The position of place in governing global problems: A mechanistic account of place-as-context, and analysis of transitions towards spatially explicit approaches to climate science and policy☆

摘要: Place is a central concept within the sustainability sciences, yet it remains somewhat undertheorised, and its relationship to generalisation scale unclear. Here, we develop mechanistic account of place as fundamental context in which social environmental mechanisms operate. It premised on view that sciences are typically concerned with causal processes their interaction context, rather than search for laws. We deploy our critique neglect characterised early stages climate governance, ranging from highly idealised general circulation integrated assessment models used analyze change, global institutions technologies designed manage it. implicate this limited progress tackling change both public policy spheres, before tracing out recent shifts towards more spatially explicit approaches science policy-making. These reflect move an ontology acknowledges even where drivers sense nature (e.g. atmospheric levels greenhouse gases), impacts often mediated through variables clustered at multiple scales, moderated by contextual features local environment, interact presence other (localised) stressors synergistic additive ways. conclude relentless focus place, heterogeneity, can maximise (rather limit) relevance help ensure development interventions robust effective.