Johanna Yletyinen secures significant funding to address failing sustainability initiatives 

Johanna Yletyinen, Work Package Leader in ForTran, has been awarded significant research funding by the Research Council of Finland to investigate a crucial and often overlooked aspect of sustainability efforts: recognizing and managing failures in sustainability initiatives.

Sustainability actions gain momentum across the globe, often accompanied by substantial efforts and costs. Yet, not all initiatives lead to positive outcomes. Some have resulted in unintended environmental and social consequences, such as ineffective conservation projects and rising social inequality.

This new research project, titled ‘Turning away from the brink of a failing sustainability transition: recognizing and managing failure in sustainability initiatives’, will develop strategies to recognize and swiftly address and mitigate these negative impacts.

“We’re at a critical juncture where the stakes are incredibly high,” says Yletyinen. “This project aims to learn from the failures we’ve seen in sustainability initiatives so far. The ultimate goal is to ensure that sustainability transitions are as safe and successful as possible.”

Part of the project will be conducted in collaboration with Yletyinen’s modelling work at ForTran work package ‘Transition to a sustainable forest sector’.

Yletyinen’s new funding represents a significant step forward in addressing the challenges associated with sustainability initiatives, ensuring that future efforts not only aim high but are also equipped to avoid pitfalls.