TY - JOUR
T1 - Inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to population-environment research for sustainability aims
T2 - A review and appraisal
AU - Hummel, Diana
AU - Adamo, Susana
AU - de Sherbinin, Alex
AU - Murphy, Laura
AU - Aggarwal, Rimjhim
AU - Zulu, Leo
AU - Liu, Jianguo
AU - Knight, Kyle
N1 - Funding Information:
In this paper, we refer to the background paper of this seminar (Hummel et al. 2009), the expert statements of the invited panelists (Aggarwal 2009; Knight 2009; Liu 2009; Murphy 2009a, b; Zulu 2009) as well as individual contributions of other participants of the cyberseminar to the discussion. The full discussion of the cyberseminar including the several panel contributions is documented at http://www.populationenvironmentresearch.org/seminars022009.jsp. We wish to acknowledge IUSSP and IHDP as co-sponsors of PERN and the support of the Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE) for the support of this seminar and CIESIN’s SEDAC project for hosting the network.
PY - 2013/6
Y1 - 2013/6
N2 - The causes and consequences of demographic changes for the environment, and the possible ways of influencing population dynamics to achieve 'sustainability', have been the subject of many debates in science and policy in recent decades. However, the body of knowledge concerning relationships between population dynamics and sustainability is quite fragmented, dispersed over many disciplines, and encompasses diverse theories, paradigms and methodologies. This paper reviews four selected frameworks: linear, multiplicative, mediated, and system-theoretical approaches and perspectives. We represent how population-environment relationships are conceptualized, provide examples of research questions and accepted approaches, and critically assess their utility for different sorts of research for sustainable development. We note the growing recognition of the value of embracing complexity in population-environment research, and how this is consistent with normative aims of development.
AB - The causes and consequences of demographic changes for the environment, and the possible ways of influencing population dynamics to achieve 'sustainability', have been the subject of many debates in science and policy in recent decades. However, the body of knowledge concerning relationships between population dynamics and sustainability is quite fragmented, dispersed over many disciplines, and encompasses diverse theories, paradigms and methodologies. This paper reviews four selected frameworks: linear, multiplicative, mediated, and system-theoretical approaches and perspectives. We represent how population-environment relationships are conceptualized, provide examples of research questions and accepted approaches, and critically assess their utility for different sorts of research for sustainable development. We note the growing recognition of the value of embracing complexity in population-environment research, and how this is consistent with normative aims of development.
KW - Methodology
KW - Political ecology
KW - Population-environment theory
KW - STIRPAT
KW - Social-ecological systems
KW - Sustainable development
KW - Sustainable livelihoods approach
KW - Transdisciplinarity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84877629769&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84877629769&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11111-012-0176-2
DO - 10.1007/s11111-012-0176-2
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84877629769
SN - 0199-0039
VL - 34
SP - 481
EP - 509
JO - Population and Environment
JF - Population and Environment
IS - 4
ER -