Environmental governance in turbulent times:

challenges and crossroads in the twenty-first century

Abstract

We are going through times of ecological crisis, inequality crisis, but also a crisis of confidence in government, politics and science. In this context, today’s societies are challenged to move towards a sustainable transition, by building a more just and egalitarian coexistence model in the region. Various academic circles, centers of strategic analysis and development, as well as political activists, have argued in favor of transforming governance models, the social contract, as well as the interactions within and between society, economy and government, based on new values and imaginaries which would enable to move from a market society to more sustainable alternatives, towards greater social equity and well-being. Reflecting on new governance models is therefore a global challenge which, in this regional context, focuses on sustainable transition processes. This article explores conceptual framings on environmental governance and possible virtuous interactions between the various contributions and approaches, in order to robustly incorporate political dynamics into change processes.