2025Activity reportProject-Team​‌STEEP

2.1 Context

Environmental issues​​ now pose a threat​​​‌ to human civilization worldwide.‌ They range from falling‌​‌ water tables to eroding​​ soils, expanding deserts, biodiversity​​​‌ loss, rising temperatures, etc‌. For example, half‌​‌ the world's population lives​​ in countries where water​​​‌ tables are falling as‌ aquifers are being depleted;‌​‌ roughly a third of​​ the world's cropland is​​​‌ losing topsoil at an‌ excessive rate; glaciers are‌​‌ melting in all of​​​‌ the world's major mountains.​ The consequences on present​‌ human societies are critical;​​ they comprise for example​​​‌ increasing threats on global​ food security, increasing pressures​‌ resulting in important population​​ movements (such as climate​​​‌ refugees) and explosive geopolitical​ tensions. See 39 for​‌ a global picture of​​ the situation.

The risks​​​‌ associated with delayed reaction​ and adaptation times make​‌ the situation urgent. Delayed​​ reactions significantly increase the​​​‌ magnitude of the overshoot​ of the planet's carrying​‌ capacity and the probability​​ of uncontrolled and irreversible​​​‌ evolutions on a number​ of fronts, potentially leading​‌ to global environmental collapse​​ 59, 47.​​​‌ This systemic problem is​ amplified by two facts:​‌ the environment is degrading​​ on all fronts at​​​‌ the same time and​ at the global planetary​‌ scale, a first in​​ human history.

Sustainable development​​​‌ is often formulated in​ terms of a required​‌ balance between the environmental,​​ economic and social dimensions,​​​‌ but in practice public​ policies addressing sustainability issues​‌ are dominantly oriented towards​​ environment management in Western​​​‌ countries. This approach is​ problematic as environmental problems​‌ and sustainability issues result​​ from socio-economic phenomena (for​​​‌ example the economic growth​ model which is strengthened​‌ by powerful and polluting​​ technologies). In addition, most​​​‌ efforts towards tackling them​ bear on developing technological​‌ solutions. However, it has​​ been clear for several​​​‌ years if not decades​ that, albeit necessary and/or​‌ useful, this will not​​ be sufficient 44,​​​‌ 45, 53.​ We need to rethink​‌ our socio-economic and institutional​​ models in order to​​​‌ leave room for a​ possible paradigm shift. In​‌ this perspective, we believe​​ that crucial steps should​​​‌ be taken in research​ to help elaborating and​‌ implementing socio-economic alternatives.

Although​​ environmental challenges are monitored​​​‌ worldwide, the search for​ appropriate lines of action​‌ must nevertheless take place​​ at all institutional levels,​​​‌ in particular at local​ scales. We indeed believe​‌ that local levels are​​ pivotal in this effort.​​​‌ In particular, we think​ that two local scales​‌ are going to be​​ increasingly dominant in the​​​‌ near future: urban areas​ (more exactly the employment​‌ catchment areas of main​​ cities) and “regions” (such​​​‌ as régions in France,​ Länder in Germany or​‌ Province in Italy). It​​ seems essential to us​​​‌ that local policies and​ actions are made coherent​‌ and articulated across different​​ scales, from local to​​​‌ global.

2.2 Objectives and​ outline of research axes​‌

The research program of​​ the STEEP team takes​​​‌ the above warnings seriously​ and aims to “help​‌ bring about a profound​​ transformation of economies” at​​​‌ all scales, with a​ particular focus on sub-national​‌ scales over which actors​​ have more control. This​​​‌ program is articulated around​ two axes.

The GSR​‌ (Global Systemic Risks​​) axis analyzes, on​​​‌ a global scale, the​ trend dynamics of risks​‌ and collapse, with a​​ characteristic time step of​​​‌ the order of a​ decade or more, as​‌ well as the risks​​ of systemic contagion, with​​​‌ a much shorter time​ step, due to the​‌ interconnection of key sectors​​ of the economy (e.g.​​ energy, finance, just-in-time supply​​​‌ chains, etc).

Our objective‌ here is to rely‌​‌ on or develop numerical​​ models (such as system​​​‌ dynamics, hybrid models including‌ agents, etc.) that allow‌​‌ us to understand the​​ vulnerabilities of our society​​​‌ and the environmental and‌ socio-economic determinants that will‌​‌ constrain its sustainability. The​​ systemic dimension is a​​​‌ key point here. Given‌ the levels of uncertainty‌​‌ and complexity linked to​​ the factors involved here,​​​‌ the idea is not‌ to make predictions, but‌​‌ to understand the mechanisms​​ and processes at play​​​‌ by providing robust qualitative‌ or semi-quantitative analyses (providing‌​‌ orders of magnitude or​​ comparative elements, for example).​​​‌ This work has for‌ us a double objective:‌​‌ 1) to bring new​​ crucial elements of scientific​​​‌ understanding to the public‌ debate on these issues‌​‌ and to continue to​​ increase public awareness and​​​‌ to aler key actors;‌ 2) to inform the‌​‌ decision making process regarding​​ the alternatives that can​​​‌ be implemented (in terms‌ of vulnerability and sustainability‌​‌ determinants).

The second research​​ axis is called STA​​​‌ (SocioTechnical Alternatives).‌ Its objective is to‌​‌ contribute to enrich the​​ debates around possible alternatives:​​​‌ what would an economy‌ within the planetary limits‌​‌ look like and what​​ living standards would it​​​‌ correspond to? What trade-offs‌ would have to be‌​‌ made between socio-economic and​​ environmental criteria, between vulnerabilities,​​​‌ equity and territorial sustainability?‌ The approach adopted does‌​‌ not consist in seeking​​ to optimize the existing​​​‌ system but to imagine‌ and evaluate radically different‌​‌ futures. In this perspective,​​ the first step is​​​‌ to correctly describe "where‌ we are starting from‌​‌ and where we want​​ to go", which​​​‌ might then guide elaborations‌ on the relevant trajectories‌​‌ ("how do we​​ get there?").

Work​​​‌ in this axis relies‌ on several types of‌​‌ approach: modeling the material​​ basis of the economy​​​‌ (in particular through material‌ and energy flow analysis),‌​‌ which requires numerical tools​​ (such as numerical optimization​​​‌ and uncertainty propagation), modeling‌ immaterial and institutional aspects‌​‌ of the territorial metabolism,​​ participatory processes.

Overall, the​​​‌ objective of STEEP is‌ to develop tools for‌​‌ decision aid based on​​ or enabling a systemic​​​‌ vision of the issues‌ – both globally and‌​‌ locally – and to​​ implement sustainable policies at​​​‌ local scales, in particular‌ to transform the productive‌​‌ system and consumption patterns.​​

• It is very important​​​‌ to integrate the whole‌ decision process in the‌​‌ analysis of sustainability issues,​​ for three reasons: 1)​​​‌ to ensure that the‌ designed models address the‌​‌ most relevant issues in​​ terms of sustainability;​​​‌ 2) to develop tools‌ that have a real‌​‌ impact; and 3) to​​ amplify the effective use​​​‌ of these tools by‌ the different stakeholders at‌​‌ local scales (decision makers,​​ decision-help agencies, citizens, organized​​​‌ civil society, ...).
• The‌ focus on local scales‌​‌ reflects not only the​​ relevance of these decision​​​‌ levels, but also the‌ relative lack of relevant‌​‌ modeling exercises at such​​ scales.
• Because the numerous​​​‌ and interrelated pressures exerted‌ by human activities on‌​‌ the environment make the​​​‌ identification of sustainable pathways​ arduous in a context​‌ of complex and sometimes​​ conflicting stakeholders and socio-ecological​​​‌ interactions, the systemic and​ integrative dimension, whether​‌ multisectoral or multi-scale,​​ is essential from the​​​‌ scientific point of view,​ as well as for​‌ the decision process. We​​ expect to provide highly​​​‌ integrated tools compatible with​ practical use taking into​‌ account the intrinsic constraints​​ of decision processes. A​​​‌ strong level of integration​ is desirable to identify​‌ feedback phenomena which would​​ be very hard to​​​‌ anticipate otherwise. This is​ why we also strive​‌ to develop transdisciplinary approaches​​.

Figure 1 is​​​‌ an attempt to map​ the structure of the​‌ research axes and the​​ links between them and​​​‌ their components. The figure​ also includes our previous​‌ work on LUCC (Land​​ Use and land Cover​​​‌ Change) modeling.

Sketch of​ the team structure: building​‌ blocks of the two​​ research axes and logical​​​‌ connections. Participatory processes can​ (and should) intervene in​‌ each part of STA​​ (participatory modeling, participatory simulation,​​​‌ participatory decision-aiding).

