Alternative paradigms and governance approaches to support biodiversity-positive, climate-resilient and just futures.
Combining qualitative and quantitative methods, participatory visioning and modelling, the project will develop and test transformative pathways through Transformation Labs and Demonstrator Cases across six countries and seven sectors. Transformation Labs (T-Labs) are collaborative spaces that bring together diverse stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, businesses, civil society organisations and local communities, to explore alternative futures and co-develop pathways for change. Through participatory workshops, creative methods and systems thinking, they provide a space to challenge existing assumptions, identify barriers and opportunities, and turn shared visions into concrete actions towards biodiversity-positive and socially just futures. By connecting these aspirations with scientific evidence and practical action, SPARK4B+ seeks to support policy implementation, strengthen stakeholder coalitions and embed biodiversity-positive practices in governance and society.
Our role in the project
ESSRG leads several key activities in SPARK4B+, focusing on creative and participatory methodologies, stakeholder engagement and capacity building for transformative change. In WP2, we lead the development and testing of behavioural, emotional and arts-based methods to help stakeholders imagine and connect with biodiversity-positive and socially just futures. In WP4, we coordinate the establishment of Transformation Labs and lead the use of immersive and creative approaches to co-create alternative future scenarios and pathways with diverse stakeholders. In WP6, we lead a programme to identify, train and mentor future champions of systemic change, including organising two training schools in Hungary. We also contribute to understanding barriers to transformation, supporting demonstrator interventions, building cross-sectoral coalitions and developing the project’s communication, learning and outreach activities.
The SPARK4B+ project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101291197.