innovation, knowledge dissemination, sustainability transitions, green growth, global energy policy, challenges of global climate change, and local adaptation.
In the DUST project, Nordregio is responsible for the implementation of the UNESCO futures literacy labs. The objective of the labs is to give citizens the opportunity to reframe future developments via new anticipatory assumptions and questions of justice in sustainability transitions. Participants will discuss alternative future scenarios for transitions, which will inform regional designs and forecast the impact of ongoing and upcoming sustainability transition measures. Through this method the project elevates the voices of less heard communities and empowers them to consider their own future development.
Recognizing design and decision-making processes as vibrant conversations is of paramount importance. Within these discussions, a diverse array of knowledge combines to steer societal change. An essential element in this involves unravelling and addressing many different and intertwined perceptions, illuminating the array of choices and perspectives that co-exist. This may require individuals to venture beyond their comfort zones! Rather than revolving around the most likely outcomes of change, this method shifts the focus to what is desired and what is plausible. The result could yield a future that is not only more luminous but also that encompasses inclusivity and benefits everyone involved.
To propel our societies toward envisioning alternative futures and constructing fresh policy landscapes, we must cultivate future-oriented literacies. This means nurturing the capacity of individuals and communities to think of new possibilities, a process advanced through the expansion of collective intelligence.
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