3.1​​​‌ Research axis 1: Global‌ Systemic Risks

Strictly speaking,‌​‌ in the scientific literature,​​ the term “risk” designates​​​‌ a hazard compounded by‌ its probability of occurrence‌​‌ (e.g., the risk of​​ a plane crashing). Systemic​​​‌ risks refer to system‌ wide risks (e.g., risk‌​‌ of financial crises of​​ large magnitude). Global systemic​​​‌ risks (cross-sectoral risks) arise‌ because systemic risks are‌​‌ often interconnected, and characterized​​ by many feedbacks at​​​‌ various spatial and temporal‌ scales (e.g., climate change‌​‌ and its impacts on​​ the environment and human​​​‌ life and activities). A‌ number of global systemic‌​‌ risks are subject to​​ an intrinsic form of​​​‌ indeterminacy that invalidates the‌ very possibility of a‌​‌ probabilistic approach. Quite often,​​ the term risk is​​​‌ then used in a‌ more casual way, referring‌​‌ to a vulnerability associated​​ to a hazard, and​​​‌ this second, more informal‌ meaning is the one‌​‌ used in this document,​​ in particular because some​​​‌ risks are indeterminate in‌ the meaning just specified.‌​‌

The literature devoted to​​ systemic risks is extended​​​‌ and varied, with roots‌ in exact and environmental‌​‌ sciences 58, 52​​ or in social sciences​​​‌ 40. Two areas‌ of systemic risks have‌​‌ been the object of​​ a particular focus in​​​‌ the past decades: environmental‌ risks (e.g., climate change),‌​‌ and financial risks, but​​ many more types of​​​‌ interconnected risks can be‌ identified. They are often‌​‌ grouped into five categories:​​ economic, geopolitical, environmental, social​​​‌ and technological. In the‌ economic sector, the main‌​‌ risks are related to​​ market instabilities, particularly in​​​‌ the energy sector, and‌ financial risks. Geopolitical risks‌​‌ are largely related to​​ potential sources of conflict,​​​‌ whether or not linked‌ to the threat of‌​‌ terrorism. On the environmental​​ front, climate change, loss​​​‌ of biodiversity and their‌ consequences appear to be‌​‌ dominant, but natural disasters​​ can also play a​​​‌ role; issues related to‌ changes in land use‌​‌ (deforestation, erosion and desertification,​​ artificialization) are also very​​​‌ important. At the societal‌ or socio-political level, issues‌​‌ of inequality, food security,​​ access to water, health​​​‌ risks (particularly pandemics) and‌ migration are prominent. As‌​‌ for technological risks, they​​ largely concern the fragility​​​‌ of modern computerized communication‌ systems and network infrastructures‌​‌ (e.g. electricity distribution networks).​​ These categories of risk​​​‌ and their interactions are‌ represented in Figure 2‌​‌.

This figure shows​​ the high level of​​​‌ interconnections between issues such‌ as economic disparity, migration,‌​‌ food security, climate change,​​ financial crises, etc.

From a‌​‌ process point of view,​​ global systemic risks can​​​‌ be grouped into two‌ categories:

• Long term trends‌​‌ related risks: These are​​ produced by the decade​​​‌ or century long evolutions‌ of our modern global‌​‌ societies. They arise from​​​‌ the growing tension between​ resource use, production of​‌ (often diffuse) pollutions of​​ various kinds, and the​​​‌ capacity of our environment​ to absorb the related​‌ impacts. The induced environmental​​ changes affect our socio-ecosystems,​​​‌ and are amplified by​ existing socio-political, economic and​‌ historical dynamics.
• Short term,​​ randomly triggered risks: These​​​‌ risks occur on much​ shorter term (weeks to​‌ a few years). They​​ are intermittent, random1​​​‌ and related to the​ high level of interdependence​‌ of many sectors of​​ activity, to intrinsic instabilities​​​‌ produced by this interdependence,​ and to their propagation​‌ through all sectors of​​ activity through a kind​​​‌ of domino effect. The​ occurrence of such risks​‌ is accelerating. In the​​ last decade or so,​​​‌ one can mention the​ 2008 financial crisis, the​‌ COVID crisis and the​​ russian-ukrainian conflict and its​​​‌ implication on global energy​ and food security. This​‌ acceleration is not coincidental,​​ as these risks interact​​​‌ with and are amplified​ by long term trend​‌ ones.

The emblematic model​​ of the first category​​​‌ is the World3 model​ developed by the Meadows​‌ group for its famous​​ report on the limits​​​‌ to growth 56,​ 58. The re-analyses​‌ of 61, 62​​ and 36 have renewed​​​‌ interest in this model​ while raising more specific​‌ questions about the robustness​​ of the conclusions drawn​​​‌ from it. We approach​ these questions through an​‌ analysis on three complementary​​ fronts:

1. An analysis of​​​‌ the choices of parameterization​ based on a sensitivity​‌ analysis that is much​​ finer than the existing​​​‌ ones.
2. An analysis of​ modeling choices based on​‌ a sectoral and geographical​​ disaggregation of the model.​​​‌
3. Elements of epistemological analysis.​

The main practical interest​‌ of this research lies​​ in the possibility of​​​‌ discerning the risks of​ collapse in the short​‌ term (pre-2050) or further​​ out in time (post-2050),​​​‌ both of which require​ different mitigation and adaptation​‌ strategies that must be​​ properly anticipated.

In terms​​​‌ of systemic contagion risks,​ and although an exhaustive​‌ analysis of all the​​ categories of potential risks​​​‌ is impossible in an​ exploratory phase, the energy/macroeconomics​‌ nexus plays a particular​​ role in our societies​​​‌ and presents a specific​ criticality. Sectoral or cross-sectoral​‌ analyses of certain aspects​​ of this nexus already​​​‌ exist in the literature​ (see for example 51​‌, 54, 38​​), but apparently no​​​‌ overall model has been​ produced on this subject,​‌ and in particular no​​ dynamic model. Such a​​​‌ realization would constitute in​ itself a significant advance.​‌

This research question is​​ presently pursued in two​​​‌ different but complementary directions:​ 1/ a reanalysis of​‌ the issue of peak​​ oil supply and its​​​‌ relation to the energy​ transition; 2/ the development​‌ of an original energy/macroeconomics/financial​​ speculation model. Finally, some​​​‌ steps towards a realistic​ model of domino effects​‌ are taken through the​​ issue of a potential​​​‌ long-lasting (days or more​ than a week) black-out.​‌

3.2 Research axis 2:​​ Sociotechnical Alternatives

The main​​​‌ motivation of the STA​ axis is to help​‌ actors produce narratives of​​ the future which are​​ consistent from a biophysical​​​‌ viewpoint and which take‌ into account indirect (systemic)‌​‌ impacts. In a more​​ and more constrained world,​​​‌ this means being able‌ to identify and decide‌​‌ on trade-offs relative to​​ the different aspects of​​​‌ the problem. Another way‌ of formulating the axis’‌​‌ goal is that we​​ wish to design planning​​​‌ tools that would address‌ social and ecological stakes,‌​‌ and reflect on their​​ use by a variety​​​‌ of actors, in a‌ democratic context.

Our‌​‌ work concerns three aspects:​​ (1) description of current​​​‌ sociotechnical systems, (2) description‌ and assessment of STAs,‌​‌ (3) participation.

Example of​​ a Sankey diagram resulting​​​‌ from a single-scale SC-MFA:‌ Agriculture raw materials fed‌​‌ to livestock in France​​ in 2015 (millions of​​​‌ tons) 41.

1​​​‌ – Description of sociotechnical‌ systems. The cornerstone of‌​‌ the STA research axis​​ are a method and​​​‌ associated software for multi-scale‌ Supply Chain Material Flow‌​‌ Analysis (SC-MFA, see 43​​ for an overview and​​​‌ Figure 3 for a‌ simple example). Material flows‌​‌ (production, transformation, exchanges, consumption,​​ waste) are the basic​​​‌ building blocks of our‌ supply chain studies. We‌​‌ designed methods and tools​​ to model a supply​​​‌ chain (in terms of‌ products, sectors and possible‌​‌ flows between them) and​​ reconcile incomplete and/or inconsistent​​​‌ data. The flows allow:‌

• To apprehend up/downstream vulnerabilities‌​‌ of supply chains (e.g.​​ dependence on imports),
• To​​​‌ question the use of‌ natural resources and the‌​‌ possible problems of competition​​ for use (e.g.: can​​​‌ the development of biofuels‌ lead to competition between‌​‌ food and energy production?),​​
• And finally to estimate​​​‌ environmental footprints (e.g. carbon,‌ energy, water, chemical pollution,‌​‌ land use, etc.).

2​​ – Description and assessment​​​‌ of sociotechnical alternatives. The‌ most significant novelty compared‌​‌ to our pre-2018 work​​ relative to territorial metabolism​​​‌ is to tackle the‌ design and assessment of‌​‌ sociotechnical alternatives (STAs) for​​ the future. The term​​​‌ alternative is used in‌ place of scenario to‌​‌ emphasize that we currently​​ describe possible points of​​​‌ arrival in the future‌ and not pathways to‌​‌ move from today's situation​​ to the desired outcome.​​​‌

The objective of this‌ research program is to‌​‌ help shed light on​​ the debates around possible​​​‌ alternatives: what would a‌ one-planet economy look like‌​‌ and what standards of​​ living would it imply?​​​‌ What compromises will have‌ to be made between‌​‌ socio-economic and environmental criteria,​​ between resilience, equity and​​​‌ sustainability of territories?

Our‌ work is structured around‌​‌ four main objectives:

• To​​ propose a formalism to​​​‌ describe sociotechnical alternatives. In‌ particular, we are working‌​‌ on extensions of physical​​ supply/use tables, able to​​​‌ provide information on the‌ interactions between materials and‌​‌ energy. We are also​​ interested in coupling quantitative​​​‌ (technical dimension) and qualitative‌ (social dimension) representations.
• To‌​‌ propose a methodology (and​​ eventually a software) allowing​​​‌ groups of actors to‌ imagine their own alternatives,‌​‌
• To develop a methodology​​​‌ and associated tools to​ evaluate an alternative (cf.​‌ Figure 4):
  • What​​ needs does it cover?​​​‌
  • What are the local,​ remote or global pressures​‌ and impacts generated? How​​ do they compare to​​​‌ local and global limits?​
  • What would be the​‌ vulnerabilities of the system​​ described?
  • What are the​​​‌ socio-economic performances of the​ system described (e.g., in​‌ terms of allocation of​​ the workforce, allocation of​​​‌ added-value...)?
• To help comparing​ alternatives and structuring related​‌ debates.

