Does sustainability count? Environmental policy, sustainable development and the governance of grassroots sustainability enterprise in Ireland

Environmentally focused social economy activities have been identified as archetypal examples of sustainable development: what might be called grassroots sustainability enterprises. The economic, social and environmental benefits that they can offer have been alluded to, but little empirical evaluation has been conducted examining the governing conditions under which they emerge or the impacts they engender. In response this paper investigates the experiences of one arena of grassroots sustainability enterprise in Ireland, community based recycling organizations (CBROs). The research found that the tripartite focus of CBROs on economic development, environmental enhancement and social capacity building can be problematic rather than bringing enhanced status. Building on an analysis of national planning documents it is proposed that such problems emerge as dominant governing conditions are pursuing ecological modernization and social partnership as distinct rather than integrated pathways of development. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Author

Davies, A.R

Publication year

2009

Source

Sustainable Development

17 (3): 174 – 182

Link(s)

online access