Ecovillage scale-up and its well-being challenges: a case study from Norway
Ecovillages are settlements that aim to combine human well-being and environmental sustainability. They serve as sites of social learning for sustainable consumption practices and may inspire lifestyle changes in mainstream society. However, most ecovillages fail in the first few years of establishm...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15487733.2024.2393912 |
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| author | Amsale K. Temesgen |
| author_facet | Amsale K. Temesgen |
| author_sort | Amsale K. Temesgen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ecovillages are settlements that aim to combine human well-being and environmental sustainability. They serve as sites of social learning for sustainable consumption practices and may inspire lifestyle changes in mainstream society. However, most ecovillages fail in the first few years of establishment. Through an in-depth study of a Norwegian ecovillage’s efforts at expansion, this article explores the factors that adversely affected the well-being of ecovillage residents and threatened the community’s survival. The study applies mixed methods combining needs-based workshops, a well-being survey, and in-depth interviews. The transformation of the ecovillage into a larger settlement with modern houses was driven by a developer and with minimal involvement of residents. The resulting divergence in visions and values, coupled with structural problems of the homes, led to protracted conflicts, and resulted in the developer’s bankruptcy. The study identifies strong social institutions and affordable infrastructures as crucial elements for both well-being and the success of ecovillages. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-18a61065bb8b4ba7882c7c0eb1cabd3a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1548-7733 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy |
| spelling | doaj-art-18a61065bb8b4ba7882c7c0eb1cabd3a2024-12-09T04:54:37ZengTaylor & Francis GroupSustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy1548-77332024-12-0120110.1080/15487733.2024.2393912Ecovillage scale-up and its well-being challenges: a case study from NorwayAmsale K. Temesgen0Nord University Business School, Nord University, Bodø, NorwayEcovillages are settlements that aim to combine human well-being and environmental sustainability. They serve as sites of social learning for sustainable consumption practices and may inspire lifestyle changes in mainstream society. However, most ecovillages fail in the first few years of establishment. Through an in-depth study of a Norwegian ecovillage’s efforts at expansion, this article explores the factors that adversely affected the well-being of ecovillage residents and threatened the community’s survival. The study applies mixed methods combining needs-based workshops, a well-being survey, and in-depth interviews. The transformation of the ecovillage into a larger settlement with modern houses was driven by a developer and with minimal involvement of residents. The resulting divergence in visions and values, coupled with structural problems of the homes, led to protracted conflicts, and resulted in the developer’s bankruptcy. The study identifies strong social institutions and affordable infrastructures as crucial elements for both well-being and the success of ecovillages.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15487733.2024.2393912Well-beingecovillagesustainable lifestylesustainability transitionhuman-need satisfactiongrassroots innovations |
| spellingShingle | Amsale K. Temesgen Ecovillage scale-up and its well-being challenges: a case study from Norway Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy Well-being ecovillage sustainable lifestyle sustainability transition human-need satisfaction grassroots innovations |
| title | Ecovillage scale-up and its well-being challenges: a case study from Norway |
| title_full | Ecovillage scale-up and its well-being challenges: a case study from Norway |
| title_fullStr | Ecovillage scale-up and its well-being challenges: a case study from Norway |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecovillage scale-up and its well-being challenges: a case study from Norway |
| title_short | Ecovillage scale-up and its well-being challenges: a case study from Norway |
| title_sort | ecovillage scale up and its well being challenges a case study from norway |
| topic | Well-being ecovillage sustainable lifestyle sustainability transition human-need satisfaction grassroots innovations |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15487733.2024.2393912 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT amsalektemesgen ecovillagescaleupanditswellbeingchallengesacasestudyfromnorway |