Cooperating for sustainable consumption and economic growth A stronger link between policymakers and the latest scientific research is being forged to reconcile economic growth and sustainable consumption. An EU initiative tackled the potential political, social and economic differences between the two areas. Industrial Technologies © Thinkstock The EU-funded RESPONDER (linking RESearch and POlicy making for managing the contradictions of sustaiNable consumption anD Economic gRowth) project aimed to reconcile economic growth and sustainable consumption through the creation and implementation of a knowledge brokerage system. This system is designed to link the latest research and researchers to policymakers in order to find effective environmentally and economically conscious solutions. To achieve this, system maps were created. These were developed further to create a generic map on the relationship between economic growth and sustainable consumption, serving as a basis for project research. RESPONDER's most tangible outcome is an innovative web-based information platform that continuously processes and exchanges questions and answers from policymakers and researchers based on the system maps. Stakeholders can also exchange information on facts, policies and experiences. The online knowledge brokerage system serves as the main repository for information and as a channel for community building between various stakeholders. Project members set out to connect and strengthen mutual understanding between various communities, particularly science and policy. It established and implemented a highly innovative knowledge brokerage system supporting a structured dialogue between researchers and policymakers across Europe. To this effect, it carried out participatory system mapping in a series of EU dialogues and multinational knowledge brokerage events. The project website reinforced a dialogue between these events. A peer review was delivered following the completion of all dialogues and brokerage events. Several outreach and dissemination activities were carried out, namely policy briefs, journal submissions, and a final conference on sustainable consumption and economic growth. RESPONDER helped policymakers, researchers, civil society and industry expand their existing networks and gain more public visibility in dealing with sustainable consumption and economic growth – two of the most important issues in sustainable development policies at the core of Europe 2020. Keywords Sustainable consumption, economic growth, knowledge brokerage, information platform, community building
