After several decades of environmental policy and governance development at the international level (including at the UN), more than 60 percent of ecological life-support systems are declining worldwide, biodiversity loss continues unabated, global consumption of energy and materials keeps increasing, and CO2 concentrations have already surpassed 400 ppm; meanwhile, world population is anticipated to increase to nine billion by 2050, equity problems as well as stress, and addictions are on the rise. Humanity is moving faster and further away from sustainability than ever before, even as "green," "ecological," and "sustainable" have become ubiquitous notions in our daily life.
Where are we going to find alternatives, when all of us are part of the system that creates such problems? Surprisingly enough, at this time of crisis in Ukraine, we can look at the grassroots sustainability alternatives proposed by people there. Although their numbers are marginal, they may yet prove capable of providing creative and up-to-date options for transitioning to low-consumption and throughput society and economy.
Objectives:
The aim of the documentary project is to show the potential viability of grassroots-led (as opposed to government-led) initiatives, and to propose their adoption in other jurisdictions. Surprisingly, in view of its current state of war, economic disaster, and political vacuum, Ukraine can be a source of inspiration for the rest of the world, albeit on a small scale and in not the best conditions. Think of what stable polities and societies could do with such initiatives!
Project coordinators:
Oksana Udovyk is a postdoctoral fellow at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta. She received her BA in environmental sciences at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy National University of Ukraine, her MA in sustainable development at Linkoping University, Sweden, and her PhD in environmental governance from Sodertorn University, Sweden (2014). She is currently involved in research on the Global Post-2015 UN agenda and grassroots innovations for sustainability in Ukraine and Canada. She has worked with sustainability and international relations issues in academia and with NGOs, international organizations, and companies in Ukraine, Thailand, Italy, Sweden, Portugal, China, Greece, Spain, and Canada.
Adrián Bilbao is a social worker graduated from the University of Deusto in Spain. After years working with the unprivileged and minors at severe risk of social exclusion, he started working in London (UK) in national-scale labour insertion project management and design. Keeping his path in the project management field with different NGOs from Colombia, Spain, and the UK, he is currently involved in sustainability projects and innovation for education.
Contacts:
Dr. Oksana Udovyk
Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, Arts Faculty
4-30 Pembina Hall, University of Alberta
Edmonton AB T6G 2H8
Ph: 780 - 492-4487
Email: udovyk@ualberta.ca