The figure shows,​​ on the one hand,​​​‌ the basic definitions associated​ with sociotechnical alternatives: they​‌ correspond to modes of​​ production and consumption and​​​‌ embody interactions between sectors,​ particularly pertaining to energy​‌ and resources. On the​​ other hand, the figure​​​‌ illustrates the four planned​ modes of assessing such​‌ sociotechnical alternatives: assessment in​​ terms of vulnerabilities, need​​​‌ satisfaction, socio-economic perfomance, and​ absolute environmental sustainability.

3 –​​ Participation. The work on​​​‌ STAs for the future​ motivated this last sub-axis​‌ which aims both at​​ empowering local actors and​​​‌ to learn from them,​ in line with principles​‌ of post-normal science 50​​. As explained above,​​​‌ one of our main​ objectives is to contribute​‌ towards having possible sociotechnical​​ alternatives for a territory​​​‌ be co-constructed by all​ relevant stakeholders and be​‌ debated democratically. This covers​​ all aspects, from the​​​‌ definition of what is​ at stake and of​‌ the criteria to use​​ for assessing alternatives, to​​​‌ the actual co-construction and​ assessment of the latter.​‌ Furthermore, such participative processes​​ may benefit from some​​​‌ form of training or​ awareness-raising on systemic issues.​‌ Our activities along these​​ lines have started in​​​‌ 2021. The first large​ project we carried out​‌ is described in section​​ 6.1.

4.1​‌ Decision aid for public​​ policies

We pursue this​​​‌ goal through the development​ of scientific knowledge, models​‌ and tools that aim​​ to be directly relevant​​​‌ to policy questions. Further,​ we do so, whenever​‌ possible, in direct collaboration​​ with public authorities or​​ other relevant partners (such​​​‌ as representative bodies for‌ agrifood supply chains). Besides‌​‌ contributing to scientific production​​ as such, we are​​​‌ also present in expert‌ groups or scientific councils‌​‌ of public bodies (municipalities,​​ regional parks, etc.).

In​​​‌ the following, we list‌ a few examples of‌​‌ policy-relevant issues we address​​ or have addressed in​​​‌ our work. This list‌ is not exhaustive.

• Material‌​‌ and energy flow analysis​​ (of supply chains or​​​‌ “entire” economies), or MFA.‌ With applications for instance‌​‌ in:
  • Ecological accounting for​​ sectorial pressure assessment.
  • Analysis​​​‌ of public policies dedicated‌ to building waste.
  • Decision‌​‌ aid for territorial strategies​​ in the agrifood, energy​​​‌ and other sectors. In‌ collaboration with, or through‌​‌ our startup Terriflux.​​
• Land cover and land​​​‌ use modeling, urban economy‌ and urban/periurban planning:
  • Modeling‌​‌ of land cover changes.​​
  • Integrated modeling of land​​​‌ use and transportation.
• Systemic‌ risk modeling and analysis,‌​‌ both on global and​​ local scales:
  • Studying global​​​‌ systemic risks, for instance‌ by analyzing the iconic‌​‌ World3 model 57,​​ 58.
  • Systemic risks​​​‌ on the health sector.‌
  • Systemic risks on a‌​‌ local territory (Grenoble metropolitan​​ area).
• Nexus modeling:
  • Modeling​​​‌ and analysis of the‌ energy/macroeconomics/finance nexus.
  • Assessing the‌​‌ feasibility of an energy​​ transition.
  • Analysis of risk​​​‌ cascades (domino effects), for‌ instance the consequences of‌​‌ a blackout, in particular​​ on the health sector.​​​‌
• Particaptory approaches, with applications‌ to territorial foresight studies‌​‌ or to several of​​ the above issues (such​​​‌ as for decision aid‌ for territorial strategies in‌​‌ the agrifood, energy and​​ other sectors):
  • Supporting citizen​​​‌ dialogue willing to transform‌ their territories.
  • Include the‌​‌ previous models into serious​​ games to help citizens​​​‌ to understand complexity.
  • Create‌ new interfaces between academic‌​‌ research and society.

4.2​​ Raising awareness of environmental​​​‌ and associated social issues:‌ Dissemination, training, teaching, popular‌​‌ education

We believe it​​ to be important that​​​‌ scientists, based on scientific‌ knowledge, engage themselves in‌​‌ raising awareness of the​​ general public. As a​​​‌ matter of fact, we‌ think that the systemic‌​‌ nature of environmental and​​ social issues is not​​​‌ yet sufficiently developed in‌ public discourse.

We try‌​‌ to contribute to awareness​​ raising through tools available​​​‌ to scientists, and according‌ to principles outlined for‌​‌ example in the MakeSEnS​​ initiative we co-coordinated 37​​​‌, the Avis "Between‌ freedom and responsibility: the‌​‌ public commitment of researchers"​​ (Entre liberté et​​​‌ responsabilité : l'engagement public‌ des chercheurs et chercheuses‌​‌) published in 2023​​ by COMETS (CNRS Ethical​​​‌ Committee) 42, or‌ a similar report produced‌​‌ for the University of​​ Lausanne in 2022 49​​​‌.

Team members were‌ involved, until it ended,‌​‌ in the French government's​​ initiative Formation à la​​​‌ transition écologique, aimed‌ at familiarizing all French‌​‌ public service executives with​​ the challenges of an​​​‌ ecological transition. Since several‌ years we teach interdisciplinary‌​‌ courses on the mentioned​​ systemic issues; see also​​​‌ the Anthropocene FACTS initiative‌ we have created and‌​‌ carried for several years.​​ Our conference-debate series and​​​‌ YouTube-channel “Understanding and Acting”‌ (see section 10.3.1)‌​‌ has been launched in​​​‌ 2015 and has featured​ a wide range of​‌ scientific presentations on environmental​​ and social issues. We​​​‌ also intervene in many​ general audience actions and​‌ in popular education, through​​ presentations, round tables, interviews,​​​‌ and the animation of​ our Global Systemic Risks​‌ fresco (see section 10.3.2​​).

Overall, we consider​​​‌ this as a contribution​ to Inria's mission of​‌ knowledge transfer to society.​​

5.1 Footprint of​ research activities

While the​‌ team does not apply​​ any strict formal rules​​​‌ concerning the following issues,​ it is probably safe​‌ to say that a​​ good level of awareness​​​‌ on environmental issues that​ is natural given our​‌ line of work, guides​​ many of our “daily”​​​‌ decisions. Examples of how​ environmental impacts are considered​‌ are provided in the​​ following.

Contrary to what​​​‌ some might suspect, we​ do use computers, networks​‌ and other digital equipment​​ for our research..., meaning​​​‌ that the direct footprint​ of our research activities​‌ is higher than if​​ we were working with​​​‌ pen and paper only.​ Generally speaking, we aim​‌ at keeping our footprint​​ as low as possible​​​‌ given the requirements of​ our work. For instance,​‌ computing equipment is used​​ as long as possible​​​‌ (the current average age​ of our desktop computers​‌ for instance, is about​​ 10 years; Peter, who​​​‌ writes these lines, uses​ laptops for an average​‌ of about 10 years,​​ etc.). Criteria for choosing​​​‌ publication venues include where​ conferences are held (to​‌ lower the footprint of​​ work travel). The number​​​‌ of trips by plane​ in the last years​‌ is probably way below​​ Inria average (one flight​​​‌ in 2025, none in​ 2024). Many team members​‌ use the bicycle for​​ home-to-work trips, sometimes for​​​‌ work trips as such.​ The ratio of vegetarian​‌ over meat-based dishes taken​​ for lunch at the​​​‌ local cantine, is rather​ high compared to the​‌ national average. The majority​​ of our collaborations, be​​​‌ they with academic or​ with other partners, are​‌ local (in Grenoble or​​ within the Région). This​​​‌ is natural given that​ our work requires partnerships​‌ with territorial authorities for​​ instance, but is also​​​‌ a matter of choice.​ Besides trying to limit​‌ the direct footprint of​​ our work, some team​​​‌ members are also involved​ in initiatives whose general​‌ aim is to reduce​​ the environmental impact of​​​‌ research, such as Campus​ d'après Grenoble and MakeSEns​‌.

Having said all​​ this, we think that​​​‌ on average, the environmental​ and social impact scientists​‌ have is dominated by​​ the topics and applications​​​‌ they choose to work​ on, compared to the​‌ direct impact of their​​ day-to-day work-related activities.

5.2​​​‌ Impact of research results​

All of the team's​‌ research activities are directly​​ dedicated to environmental and​​​‌ social issues. On the​ one hand, this concerns​‌ both of our research​​ axes – Global Systemic​​​‌ Risks and Sociotechnical Alternatives​ – and on the​‌ other, the type of​​ collaborations we build to​​​‌ underpin these axes –​ partnerships with different territorial​‌ and environmental bodies and​​ also more and more​​ with civil society.

Besides​​​‌ research activites per se‌, we also pursue‌​‌ various dissemination activities related​​ to social and environmental​​​‌ issues, towards general audiences,‌ and give transdisciplinary university‌​‌ courses.

