Work

Environmental Conflicts and Social Innovation on the Balearic Islands (Spain)

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: New environmental conflicts arise all the time as a consequence of the industrial economy and economic growth. The search for new energy and new materials jeopardizes the margin to promote sustainable development in many local communities. In this paper, we examine a conflict related to hydrocarbons projects in the Balearic Sea (Spain) from the social innovation perspective. This novel approach allows us to focus on how socially innovative responses can be triggered by environmental threats. A set of mixed methods (qualitative analysis and social network analysis) are implemented to study the emergence and development of Alianza Mar Blava in Ibiza–Formentera. This is an initiative that successfully activates new social relations and new collective practices that contribute to transform the environmental conflict. In this study, we highlight the strategic factors that allow the conflict to be transformed as well as other social processes that ultimately promote local sustainable development beyond the conflict.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su14094994

Author: Néstor Vercher

Institution: Universitat de València

Language: English

Topic: Social Sciences and Governance

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Responsible consumption and production, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,094