Navigating causal reasoning in sustainability science

Area of Science:

• Sustainability Science
• Environmental Studies
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Sustainability scientists use disciplinary cause-effect assumptions, which are often implicit.
• Unacknowledged differences in causal reasoning hinder complex sustainability problem-solving.
• Explicitly understanding causal reasoning is crucial for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To articulate when and how researchers engage in causal reasoning within the research process.
• To discuss common ideas about causation that guide sustainability research.
• To provide guidance for making causal assumptions transparent and interpreting diverse approaches.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of causal reasoning in sustainability science.
• Identification and categorization of common causal assumptions.
• Framework development for understanding and navigating diverse causal reasoning.

Main Results:

• Researchers engage in causal reasoning throughout the research process, influenced by disciplinary paradigms.
• Four prevalent conceptualizations of causation shape sustainability research.
• Lack of transparency in causal assumptions limits interdisciplinary understanding.

Conclusions:

• Making causal reasoning explicit enhances transparency and facilitates cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Understanding diverse causal approaches is essential for evaluating sustainability claims and solutions.
• This work supports more effective and integrated approaches to sustainability challenges.