6.1 Territorial​​​‌ Dialogue about energy in‌ the Pôle d'Équilibre Territorial‌​‌ et Rural (PETR) du​​ Briançonnais, des Ecrins, du​​​‌ Guillestrois et du Queyras‌

This has been the‌​‌ first large scale participatory​​ project STEEP has been​​​‌ involved in. It was‌ commissioned by the PETR‌​‌ du Grand Briançonnais (Pôle​​ d'Equilibre Territorial et Rural​​​‌ – Briançonnais, Ecrins et‌ Guillestrois Queyras), a so-called‌​‌ intercommunalité (grouping of 3​​ communautés de communes,​​​‌ comprising a total of‌ 36 municipalities), located in‌​‌ the French Alps. This​​ territory experiences recurring conflicts​​​‌ around the construction of‌ hydroelectric power stations in‌​‌ mountain rivers, usually opposing​​ energy producers, elected officials​​​‌ and NGO's dedicated to‌ nature preservation. On this‌​‌ background, the presidency of​​ the PETR launched the​​​‌ initiative of a territory-wide‌ participatory process, to be‌​‌ steered by STEEP and​​ Nils Ferrand's group at​​​‌ INRAE, covering the issues‌ of energy, biodiversity, water,‌​‌ and territorial development.

The​​ project was initiated in​​​‌ 2022, through seed funding‌ by a CNRS-MITI grant.‌​‌ After carrying out preparatory​​ modeling work, interviews and​​​‌ workshops with local stakeholders,‌ etc. during nearly two‌​‌ years, the actual territorial​​ dialogue started in the​​​‌ beginning of 2024, thanks‌ to a grant by‌​‌ the Banque des Territoires​​ and co-funding by our​​​‌ LINDDA project. It lasted‌ until its successful conclusion‌​‌ in the end of​​ 2025.

This project was​​​‌ an extraordinary opportunity for‌ STEEP to lead a‌​‌ full-scale territorial dialogue, directly​​ relevant to the definition​​​‌ of public policies. For‌ us, this constituted an‌​‌ action research allowing to​​ combine participatory approaches with​​​‌ our expertise on material‌ and energy flow analysis‌​‌ (see section 8.6).​​ It involved many participants,​​​‌ some of which are‌ cited in figure 5‌​‌. More details on​​ the project are provided​​​‌ in 25.

Overview‌ of the Territorial Dialogue‌​‌ about energy in the​​ Pôle d'Équilibre Territorial et​​​‌ Rural (PETR) du Briançonnais,‌ des Ecrins, du Guillestrois‌​‌ et du Queyras.

6.2 Action-research‌​‌ on the circular economy​​ of construction and demolition​​​‌ waste

Quentin Desvaux defended‌ his thesis on December‌​‌ 19, 2025 (see section​​ 8.4 for more details).​​​‌ This interdisciplinary thesis between‌ the STEEP team and‌​‌ CREG (political economics laboratory​​ in Grenoble) was commissioned​​​‌ by Grenoble Alpes Métropole‌ (GAM), a community of‌​‌ municipalities with about 500,000​​ inhabitants, to assist it​​​‌ in implementing local policy‌ on construction and demolition‌​‌ waste (CDW). As this​​ waste lies at the​​​‌ intersection of the construction‌ and waste sectors, the‌​‌ specific focus of its​​ management and treatment is​​​‌ characterized by a tangle‌ of transition dynamics between‌​‌ these two sectors and​​ the different territorial scales.​​​‌ The national policy resulting‌ from the AGEC law‌​‌ (loi anti-gaspillage pour​​​‌ une économie circulaire)​ overlaps with the territorial​‌ measures introduced by inter-municipal​​ authorities as part of​​​‌ their waste management responsibilities,​ thereby disrupting the construction​‌ waste sector.

This research​​ work required efforts to​​​‌ mobilize and consult stakeholders​ on the issues of​‌ reappropriating resources and transforming​​ the production system with​​​‌ the aim of structuring​ a territorial circular economy​‌ for construction materials. This​​ action research (AR) process,​​​‌ carried out in immersion​ in the department responsible​‌ for the prevention, collection,​​ and treatment of GAM​​​‌ waste, made it possible​ to analyze the dynamics​‌ of transformation in this​​ sector. This thesis highlights​​​‌ several obstacles that hinder​ the transformation process, starting​‌ with the clash of​​ organizational logics that oppose​​​‌ the links in this​ emerging sector.

From a​‌ research methodology perspective, this​​ thesis, combining approaches from​​​‌ modeling (material flow analysis)​ and economics, through an​‌ action research approach, also​​ demonstrates the relevance and​​​‌ originality of the interdisciplinary​ approach adopted by the​‌ STEEP team's project for​​ analyzing and supporting public​​​‌ policies aimed at transforming​ complex socio-ecological systems. Figure​‌ 6 provides a chronological​​ overview of this action​​​‌ research, showing its iterative​ trajectory alternating between activites​‌ and postures pertaining to​​ classical academic respectively action​​​‌ research.

Chronological overview of​ the action research carried​‌ out during the PhD​​ thesis of Quentin Desvaux,​​​‌ showing its iterative trajectory​ alternating between activites and​‌ postures pertaining to classical​​ academic respectively action research.​​​‌ In this figure, FDB​ refers to the construction​‌ waste sector (filière​​ des déchets du bâtiment​​​‌).

6.3 A framework for​‌ characterizing trade-offs in (re)localization​​ choices for production–consumption systems​​​‌

Questions surrounding the choice​ of organizational scale –​‌ particularly those related to​​ the intensification or reduction​​​‌ of globalization – are​ highly prominent in public​‌ debate (e.g., discussions on​​ the relocalization of certain​​​‌ activities, self-sufficiency, etc.). These​ scale choices involve a​‌ variety of ecological, social,​​ and economic trade-offs, and​​​‌ the main contribution of​ the PhD thesis of​‌ Léon Fauste, defended in​​ September 2025, is to​​​‌ propose a framework for​ formalizing these trade-offs. First,​‌ we propose an analytical​​ framework to characterize the​​​‌ multiple organizational scales of​ a given activity. This​‌ framework is based on​​ a literature review of​​​‌ concepts such as proximity,​ territory, globalization, relocalization, connectivity,​‌ dependence, self-sufficiency, supply basins,​​ economies of scale, economic​​​‌ integration, concentration, specialization, short​ supply chains, and the​‌ notion of the "local".​​ Certain relationships between these​​​‌ concepts are discussed. Second,​ we specifically examine the​‌ relationship between territorial specialization​​ and the geographical concentration​​​‌ of activities, using empirical​ data, simulations, and mathematical​‌ analysis of indicators. The​​ analysis shows that this​​​‌ relationship may be weaker​ than suggested by intuition​‌ and by part of​​ the existing literature. Finally,​​ we propose a constrained​​​‌ optimization method to explore‌ the possible organizational scales‌​‌ of a production–consumption system​​ under a set of​​​‌ constraints. This biophysical model‌ ensures the consistency of‌​‌ material flows and accounts​​ for certain associated environmental​​​‌ and socio-economic dimensions. We‌ show how this approach‌​‌ could be applied to​​ assessing the capacity for​​​‌ food relocalization in France‌ and European countries, as‌​‌ a function of utilized​​ agricultural area, irrigation water​​​‌ resources, labor time, and‌ dietary patterns.

6.4 10‌​‌ years of "Comprendre &​​ Agir" conference-debates

In 2025​​​‌ we celebrated the 10th‌ anniversary of our Comprendre‌​‌ et Agir conference-debate series​​ and of the associated​​​‌ YouTube channel (see also‌ section 10.3.1). Through‌​‌ about 50 conferences so​​ far, this series allowed​​​‌ to address various major‌ socio-environmental issues. The aim‌​‌ is to foster the​​ understanding of their evolution,​​​‌ of the underlying root‌ causes, of the fact‌​‌ that all such issues​​ are deeply connected in​​​‌ a systemic fashion. Our‌ conviction is that without‌​‌ such an understanding, grounded​​ in science, meaningful action​​​‌ is illusory. Besides “understanding”,‌ the series also features‌​‌ conferences oriented towards “acting”,​​ by providing examples of​​​‌ ecological planning, the sociological‌ study of local initiatives‌​‌ etc.

Here is a​​ selection of the general​​​‌ topics, with examples of‌ conferences:

