Exploring Sustainability Transition: Advancement in the Research on Sustainable Development

摘要

Sustainable development is in an impasse in either theory or practice. One of important reasons for it is the ambiguous definition which has resulted in confusion in what is sustained,what is developed and for how long. Some serious Western scholars and environmental ists tend to substitute well-defined sustainability for it, which emphasizes the constraints/bruits and opportuni ties/ability(capacity) that nature presents to human ac tivities. Sustainable development defined by sustainabili ty should be an ideal state which would be achieved through some of homeostasis and innovation. It consists of sustainability objectives,sustainability transitions and relevant approaches. Among these aspects,sustainability transitions are pivotal to link the objectives and approaches. Unfortunately,researches regarding it are quite weak. Current approaches have their own disadvanta ges. Sustainability science would have more potential to be further developed if its explanation power is strengthened.