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Our latest updates, thoughts, and events — as they roll out.
Demos Helsinki is currently involved in 14 Horizon Europe projects. From exploring the societal impacts of new technologies to tackling climate challenges, these projects reflect a growing demand for research that sparks systemic change. Discover how we are working across disciplines to shape fairer, more sustainable futures.
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These three research projects are: 1) Reducing polarisation via material participation (MaDem); 2) Coastal waters under pressure – safeguarding a healthy Gulf of Finland in a changing geopolitical and environmental landscape (CoWup); and 3) Safe Water for All (WaterFall).
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We are pleased to announce that the UNDP’s Istanbul Innovation Days (IID), taking place in March 2025, will focus on shaping the next generation of public institutions for a secure and prosperous world.
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While substantial efforts have been made to identify and address issues of environmental justice in urban areas, the question of how to consider and plan for the concerns of humans and other species remains a major challenge. This paper provides a conceptualisation of what ‘justice’ might mean from a multispecies justice (MSJ) perspective within the contexts of nature-based solutions (NBS) and urban sustainability planning. We offer a wider conceptualisation of representation, distribution and agency compared with dominant framings in NBS scholarship and provide exemplar cases on how to integrate these concepts in planning discourse. We critically discuss some of the challenges and opportunities of considering MSJ when confronted by established procedures and practices in NBS science and decision-making, focusing on (i) moving beyond existing standards for biodiversity conservation; (ii) embracing MSJ as a process and practice; and (iii) building the capacity of NBS planners to work with MSJ.
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The report provides insights into how the dominant ways of thinking about growth have taken shape and become entrenched: What has changed over the decades? And what might the future look like? Finnish discourse is also placed in the broader context of international societal and scientific debates, as well as global shifts in the operating environment.
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With the increasing culture of applying piloting as part of technology innovation, the need for understanding its societal implications is becoming more crucial. With the aim of understanding better the power relations, tensions and agencies pivotal to negotiating and embedding ethics across processes, we consider utilizing a framework of “design logics” to the data.
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New economic thinking in Greece — “Pregnant” with promise
January 11, 2022
Greece’s history of societal unrest fuels anti-neoliberal sentiments, but new economic thinking remains fragmented. Activism and grassroots movements thrive, yet they lack institutional backing. While heterodox economists like Yanis Varoufakis have influence, deeper collaboration is hindered by ideological divides. Opportunities lie in sustainability efforts, particularly in energy communities, which challenge traditional capitalist structures.
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New economic thinking in France — A small but vibrant space
January 11, 2022
France’s new economic thinking is small, fragmented, and largely issue-oriented, with a focus on social justice and environmental issues. The field is supported by academic networks, cooperatives, and NGOs, but systemic transformation is limited by a lack of cross-sectoral funding and institutional support. Despite influential thinkers like Thomas Piketty, heterodox economics remains weak in academia and policymaking, hindering broader economic change. However, there is growing interest among students and the public in alternative economic models that address ecological crises.
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Five statements for sustainable urban mobility — learnings from Finland
December 22, 2021
Finland aims to reduce traffic emissions by 50% by 2030. To meet this goal, Demos Helsinki and partners held discussions to explore sustainable urban mobility. Key findings include the benefits of car-free living, the economic advantages of sustainable mobility, the role of compact urban design, the importance of data sharing, and the need for regulatory changes to promote low-carbon transportation options. Collaboration between cities, businesses, and mobility sectors is essential to creating accessible, sustainable transport systems that improve the wellbeing of citizens and the economy.
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