Format:
Hybrid

Coordinators:
Janne Salovaara, University of Helsinki
Sophia Hagolani-Albov, University of Helsinki

Abstract:
In this hybrid session we will be exploring comprehensions of contemporary sustainability. As we see it, current practices (and conceptualization thereof) of sustainability exhibits a market logic that seems to contradict commonly elicited aims of sustainability. By our postulation the dominant, and commercialized, path from unsustainable to sustainable is largely approached through consumption choices. However, this mode of operation presents paradoxes. For example, the so-called sustainable production predominantly generates very tightly limited sustainability as it often continues to produce goods that are still factually unsustainable but CO2-compensated with different carbon capture schemes. To continue, green economy or green consumerism suggests somehow to generate sustainability as these

compensated goods are consumed more and more. Similar (ill) market logic of
contemporary sustainable (mal)development—or faux sustainability also appears to
suggest that voting between the seemingly unsustainable or sustainable is the way for
the citizen to participate which, while is democratic, exhibits very limited agency. As
sustainability is said to require everyone’s participation, in many cases there is an
absence of the necessary emancipatory acts and legitimate autonomy to transform our
unsustainable systems. While sustainability is to be left as a choice, the mechanisms
with which these choices are pursued seem coercive rather than persuasive as they
appear to be required to come from a distinct ideology—a tribe to which one must belong
to be able to enact sustainability. However, these are just a few examples in which we
observe contemporary sustainability to be paradoxical and likely to continue to
reproduce the current maldevelopment.

We would like to invite fellow critical academics, activists, and artists to present their
thoughts on these topics in whichever format they choose to best convey their message
to their peers. First and foremost, we intend this session to be a dialogue prompted by
those in the audience who worryingly observe the dilemmas in contemporary
sustainability. We hope that this session ignites new ideas for research, new
collaborations, and in general a new theme to be referenced in discussion about the
issues in sustainable development.

To join this session, please submit an abstract that indicates the thoughts and aspect of
your work you would like to explore and an explicit indication of the method you would
like to use to explore them (for example a presentation, a facilitated discussion, a
workshop, an artistic expression, etc.). You should also indicate how much time you
would need (which on average would be approx. 10 minutes). The session is open to
various methods for the ideas to be shared and will determine the exact agenda of the
session based on the submissions received. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you
have any questions or need additional information. We look forward to your contribution.

Please submit your paper abstracts, or any inquiries, to the following email: contact@criticalsustainability.com

Word count for abstract submission: 300