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Finding effective pathways to sustainable mobility: bridging the science-policy gap.

Cohen, S.A ; Higham, J. ; Gössling, Stefan LU ; Peeters, P. and Eijgelaar, E. (2016) In Journal of Sustainable Tourism 24(3). p.317-334
Abstract
This overview paper examines three areas crucial to understanding why, despite clear scientific evidence for the growing environmental impacts of tourism transport, there is large-scale inertia in structural transitions and a lack of political will to enact meaningful sustainable mobility policies. These include the importance of addressing socio-technical factors, barriers posed by “technology myths” and the need to overcome “transport taboos” in policy-making. The paper seeks pathways to sustainable mobility by bridging the science–policy gap between academic research and researchers, and policy-makers and practitioners. It introduces key papers presented at the Freiburg 2014 workshop, covering the case for researcher engagement using... (More)
This overview paper examines three areas crucial to understanding why, despite clear scientific evidence for the growing environmental impacts of tourism transport, there is large-scale inertia in structural transitions and a lack of political will to enact meaningful sustainable mobility policies. These include the importance of addressing socio-technical factors, barriers posed by “technology myths” and the need to overcome “transport taboos” in policy-making. The paper seeks pathways to sustainable mobility by bridging the science–policy gap between academic research and researchers, and policy-makers and practitioners. It introduces key papers presented at the Freiburg 2014 workshop, covering the case for researcher engagement using advocacy and participatory approaches, the role of universities in creating their own social mobility policies, the power of social mechanisms encouraging long-haul travel, issues in consumer responsibility development, industry self-regulation and the operation of realpolitik decision-making and implementation inside formal and informal destination-based mobility partnerships. Overall, the paper argues that governments and the tourism and transport industries must take a more cautious approach to the technological optimism that fosters policy inertia, and that policy-makers must take a more open approach to implementing sustainable transport policies. A research agenda for desirable transport futures is suggested. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Climate change, socio-technical factors, technology myths, transport taboos, desirable futures
in
Journal of Sustainable Tourism
volume
24
issue
3
pages
317 - 334
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:84960213514
  • wos:000372414300001
ISSN
0966-9582
DOI
10.1080/09669582.2015.1136637
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
05f85ddd-5e83-4c99-ace3-8ba15d0240f6 (old id 8834474)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:21:39
date last changed
2023-01-02 03:47:07
@article{05f85ddd-5e83-4c99-ace3-8ba15d0240f6,
  abstract     = {{This overview paper examines three areas crucial to understanding why, despite clear scientific evidence for the growing environmental impacts of tourism transport, there is large-scale inertia in structural transitions and a lack of political will to enact meaningful sustainable mobility policies. These include the importance of addressing socio-technical factors, barriers posed by “technology myths” and the need to overcome “transport taboos” in policy-making. The paper seeks pathways to sustainable mobility by bridging the science–policy gap between academic research and researchers, and policy-makers and practitioners. It introduces key papers presented at the Freiburg 2014 workshop, covering the case for researcher engagement using advocacy and participatory approaches, the role of universities in creating their own social mobility policies, the power of social mechanisms encouraging long-haul travel, issues in consumer responsibility development, industry self-regulation and the operation of realpolitik decision-making and implementation inside formal and informal destination-based mobility partnerships. Overall, the paper argues that governments and the tourism and transport industries must take a more cautious approach to the technological optimism that fosters policy inertia, and that policy-makers must take a more open approach to implementing sustainable transport policies. A research agenda for desirable transport futures is suggested.}},
  author       = {{Cohen, S.A and Higham, J. and Gössling, Stefan and Peeters, P. and Eijgelaar, E.}},
  issn         = {{0966-9582}},
  keywords     = {{Climate change; socio-technical factors; technology myths; transport taboos; desirable futures}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{317--334}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Journal of Sustainable Tourism}},
  title        = {{Finding effective pathways to sustainable mobility: bridging the science-policy gap.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2015.1136637}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/09669582.2015.1136637}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}