Success factors and strategies for sustainability transitions of small-scale communities - Evidence from a cross-case analysis

Nigel Forrest, Arnim Wiek

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Initiatives pursuing sustainability transitions of small-scale communities offer rich learning opportunities on: to what extent they are making progress toward sustainability; what success depends on; and how success can be replicated in other communities. Yet, there is little empirical research addressing these questions. This article presents a cross-case analysis of sustainability transition initiatives in four small U.K. communities that tentatively identifies factors influencing transition outcomes as well as strategies to improve transition effectiveness. Our findings suggest a wide range of factors to be important including socio-demographics, community governance, community capacity, organization and management, resources, and mobilization. The article demonstrates how empirical studies of this nature can successively build a broad knowledge base to support effective community transition practices.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)22-40
Number of pages19
JournalEnvironmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
Volume17
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2015

Keywords

  • Case studies
  • Community based initiatives
  • Success factors
  • Sustainability appraisal
  • Sustainability transitions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Success factors and strategies for sustainability transitions of small-scale communities - Evidence from a cross-case analysis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this