• Collapse of societies‌​‌ and the biosphere:
  Conferences​​ that clarify the mechanisms​​​‌ of societal collapse, by‌ Emmanuel Prados and Pierre-Yves‌​‌ Longaretti or that address​​ the collapse of the​​​‌ biosphere, by Denis Couvet‌.
• Imaginaries and social‌​‌ change:
  Alexandre Monnin and​​ Diego Landivar propose new​​​‌ imaginaries for the Anthropocene‌, Sophie Wahnich explains‌​‌ the role of imaginaries​​ in sociopolitical transitions,​​​‌ Paul Guillibert discusses social‌ change in relation to‌​‌ ecology and labor.​​
• Neutrality of science and​​​‌ scientists:
  The fact that‌ science and scientists are‌​‌ not neutral, is explained​​ and demonstrated by Marlène​​​‌ Jouan and Gabrielle Bouleau‌.
• Impacts of digital‌​‌ and screens:
  Conferences by​​ Servane Mouton on impacts​​​‌ on health and by‌ Françoise Berthoud on environmental‌​‌ impacts.
• Technosolutionism:
  Sophie​​ Dubuisson-Quellier on technosolutionism and​​​‌ François Jarrige on technoscientific‌ controversies.
• Democracy and‌​‌ commons:
  Conferences on democracy,​​ its current crisis and​​​‌ ways of overcoming it‌ by Sophie Wahnich,‌​‌ Jean-Paul Jouary and Loïc​​ Blondiaux, on the​​​‌ concept of commons and‌ its relation to democracy‌​‌ by Christian Laval.
• Power​​ and geopolitics:
  Several conferences​​​‌ analyze issues of power‌ and geopolitics, for instance‌​‌ Christophe Bonneuil presents a​​ historical analysis of links​​​‌ between environmental protection, colonialism‌ and geopolitics, Christophe‌​‌ Bouillaud describes political mechanisms​​ underlying climate change and​​​‌ environmental destruction, and‌ Asma Mhalla analyzes the‌​‌ issue of power in​​ the era of Artificial​​​‌ Intelligence.
• Action and‌ inaction:
  Some conferences investigate‌​‌ causes and mechanisms of​​ inaction (e.g. Denis Dupré​​​‌ and Peter Sturm)‌ whereas others present examples‌​‌ of collective action in​​ the face of environmental​​​‌ and social degradations (‌Cécile Renouard, Julien‌​‌ Milanesi, Denis Dupré​​).
• Ecological accounting and​​​‌ planning:
  Conferences by Clément‌ Féger and Cédric Durand‌​‌, the latter with​​​‌ a discussion on green​ capitalism and post-growth.
• Finance​‌ and money:
  Several conferences​​ examine the links between​​​‌ the financial system and​ environmental collapse (Alain​‌ Grandjean, Marc Chesney​​, Denis Dupré and​​​‌ a second conference by​ Denis Dupré) and​‌ Jean-Michel Servet explains the​​ concept of money as​​​‌ a commons.
• Food​ and agriculture:
  Denis Dupré​‌ addresses the possibility of​​ producing healthy nutrition for​​​‌ 9 billion people,​ Gilles Billen proposes alternative​‌ schemes for organizing the​​ agriculture–food system, and​​​‌ Frédéric Thomas explains the​ intricacies and implications of​‌ property rights on seeds​​
• Health:
  Valérie d'Acremont explains​​​‌ the impacts of climate​ change on health and​‌ presents insights on the​​ links between health, technology,​​​‌ environment and climate derived​ from field works in​‌ the global South. Charlotte​​ Brives reveals deep systemic​​​‌ issues underlying the growth​ of antibioresistance
• Energy and​‌ raw materials:
  Olivier Vidal​​ discusses the energy transition​​​‌ by highlighting and quantifying​ the mutual dependencies between​‌ energy and raw materials​​, Benoît Pelopidas investigates​​​‌ nuclear energy under the​ angles of security and​‌ democracy, and Grégoire​​ Chambaz discusses the possibility​​​‌ of a large blackout​ and what its consequences​‌ might be.

Our​​ YouTube channel currently has​​​‌ about 15,000 subscribers, cumulates​ over 1.2 million viewings,​‌ for a total of​​ over 270,000 hours of​​​‌ viewing time. We are​ proud that without external​‌ support and a low​​ budget, we were able​​​‌ to contribute to making​ scientific discourse on these​‌ important issues audible.

7.1 Latest​ software developments

8.1‌ Evaluation of the robustness‌​‌ of the World3 model​​​‌ and the validity of​ its conclusions

Participants: Antoine​‌ Cordoba, Serge Fenet​​, Pierre-Yves Longaretti.​​​‌

A scientific collaboration was​ launched in 2024 between​‌ the STEEP team (Pierre-Yves​​ Longaretti and Serge Fenet)​​​‌ and the Tripop team​ (Arnaud Tonnelier). In this​‌ context, Antoine Cordoba began​​ an 18 months postdoc​​​‌ contract in the Tripop​ team in September 2024,​‌ to pursue the work​​ initiated by Mathilde du​​​‌ Plessix on the iconic​ World3 model before her​‌ thesis was interrupted in​​ 2022. The interest in​​​‌ the model grew again​ in the last decade​‌ or so, in light​​ of the growing concerns​​​‌ about planetary limits and​ the impact of human​‌ activities on natural systems.​​ We aim at re-evaluating​​​‌ both the robustness of​ the model and the​‌ validity of its conclusions.​​ During her thesis, Mathilde​​​‌ performed an extensive analysis​ of the parameterization choices​‌ made by the authors​​ of the model, based​​​‌ on a comprehensive sensitivity​ analysis made possible by​‌ modern computing power. This​​ analysis allowed us to​​​‌ identify the most influential​ parameters in an objective​‌ way. In the continuation​​ of this work, Antoine​​​‌ is working on an​ analysis of the relative​‌ importance of the model​​ feedback loops, taking over​​​‌ the incomplete work of​ Mathilde du Plessix on​‌ this topic. More specifically,​​ Antoine has been implementing​​​‌ the loop eigenvalue elasticity​ analysis method (LEEA) on​‌ the World3 model. It​​ is well-known in the​​​‌ system dynamics community that​ application of this method​‌ (the most rigorous to​​ date) to a large​​​‌ model such as World3​ is an unresolved challenge.​‌ We have been successful​​ in resolving this issue,​​​‌ thanks to Antoine's reimplementation​ of the various steps​‌ of the methods. In​​ the process, new error-free​​​‌ algorithms have been devised,​ and some formal proofs​‌ of the literature have​​ been simplified and clarified.​​​‌ Antoine also elaborated a​ new reimplementation of the​‌ model World3 itself in​​ Python for this task.​​​‌ This result is particularly​ important in a moment​‌ where the model gathers​​ renewed importance in the​​​‌ environmental science community. Antoine's​ post-doc will end in​‌ February 2026, but this​​ work will be extended​​​‌ by analyzing the relative​ importance of loops on​‌ targeted model variables, and​​ focusing next on the​​​‌ level of endogeneity of​ the model. We also​‌ plan to produce a​​ Python package devoted to​​​‌ the use of the​ LEEA method for large​‌ system dynamics models, as​​ new, more sophisticated models​​​‌ of the World3 type​ have been recently produced​‌ (e.g., Earth4all).

8.2 Feasability​​ of the energy transition​​​‌

Participants: Antonin Berthe,​ Pierre-Yves Longaretti, Emmanuel​‌ Prados, Olivier Vidal​​.

Louis Delannoy's thesis​​​‌ 46 showed that the​ question of peak oil,​‌ largely forgotten since the​​ 2008 crisis, needs to​​​‌ be addressed afresh. On​ the one hand, oil​‌ is the most critical​​ of the three fossil​​​‌ fuels, both in terms​ of its range of​‌ uses and of the​​ difficulty of its fast​​​‌ substitutability. On the other​ hand, oil supply will​‌ start to decline considerably​​ by 2030/2040, due to​​ falling energy returns on​​​‌ investment combined with falling‌ gross production, even assuming‌​‌ that untapped resources will​​ be brought on stream​​​‌ as quickly as possible‌ in the future. The‌​‌ question is not about​​ reserves, which are considerable,​​​‌ but about flows. From‌ an economic point of‌​‌ view, the problem posed​​ is whether demand will​​​‌ fall as fast or‌ faster than oil supply,‌​‌ particularly from a long-term​​ growth perspective. Both public​​​‌ discourse and the vast‌ majority of integrated models‌​‌ from the scientific community​​ assume that this is​​​‌ the case under the‌ impact of the energy‌​‌ transition, but this assumption​​ is not self-evident. The​​​‌ aim of Antonin Berthe's‌ thesis, which was defended‌​‌ in December, is to​​ quantify the tension dynamics​​​‌ of oil supply and‌ compare it with the‌​‌ possible deployment speed of​​ a transition to electricity,​​​‌ particularly in transport (which‌ accounts for more than‌​‌ half of our oil​​ use), in order to​​​‌ assess the possibility of‌ avoiding a long-term global‌​‌ structural macroeconomic crisis. The​​ main result of the​​​‌ thesis is that a‌ gap between oil demand‌​‌ and supply necessarily arises​​ around 2030 in a​​​‌ BAU (business as usual)‌ scenario in terms of‌​‌ global economic growth where​​ the saturation of the​​​‌ fraction of electric vehicles‌ in the world fleet‌​‌ reaches 25%, and delayed​​ only by a few​​​‌ years (2035-2040) when this‌ saturation level is increased‌​‌ to 50%. These two​​ saturation levels are shown​​​‌ in the thesis to‌ bracket all reasonable expectations‌​‌ on the electric vehicle​​ market share in the​​​‌ future.

8.3 CRISIS model‌

Participants: Pierre-Yves Longaretti.‌​‌

The CRISIS model (Cascading​​ Reactions in Society's Interconnected​​​‌ Systems) is designed to‌ address the role of‌​‌ energy tensions amplified by​​ financial speculation on structural​​​‌ macroeconomic crises. In particular,‌ this model aims at‌​‌ pinpointing the dynamical conditions​​ leading to long term​​​‌ economic decline and its‌ consequences. This work is‌​‌ a direct continuation of​​ the theses of Louis​​​‌ Delannoy and Antonin Berthe‌ in terms of global‌​‌ risks associated to the​​ upcoming oil supply contraction,​​​‌ although the focus shifts‌ from “physical” models to‌​‌ macroeconomic ones. The model​​ relies on the stock-flow​​​‌ consistent macroeconomic modeling framework,‌ which is a self-consistent‌​‌ approach to macroeconomic dynamics.​​ The framework enforces all​​​‌ macroeconomic identities, while making‌ no specific choices for‌​‌ the behavioral equations characterizing​​ the different sectors of​​​‌ a specific model (banking,‌ production, households, etc). As‌​‌ such the framework accomodates​​ as well orthodox or​​​‌ heterodox economic theories, although‌ it is mostly used‌​‌ by the heterodox post-keynesian​​ school of economic thought.​​​‌ The model is now‌ in its advanced production‌​‌ stage. A central BAU​​ scenario has been calibrated​​​‌ and simulated, without any‌ tension on resources or‌​‌ any financial speculation. This​​ idealized setting has been​​​‌ used to bracket the‌ relevant domain of variation‌​‌ of the main parameters​​ of the model. The​​​‌ speculation module of the‌ model is now also‌​‌ calibrated. Preliminary runs performed​​ in presence of speculation​​​‌ have been partially analyzed,‌ in particular with the‌​‌ objective to characterize the​​​‌ spectrum of financial market​ variations on the production​‌ sector, from normal, sedate​​ fluctuations to large magnitude​​​‌ crises, and comparison with​ data on real financial​‌ markets behavior. A very​​ comprehensive report detailing the​​​‌ model has been written,​ as well as an​‌ article preprint on the​​ sensitivity analysis of a​​​‌ simpler but somewhat related​ macroeconomic dynamical model, as​‌ a stepping stone to​​ produce a sensitivity analysis​​​‌ of the much more​ complex CRISIS model. However,​‌ this work has been​​ put on hold since​​​‌ Hugo Martin (post-doc who​ worked on the model)​‌ has left academia.

