Reflections on the popularity of the circular bioeconomy concept
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. Th...
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| Format: | article |
| Publication Date: | 2023 |
| Country: | España |
| Institution: | Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
| Repository: | Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB |
| Language: | English |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ddd.uab.cat:299040 |
| Online Access: | https://ddd.uab.cat/record/299040 https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1007/s11625-022-01267-z |
| Access Level: | Open access |
| Keyword: | 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 |
| Summary: | 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. |
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