RHN 95/2024 | Call
Organisers: Martina Angela Caretta, Human Geography Department, Lund University and Madeleine Eriksson, Department of Geography, Umeå University (Session “Transitioning Nordic Ruralities: between extraction and care”)
3–5 December 2024, 6th Nordic Conference for Rural Research, Kiruna, Sweden
Deadline for applications: 15 August 2024
Call for Papers for the session
Transitioning Nordic Ruralities: between extraction and care
6th Nordic Conference for Rural Research
In Europe the goal of realizing less environmentally destructive industries has become central in moving towards sustainability in the current climate crisis. Electric vehicles and “net-zero” production of steel have become the epitome of this goal in a Nordic context. Sweden has seen increased investments related to this technology both in terms of extraction of minerals and manufacturing. Remote geographical areas in the Nordics where extraction has been historically taken place, and is continuing with renewed impetus, and where li-ion battery manufacturing complex and new steel industries are emerging, are seen as central in reaching GHG emission reduction. Additionally, it is argued that the green transition brings substantial employment opportunity in what often have been perceived as “peripheral and depopulating regions. Moreover, these Nordic regions that attract these investments have in general very low employment rates. We see that these localities experience large socio-environmental transformations as they need to attract new citizens and be attractive to new investments. The consequences may be in the form of increasing labor migration, municipal spending, housing shortages and land use changes that create social and environmental conflicts.
In this working group we welcome contributions that analyze and problematize the large socioeconomic and environmental hidden costs that the European Green Deal has on Nordic ruralities. We, for instance, are interested in exploring whether such sustainable transition can truly bring about social and environmental justice in the form of fair and equitable inclusion for the most marginalized groups in improving their wellbeing or whether it relies on low income, un-skilled, immigrant workers and women of color who do the industrial – as well as the reproductive work and suffer from social and economic marginalization. Moreover, we question how an effective just transition going beyond the
greening of energy policies but addressing elements of socio-environmental justice and the prioritization of care and labor wellbeing could look like in practice. Additionally, we welcome contributions examining whether the policies and actions taken by the greening mining, steel, and automobile sector strengthen or weaken social reproductive systems focused on welfare and sustainable working life in the context of the current climate crisis.
Proposals with a max of 250 words should contain a title of max 150 characters, the name(s) of the author(s), and their affiliation.
The deadline for submitting abstracts will be on the 15th of August. You
submit your abstract online. Find all the information here.
More information about the The Nordic Ruralitites Conference for Rural Research here.
Further information about the working groups here.
Sources: https://www.slu.se/en/departments/urban-rural-development/nordic-ruralities/call-for-abstracts/ and https://www.slu.se/en/departments/urban-rural-development/nordic-ruralities/working-groups/