8.4​​ Action-research on the circular​​​‌ economy of construction and​ demolition waste

Participants: Jean-Yves​‌ Courtonne, Quentin Desvaux​​, Catherine Figuière,​​​‌ Guillaume Mandil.

Quentin​ Desvaux defended his thesis​‌ on December 19, 2025.​​ This interdisciplinary thesis between​​​‌ the STEEP team and​ CREG (political economics laboratory​‌ in Grenoble) was commissioned​​ by Grenoble Alpes Métropole​​​‌ (GAM), a community of​ municipalities with about 500,000​‌ inhabitants, to assist it​​ in implementing local policy​​​‌ on construction and demolition​ waste (CDW). As this​‌ waste lies at the​​ intersection of the construction​​​‌ and waste sectors, the​ specific focus of its​‌ management and treatment is​​ characterized by a tangle​​​‌ of transition dynamics between​ these two sectors and​‌ the different territorial scales.​​ The national policy resulting​​​‌ from the AGEC law​ (loi anti-gaspillage pour​‌ une économie circulaire)​​ overlaps with the territorial​​​‌ measures introduced by inter-municipal​ authorities as part of​‌ their waste management responsibilities,​​ thereby disrupting the construction​​​‌ waste sector.

This research​ work required efforts to​‌ mobilize and consult stakeholders​​ on the issues of​​​‌ reappropriating resources and transforming​ the production system with​‌ the aim of structuring​​ a territorial circular economy​​​‌ for construction materials. This​ action research process, carried​‌ out in immersion in​​ the department responsible for​​​‌ the prevention, collection, and​ treatment of GAM waste,​‌ made it possible to​​ analyze the dynamics of​​​‌ transformation in this sector.​

The challenges of diagnosis,​‌ stakeholder mobilization, and transformation​​ of a complex subject​​​‌ of study, requiring in-depth​ knowledge of the socio-technical​‌ dimensions that govern the​​ circulation of material flows,​​​‌ led to the design​ of an eclectic ad​‌ hoc methodology rooted in​​ an open disciplinary approach.​​​‌ The thesis, the result​ of several years of​‌ immersion, was constructed through​​ successive iterations between the​​​‌ development of detailed empirical​ knowledge and the questioning​‌ of the theoretical concepts​​ used, in particular that​​​‌ of sector metabolism, which​ quickly emerged as the​‌ cornerstone of the analysis.​​

By considering the sector​​​‌ as a social construct,​ whose architecture depends as​‌ much on technical linkages​​ as on the relationships​​​‌ and strategies that compose​ it, the analysis offers​‌ an interpretation of structural​​ transformations at the crossroads​​​‌ of upward and downward​ dynamics, between sectors and​‌ territories. This single-sector, multi-level​​ perspective extends the analysis​​​‌ of the system beyond​ the territory studied to​‌ capture the confrontation between​​ the geographical and sectoral​​​‌ logics that govern metabolism.​ The methodologies borrowed from​‌ action research, focused on​​ understanding and transforming social​​ reality, break down the​​​‌ barriers between academic and‌ operational knowledge by combining‌​‌ the theoretical contributions of​​ researchers with the technical​​​‌ expertise of practitioners. This‌ cross-disciplinary approach leads to‌​‌ the co-production of transformation​​ knowledges, actionable knowledge​​​‌ that supports the circular‌ and sustainable transformation of‌​‌ metabolism.

This thesis highlights​​ several obstacles that hinder​​​‌ the transformation process, starting‌ with the clash of‌​‌ organizational logics that oppose​​ the links in this​​​‌ emerging sector. Closing the‌ loop, originally designed by‌​‌ integrating a reuse link,​​ requires a systemic transformation​​​‌ of the sector to‌ ensure the effective reintegration‌​‌ of used materials into​​ the building stock. The​​​‌ transformation process, delegated to‌ pioneering players without the‌​‌ necessary resources being deployed,​​ is struggling to move​​​‌ beyond its experimental phase,‌ despite having demonstrated the‌​‌ viability of alternative construction​​ and deconstruction models. The​​​‌ political support required to‌ scale up these practices‌​‌ is nevertheless still geared​​ towards manufacturers and producers,​​​‌ who dictate how the‌ sector is organized, thereby‌​‌ accentuating the power imbalance.​​ The fundamental difference in​​​‌ orientation that distinguishes incremental‌ transition designs from disruptive‌​‌ transformation designs is therefore​​ hindering the momentum generated​​​‌ by GAM.

Ultimately, from‌ a research methodology perspective,‌​‌ this thesis also demonstrates​​ the relevance and originality​​​‌ of the interdisciplinary approach‌ adopted by the STEEP‌​‌ team's project for analyzing​​ and supporting public policies​​​‌ aimed at transforming complex‌ socio-ecological systems.

8.5 Systemic‌​‌ crisis propagation: study of​​ the health sector

Participants:​​​‌ Enzo Baquet, Valérie‌ d'Acremont, Serge Fenet‌​‌, Pierre-Yves Longaretti.​​

In January 2022, Enzo​​​‌ Baquet started a PhD‌ thesis focusing on the‌​‌ analysis of the dynamics​​ of the propagation of​​​‌ intra- and inter-sectoral disruptions‌ in the context of‌​‌ short-term crises (week to​​ year). While this work​​​‌ should ultimately lead to‌ the creation of a‌​‌ generic modeling methodology, it​​ first focuses on the​​​‌ thread given by a‌ particular case study: in‌​‌ the context of civil​​ health infrastructure, how can​​​‌ the impact of an‌ electrical blackout spread to‌​‌ different subcomponents of the​​ health sector, and impact​​​‌ health services. In order‌ to answer to this‌​‌ questions, Enzo spent one​​ year (from september 2023​​​‌ to september 2024) at‌ the Unisanté center of‌​‌ the University of Lausanne,​​ our partner in this​​​‌ project. He deployed a‌ participatory approach based on‌​‌ semi-directive interviews with several​​ actors of the civil​​​‌ health system and key‌ stakeholders of the Vaud‌​‌ district. The goal was​​ to gather caregivers' perceptions​​​‌ of an interruption of‌ electricity supply, the direct‌​‌ and indirect impacts they​​ could identify, their willingness​​​‌ or unwillingness to act,‌ and the actions they‌​‌ might already be taking.​​ Interviewees also explored the​​​‌ role that they would‌ see themselves playing in‌​‌ possible continuity plans that​​ might be put in​​​‌ place by the health‌ sector.

An article was‌​‌ submitted in the fall​​ of 2025 to a​​​‌ special issue "Disaster health‌ convergence: better integration of‌​‌ public health and disaster​​ medicine" of the International​​​‌ Journal of Public Health‌ with the title "Perceptions‌​‌ and needs of primary​​​‌ healthcare workers regarding electricity​ shortages and blackouts: A​‌ qualitative study using a​​ realistic narrative approach". It​​​‌ outlines the methodology employed​ during the research project,​‌ which included the creation​​ of scenarios that closely​​​‌ relate realistic deterioration in​ access to electricity in​‌ the Canton of Vaud​​ (Switzerland). It explores the​​​‌ reactions of caregivers to​ such a crisis and​‌ outlines several recommendations for​​ dealing with it.

8.6​​​‌ Energy flow for the​ Briançonnais area

Participants: Mathilde​‌ Boissier, Nils Ferrand​​, Emmanuel Krieger.​​​‌

The participatory process in​ the PETR du Grand​‌ Briançonnais (Pôle d'Equilibre Territorial​​ et Rural – Briançonnais,Ecrins​​​‌ et Guillestrois Queyras) has​ reached its end. After​‌ the formal launch with​​ the Banque des Territoires​​​‌ funding in 2024, followed​ by a sensitizing phase,​‌ a game creation (EnerKey,​​ see section 7.1.4)​​​‌ and the construction of​ energy flow analysis, the​‌ year 2025 has seen​​ the deployment of the​​​‌ game EnerKey, a priorization​ phase, the construction of​‌ a citizen action plan.​​ Meanwhile, an Energy Policy​​​‌ Council (Conseil d'Orientation​ des Énergie – COEn)​‌ has been created with​​ six colleges (energy professionals,​​​‌ public institutions, citizens, environmental​ NGO's, citizen NGO's, socio-professionals).​‌ This COEn should extend​​ the participatory process by​​​‌ keeping some dialogue between​ the colleges, keeping the​‌ citizen action plan in​​ mind. A scientific evaluation​​​‌ of the process in​ its globality is expected​‌ in 2026 with an​​ article to be written.​​​‌

