Unlocking Controversies in the European Circular Bioeconomy Transition

Summary

Humanity is addicted to fossil resources. To address this, European policymakers support a sustainable and circular bioeconomy. A bioeconomy uses renewable resources like crops, grass, wood, and algae to produce bioenergy, plastics, chemicals, medicines, and fertilizers. However, this transition is controversial. Critics worry about negative impacts on land use, biodiversity, environmental quality, and social justice. In this dissertation, I examine how controversies evolve throughout sustainability transitions. Based on my findings, I suggest ways for policymakers, businesses, and academics to deal with these conflicts productively. I argue that controversies are essential in sustainability transitions because they expose biases and blind spots in dominant perspectives. To unlock the innovative potential of these controversies, bioeconomy decision-makers must embrace an ongoing process of hearing critical societal input, listening to diverse perspectives, and engaging in transformative learning.