附件1：征集领域.doc

附件1 征集领域 Programme Objectives The capacity to chart a course from the knowledge of human-environment systems to the changes in policies, practices, governance, and behaviors that will sustain those systems will depend on research focused on scalable, integrated approaches and solutions that can speak to decision-makers and citizens around the world. Relevant environmental and social challenges span scales and dimensions ranging from single discipline problems on a local scale to far reaching multi-disciplinary global issues. Whilst it will be important to address research questions at a range of scales the interactions, synergies and trade-offs need to be considered in order to show overall progress towards the high level ambition. Because the agenda is complex, addressing these objectives requires a challenge led approach that depends on co-design and delivery across and between disciplines; research in sustainable development that spans different sectors, nations and cultures, recognizes the potential for trade-offs and co-benefits, and the need for whole system solutions. Engagement with stakeholder groups, end-users and local contexts will be critical to the successful identification and delivery of effective solutions. Projects are expected to frame their research around human-environment interactions, taking into consideration the different relationships and interdependencies between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)1 and how to achieve multiple benefits from integrated strategies that are adapted to meet local contexts and needs. To address this narrative, funding is provided for rapid development grants that create the opportunity for consortia, including from different disciplines, to build flexibly around the challenges. Outcomes are expected to include both new research to address gaps in knowledge as well as innovative ways of combining existing research outcomes to create transformational change. In this context, implementation research looking at barriers to and methods of promoting the systematic application of research findings in practice, including in public policy, is also in scope for this call. Although not a requirement of the call, activities which have clear benefits to multiple organizations and/or which include the development of approaches or learning that can be ‘scaled up’ or applied to other regions are strongly encouraged. Project Requirements There are a number of core requirements that projects have to follow: • Project teams must be international in composition and include funded researchers/participants (within remit and eligibility) from at least 3 of the countries represented by the funding partners. • Projects should focus on the global picture, taking into consideration both developing and developed countries. –NB this does not mean that projects have to only address issues at a global scale, studies at all scales are welcome. 1 https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/ • Projects should address challenges where the solution is likely to be achieved, or obstacles avoided, by taking into account crucial interdependencies between more than two SDGs. • Projects should be fully integrated approaches to understand the human-environment interactions involved in delivering the SDGs, bringing all appropriate disciplines to bear. Projects may address social, economic, cultural and natural systems, incorporating biophysical processes and relevant systems dynamics. • Projects should be co-designed and delivered with stakeholders critical to achieving the desired outcomes. Call Scope The SDG agenda is broad, far-reaching and its interactions are complex. Whilst recognizing that it is not possible to address all goals fully within this call, funding partners in TaSE are keen to keep the scope of the call correspondingly broad and not narrow down the research areas. Applicants are invited to identify and make the case for the most pressing challenges for environment-human interactions in addressing more than two SDGs collectively. The scope of the programme is defined within two pillars and projects are expected to address both pillars in an integrated way: 1. Understanding systems (social, economic, cultural and natural) within different local and global contexts: boundaries, vulnerabilities and critical thresholds and the potential implications for humanity of breaching these boundaries; and 2. Research to inform policy and practice interventions to address these issues and deliver sustainable development; and the implementation research that informs the intervention approach. The first area is around knowledge creation; focusing on the functioning of human environment systems and the gaps in knowledge that would need to be filled in order to meet the SDGs. The second area is on use of research, both new and existing, including in combinations across disciplines, in order to generate innovative policy and practice; how to achieve the SDGs, what can be done, where and by whom. Pillar 1: Understanding the System: Boundaries, vulnerabilities and critical thresholds There is still a fundamental need to increase insight into the social-ecological system including the roles of the environment, biodiversity and ecosystem services in delivering sustainable development and meeting the Global Goals. This includes the inherent vulnerabilities, tipping points and critical thresholds of human environment systems. Research is required into the impacts of change on, and interactions between, drivers of complex environmental-social-political-economic-cultural systems. There is a need to understand the role of societal organization, economic values, cultural values and decision making processes that govern the use and flow of resources in socio-ecological systems. Taking a perspective which takes into account the cross-cutting functions of ecosystems services, it will be important to look holistically at sets of goals, and consider the research challenges associated with such an approach and the utility this generates. It will also be important to incorporate understanding of circumstances resulting from different geographies and histories, taking into account local impacts, inequalities, knowledge and behaviour, with potential to scale from local to global as required. While not prescriptive, some examples of potential challenges under this pillar might include: • how degradation of terrestrial and freshwater systems (Goal 6) affect biodiversity, ecosystem services and human wellbeing (Goal 3), including estimating or predicting critical thresholds (Goal 15); • maintaining contributions of the environment to poverty reduction (Goal 1 and 8), health (Goal 3), sustainable agriculture and food provision (Goal 2) and energy security (Goal 7); • decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation and increased resource efficiency (Goals 8, 11 and 12); • interactions between environmental hazards (including those exacerbated through climate change), socioeconomic position, (in)equalities and community stressors (Goals 1, 5 & 10) • interactions between energy security, renewable energy sources, individual and corporate consumption patterns and resulting impacts on the environment e.g. from land use change for biofuels production (Goals 15, 7 & 9) Pillar 2: Research to inform policy and practice interventions to address these issues and deliver sustainable development, and the implementation research that informs the intervention approach If research and innovation into management of environment-human interactions is to deliver the changes required to meet the SDGs then it has to be developed and delivered in collaboration with the critical stakeholders responsible for implementing those changes. Researchers should therefore not work in isolation and need to develop close links with policymakers, businesses and NGOs, as well as local communities who can provide extensive grass roots knowledge and experience. Working with these groups researchers need to go beyond offering expert advice to jointly identify problems and deliver solutions relevant to specific scales and contexts. We need to understand who these key actors are, where the levers and influencers lie and how they can be engaged. However, solutions will not be achieved by new knowledge and data alone, there is a requirement to develop compelling arguments to support implementation of the social, political and economic transformations required; arguments which speak to the key actors who can effect change. Which technical and policy innovations have the greatest potential and how can interventions be designed and implemented to meet multiple needs (e.g. individual, societal, sectoral, cultural, and environmental) and enable multiple SDGs to be achieved? To implement these interventions successfully also requires also clarity on the consequences and collateral impacts, both positive and negative, of delivery. A research based approach will help to inform appropriate implementation routes. While not prescriptive, some potential examples of challenges in this area might include: • Agricultural policy incentives to decrease exposure and vulnerability of agricultural systems to droughts and floods, whilst considering the needs and impacts on the communities and populations that depend on them (Goals 2, 13 & 15); • Infrastructure and policy interventions to reduce water use in energy production whilst delivering energy security and affordability (Goal 6, 7 and 13) ; • Adaptive planning regulatory regimes which account for varying land-use and societal characteristics across regions and nations reducing inequalities, enhancing well-being and reducing environmental degradation (Goals 3, 9, 10, 11, & 15) • Interventions to marry economic growth with enhancement of the quality of natural resources and ecosystem services (including water, air, soil) (Goals 6, 12, 14 & 15) • The development/identification of inclusive ‘grass roots’ community or education initiatives to inform, promote and maintain responsible consumption/production practices at local or regional scales (Goals 4, 5, 10 & 11).