Along this project, a​ modelling work was carried​‌ out by Emmanuel Krieger,​​ a PhD student in​​​‌ the team, to represent​ the energy flow diagrams​‌ of the PETR of​​ Briançonnais, Écrins and Guillestrois-Queyras,​​​‌ in order to support​ the debates in a​‌ concertation process on the​​ territory's energy policy (see​​​‌ section 6.1). The​ aim is twofold: for​‌ the inhabitants of the​​ territory, it is to​​​‌ provide information on how​ it operates in order​‌ to inform the decisions,​​ and for our team,​​​‌ it is to test​ the use of these​‌ diagrams. Most of the​​ diagrams have been constructed​​​‌ using open data. However,​ these data do not​‌ cover all the energy-related​​ issues identified for this​​​‌ territory, so modelling was​ carried out to quantify​‌ the missing parts. These​​ include electricity imports and​​​‌ exports, the disaggregation of​ sectoral energy uses, the​‌ breakdown of final energy​​ into useful energy, the​​​‌ allocation of energy to​ different categories of users,​‌ and the energy used​​ by tourists to enter​​​‌ and leave the territory.​ These models have been​‌ produced in various ways:​​ by generalisation from sub-regional​​​‌ data, by down-scaling from​ national data, through harmonisation​‌ by making data comparable,​​ etc. All the data​​​‌ produced in this way​ were then reconciled with​‌ the open data already​​ collected to produce the​​​‌ energy flow diagrams. Workshops​ and presentations have been​‌ conducted and given at​​ different moment of the​​​‌ process (December 2024, January​ 2025, February 2025, during​‌ the construction of the​​ action plan in March​​​‌ and April 2025). There​ is now an ongoing​‌ work to evaluate this​​ work: how did these​​ diagrams presentations influence the​​​‌ dialogues between participants? How‌ did they support their‌​‌ decisions? Taking a reflexive​​ step on these diagrams​​​‌ construction, what scientific posture‌ has been used during‌​‌ this work? From this​​ experience, what are the​​​‌ insights for improving scientific‌ support to stakeholders? This‌​‌ should result into scientific​​ article production in 2026.​​​‌

8.7 Reducing discrepancies in‌ agricultural trade flow analysis‌​‌

Participants: Enora Barrau,​​ Jean-Yves Courtonne, Tara​​​‌ Pacurar-Leroux.

In this‌ study, we are assessing‌​‌ how reliable international trade​​ data are when used​​​‌ to analyze agricultural trade‌ flows, particularly in the‌​‌ context of sustainability transitions.​​ Conducted as part of​​​‌ an applied internship hosted‌ by the STEEP Team‌​‌ at Inria Grenoble-Alpes, the​​ research addresses the following​​​‌ challenge: the inconsistency of‌ reported trade data across‌​‌ raw sources, which complicates​​ the modeling of agricultural​​​‌ material flow, its trades,‌ and their impact on‌​‌ the environment, and employment.​​ The approach involves collection,​​​‌ cleaning, and preparation of‌ trade databases, followed by‌​‌ an analysis of their​​ characteristics. Through the selection​​​‌ of relevant indicators, the‌ study assesses data consistency‌​‌ and selected two major​​ databases to rely on:​​​‌ COMTRADE, for raw‌ data, and BACI.‌​‌ A critical step involved​​ comparing the discrepancies observed​​​‌ between exporter and importer‌ declarations, highlighting the importance‌​‌ of reconciliation procedures to​​ harmonize data for robust​​​‌ analysis. In order to‌ support future data exploration,‌​‌ interactive visualization tools were​​ developed. Multiple levels of​​​‌ granularity are considered; by‌ product and by country,‌​‌ facilitating the identification of​​ patterns, anomalies, and potential​​​‌ biases in the data.‌ In terms of methodology,‌​‌ this work demonstrates how​​ combining statistical analysis with​​​‌ econometric modelling, and statistical‌ validation and results' visualization‌​‌ facilitates the interpretation of​​ complex trade data. It​​​‌ also emphasizes the value‌ of documenting the construction‌​‌ of selected datasets to​​ ensure transparency and reproducibility.​​​‌ One of the main‌ outcomes of the study‌​‌ is that the BACI​​ database, developed by CEPII​​​‌, provides a more‌ consistent representation of international‌​‌ agricultural trade, serving as​​ an effective reference between​​​‌ conflicting international reports. While‌ a full analysis of‌​‌ BACI's reliability could not​​ be completed within the​​​‌ internship timeframe, the development‌ of reproducible tools for‌​‌ data validation and visualization​​ lays the groundwork for​​​‌ more detailed assessments. Finally,‌ the findings underscore the‌​‌ critical role of harmonized​​ and high-quality trade data​​​‌ in evaluating environmental footprints,‌ resource use, and employment‌​‌ effects across agricultural supply​​ chains.

8.8 What frameworks​​​‌ and methodologies enable a‌ needs-oriented approach to territorial‌​‌ ecology?

Participants: Julien Cambonie​​, Thomas Gotteland,​​​‌ Emmanuel Prados, Renaud‌ Metereau.

In 2025,‌​‌ we began research with​​ an intern (Julien Cambonie)​​​‌ seeking to propose a‌ new framework for a‌​‌ needs-oriented approach to territorial​​ ecology.

Before rethinking our​​​‌ socio-political modes of organization‌ and looking at the‌​‌ transformations in the means​​ of production of our​​​‌ material conditions of existence,‌ we felt it was‌​‌ necessary to question what​​ we really need to​​​‌ live well in society‌ in a specific geographical‌​‌ and cultural space. We​​​‌ therefore focused on the​ question of needs at​‌ the level of a​​ particular living area, that​​​‌ of the Grenoble region.​ In this reflection, we​‌ drew on two theoretical​​ approaches to needs: that​​​‌ of Doyal and Gough​ 48, and the​‌ complementary approach based on​​ Max-Neef's matrix 55.​​​‌ We then explored the​ tools, linked to these​‌ theories and applied to​​ the Grenoble area, which​​​‌ enable us to measure​ or evaluate the satisfaction​‌ of a number of​​ specific needs. These tools​​​‌ are the Grenoble donut,​ based on Kate Raworth's​‌ theory 60, and​​ the IBEST well-being indicator​​​‌.

Our student also​ attempted to describe, on​‌ a regional scale, the​​ functioning and organization of​​​‌ the supply system for​ our needs satisfiers in​‌ order to identify its​​ vulnerabilities to risks related​​​‌ to collapse processes, as​ well as the levers​‌ for addressing them. He​​ was then able to​​​‌ propose a set of​ methodological tools from territorial​‌ ecology, accompanied by the​​ concept of territorial metabolism,​​​‌ to provide an initial​ response to this issue.​‌ However, this attempted response,​​ applied to the Grenoble​​​‌ region, remained limited and​ incomplete. It remains necessary​‌ to continue developing methods​​ and tools that provide​​​‌ more detailed and comprehensive​ answers concerning the satisfaction​‌ of needs, based on​​ territorial metabolism, with a​​​‌ view to strengthening our​ capacity to adapt to​‌ future shocks.

This work​​ will be continued as​​​‌ part of the work​ of Thomas Gotteland, who​‌ began his PhD thesis​​ in December 2025.

8.9​​​‌ Serious games for the​ exploration and analysis of​‌ sociotechnical alternatives

Participants: Mathilde​​ Boissier, Matthieu Planchot​​​‌.

Accounting in terms​ of biophysical flows is​‌ one grid of analysis​​ providing insights on the​​​‌ sustainability of socio-technical alternatives.​ These tools are indeed​‌ relevant to highlight systemic​​ effects (interdisciplinary understandings, spatial​​​‌ and temporal scales) on​ resources and important pressures​‌ to consider for the​​ transformation of territories. Yet,​​​‌ this biophysical flow vision​ remains for expert use​‌ only, whereas one of​​ the challenges of transition​​​‌ territories is to involve​ the populations in participatory​‌ processes. Among diverse participatory​​ tools, serious games have​​​‌ long since proven their​ ability to sensitize to​‌ sustainability issues, facilitate learning​​ and support changes. We​​​‌ aim to develop several​ games to play with​‌ material and energy flows​​ while discussing the futur​​​‌ of their territories. This​ involves every stage of​‌ modeling (capturing reality into​​ a biophysical and governance​​​‌ model, making this model​ simple enough to be​‌ played with, and bring​​ back this model into​​​‌ the real world to​ collectively transform a territory's​‌ organization), game design as​​ well as lab and​​​‌ field experiments. After developing​ two simple games in​‌ 2022 (see our 2022​​ Activity Report), we​​​‌ have designed a modeling​ framework – TransKey (see​‌ section 7.1.3 and 2​​) – based on​​​‌ social metabolism. In 2024,​ the game had been​‌ developped enough (both in​​ a software and a​​​‌ material version) to start​ the evaluation (and publication)​‌ process. In 2025, Matthieu​​ Planchot, a master student​​ in TEET (ENSE3, Grenoble​​​‌ INP), has joined the‌ team for an internship.‌​‌ The objective was to​​ define and design a​​​‌ rigorous process to evaluate‌ the game, as well‌​‌ as the use of​​ Sankey diagrams in the​​​‌ players' strategies. The evaluation‌ itself is planned for‌​‌ 2026, and a publication​​ is expected.

