CALL FOR PAPERS > Sustainability Transitions, Climate Action & Organizational Responsibility

Theme:
Sustainability Transitions, Climate Action & Organizational Responsibility 

Conveners: 
Nadine Arnold, University of Lucerne
Cristina Besio, Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg
Kurt Rachlitz, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Sustainability transitions — or even the broader shift toward a post-growth society — are idealized aims that are widely discussed in the media, educational contexts, and public as well as political debates (Adloff/Neckel 2019; Dörre 2021). Organizations, including companies, NGOs, and public administrations, play a fundamental role in shaping sustainable practices, structures, and norms (Besio et al. 2022; Delbridge et al. 2024). In doing so, they must navigate the diverse expectations and interests of various groups (Besio/Meyer 2022). While organizations may drive innovation and promote new solutions, they can also act as barriers to transformative change. However, it is undisputed that their decisions and actions impact not only the organization itself but also its wider environment and external actors, depending on its position within society. These impacts often include unintended and potentially undesirable consequences at political, economic, and social levels, with organizational activities reducing and/or reinforcing inequalities – for example between countries, as well as differences between social groups characterized by income, age and gender. This aspect is often referred to as the social dimension of sustainability. We call for papers that examine and explain the extent to which organizations involved in sustainability transformation influence their natural and social environments, and how they do — or do not — take responsibility for environmental and social justice.

Submission Deadline: November 10, 2025

Abstract submission HERE