8.10 Participatory​​​‌ research on energy sufficiency‌

Participants: Mathilde Boissier,‌​‌ Jonathan Coignard, Angèle​​ Demarquilly, Sacha Hodencq​​​‌, Jessica Zaphiropoulo.‌

Launched in 2024, thanks‌​‌ to an IRGA exploratory​​ funding (Université Grenoble Alpes),​​​‌ this activity involves researchers‌ from different disciplines (energy‌​‌ modeling, spatial planning, participatory​​ research). it aims at​​​‌ exploring how to discuss‌ energy sufficiency collectively in‌​‌ the society as well​​ as at documenting about​​​‌ interdisciplinary research work, with‌ a reflective dimension about‌​‌ academic research. 2024 has​​ been the beginning of​​​‌ the project with and‌ analysis of the literature,‌​‌ sharing knowledge and methods​​ between the members, and​​​‌ testing a first workshop‌ design to make participants‌​‌ consider collective sufficiency. In​​ 2025, Angèle Demarquilly, student​​​‌ in Master de Design‌ de la Transition,‌​‌ has joined the team​​ during a 6-month internship.​​​‌ She has worked on‌ the literature, characterizing interesting‌​‌ participatory actions about sufficiency,​​ worked on new workshops​​​‌ and realized the first‌ steps of a field‌​‌ work with the city​​ of Saint Martin d'Hères,​​​‌ with formalized observations and‌ interviews. The insights gained‌​‌ from this two year​​ project are the following:​​​‌

• an interdisciplinary consideration on‌ the notion of limits,‌​‌ going beyond planetary boundaries,​​ to explore localized energy​​​‌ limits that can be‌ acted upon by local‌​‌ organizations, in order to​​ make sufficiency a structuring​​​‌ principle of socio-technical systems‌ and to equip action.‌​‌
• contacts with territories, challenging​​ the energy focus to​​​‌ involve other issues. For‌ example, local authorities wishing‌​‌ to reduce the energy​​ consumption of public buildings​​​‌ must consider issues such‌ as the sharing of‌​‌ equipment, usage slots, social​​ ties, and public services.​​​‌ Thus, sufficiency requires the‌ engineering of sharing and‌​‌ transparent decision-making procedures, according​​ to two methodological requirements:​​​‌ approaching sufficiency through uses‌ and at scales relevant‌​‌ to the partner territories;​​ and making participation a​​​‌ tool for knowledge production‌ and regulation, rather than‌​‌ simply a means of​​ ensuring acceptability.
• a partial​​​‌ mapping and categorization of‌ a set of projects‌​‌ aimed at promoting energy​​ sufficiency through participatory approaches.​​​‌

Applications for further fundings‌ have been made to‌​‌ keep working on this​​ topic in 2026.

8.11​​​‌ Analysis of the science-society‌ interface in the Grenoble‌​‌ area

Participants: Mathilde Boissier​​, Souraya Mahamoud.​​​‌

With the aim of‌ launching a research project‌​‌ on science-society interfaces and​​ creating new spaces to​​​‌ formalize them (e.g., science‌ shops – boutiques de‌​‌ science), Souraya Mahamoud,​​ a master's student in​​​‌ transition design, joined the‌ team for six months‌​‌ in the spring. The​​ aim of this internship​​​‌ was to initiate a‌ situated analysis of the‌​‌ relationships between science and​​ society in the Grenoble​​​‌ area, identifying the actors‌ who already bridge the‌​‌ gap between academic research​​​‌ and civil society and​ characterizing how they bring​‌ these interfaces to life.​​ Thesis funding under the​​​‌ PEPR EcoNum program has​ been obtained to continue​‌ this work at the​​ latest from 2028 onwards.​​​‌

8.12 Reflexivity on the​ use of material and​‌ energy flow analysis models​​ with stakeholders

Participants: Mathilde​​​‌ Boissier, Jean-Yves Courtonne​.

Following the Scalable​‌ project (2021-2024), some reflexive​​ work has been done​​​‌ to propose an evaluation​ framework to the use​‌ of material and energy​​ flow analysis models with​​​‌ stakeholders. Complementing the Scalable​ case study with the​‌ interviews of researchers involved​​ in 3 other projects,​​​‌ a step back has​ been taken, until the​‌ production of a book​​ chapter about metabolism studies.​​​‌ This chapter is currently​ under review.

8.13 On​‌ computing and exploring multiple​​ consistent metabolisms in Material​​​‌ Flow Analysis

Participants: Thibaut​ Coudroy, Jean-Yves Courtonne​‌, Alexandre Honorat,​​ Peter Sturm.

In​​​‌ Thibaut Coudroy's PhD thesis​ we currently focus on​‌ how to compute and​​ explore bio-physically consistent metabolisms​​​‌ for foresight scenarios using​ Material Flow Analysis (MFA).​‌ MFA tools usually output​​ a single solution or​​​‌ a posterior distribution. We​ consider another option, particularly​‌ for the iterative construction​​ of foresight scenarios, by​​​‌ proposing to compute and​ then explore several close-to-optimal​‌ but widely different solutions.​​ This work is embedded​​​‌ in the development of​ the STAX software (see​‌ section 7.1.2).

In​​ the following, a model​​​‌ is an oriented bipartite​ graph relating resources/products and​‌ activities/sectors through flows. Model​​ variables comprise flows/funds, nodes​​​‌ (e.g. total supply of​ a product), and coefficients​‌ (e.g. transfer coefficients of​​ a production sector, proportion​​​‌ of alternative production modes​ in a sector). A​‌ (foresight) scenario consists of​​ a set of hypotheses​​​‌ on these variables, in​ the form of constraints​‌ and user-defined target values,​​ the latter given through​​​‌ probability distributions. An alternative​ is a valuation of​‌ all variables satisfying all​​ constraints; that is a​​​‌ consistent metabolism. A scenario​ may be:

1. Uniquely specified.​‌ A single alternative conforms​​ to all hypotheses.
2. Ambiguous.​​​‌ Parts of the model​ may be subject to​‌ one or both of:​​
   1. Over-specification, i.e. there are​​​‌ too many hypotheses on​ the same variables. Incompatible​‌ constraints must be removed​​ by the user, then​​​‌ data reconciliation is used​ to find consistent metabolisms.​‌
   2. Under-specification, i.e. there are​​ not enough hypotheses to​​​‌ define the values (even​ though intervals for admissible​‌ variable values may still​​ be determined).

Data reconciliation​​​‌ in 2.a. can be​ done through solving an​‌ optimization problem under constraints.​​ Such problems may have​​​‌ a non-convex cost function​ (resulting from distributions such​‌ as log-normal) and/or non-linear​​ constraints (e.g. resulting from​​​‌ transfer coefficients), leading to​ multiple locally optimal solutions.​‌ The global optimum can​​ be found using a​​​‌ global solver, and the​ latter is also useful​‌ to explore close-to-optimal solutions,​​ as shown below. A​​​‌ global solver is an​ alternative to sample-based approaches​‌ such as MCMC-based ones,​​ which are more common​​​‌ in the MFA literature.​ While the latter compute​‌ an approximation of the​​ variables' complete posterior probability,​​ the former is potentially​​​‌ more efficient and may‌ also be used to‌​‌ bootstrap the posterior's computation​​ (not explored yet by​​​‌ us). In our work,‌ we use the SCIP‌​‌ solver which turns out​​ to handle well the​​​‌ cost functions and constraints‌ mentioned above.

By default,‌​‌ SCIP outputs a single​​ solution. We propose an​​​‌ algorithm that builds on‌ top of this in‌​‌ order to explore a​​ scenario's option space, by​​​‌ computing multiple solutions, requiring‌ them to be not‌​‌ too far from the​​ global optimum in terms​​​‌ of cost function as‌ well as to be‌​‌ as different from one​​ another as possible. First,​​​‌ the global optimum is‌ found using SCIP. Then,‌​‌ the user sets a​​ maximum bound for other​​​‌ solutions based on the‌ optimum's cost function. We‌​‌ then alternate between two​​ steps: (i) Candidate identification,​​​‌ which is finding the‌ furthest solution from the‌​‌ already known ones and​​ that is within the​​​‌ bound on cost. (ii)‌ Local minimization starting from‌​‌ that solution; the result​​ is added to the​​​‌ list of computed solutions.‌

In future work, we‌​‌ will focus on an​​ interactive step-by-step exploration where​​​‌ the user adds constraints‌ successively, restricting the option‌​‌ space (including the update​​ of intervals) until the​​​‌ scenario becomes uniquely specified.‌ This will be especially‌​‌ useful for case 2.b.​​

We also carried out​​​‌ an in-depth study of‌ different options of cost‌​‌ functions for MFA, with​​ an analysis of the​​​‌ multiplicity of solutions. The‌ results will be published‌​‌ in a forthcoming technical​​ report.

9.1 International initiatives‌

9.2 International research​​​‌ visitors

9.3 National initiatives‌​‌

9.4​‌ Project submissions

In 2025,​​ Emmanuel Prados increased his​​​‌ interactions with various civil​ society actors (including artists​‌ and associations) in the​​ Grenoble area (but also,​​​‌ to a lesser extent,​ at the national level),​‌ as well as with​​ researchers working in various​​​‌ disciplines (particularly the social​ sciences and humanities, health,​‌ and environmental sciences) with​​ the aim of setting​​​‌ up action research projects​ that would be jointly​‌ supported by these actors.​​ These interactions led, for​​​‌ example, to the submission​ of small projects that​‌ were unfortunately not accepted​​ (and which continue to​​​‌ be refined for future​ submission). One example is​‌ the “Faire Face, Faire​​ Cinéma” project, set up​​​‌ with film directors in​ response to the 2026​‌ call for projects of​​ the SFR Création (​​​‌Structure Fédérative de Recherche​) at the University​‌ Grenoble Alpes.

Mathilde Boissier​​ submitted several projets by​​​‌ end 2025, with partners​ of other labs in​‌ Grenoble (results in 2026):​​

• POESI, submitted to the​​​‌ special call for doctoral​ grants of University Grenoble​‌ Alpes
• FOLIS, sublitted to​​ the call for post-doctoral​​​‌ grants of LabEx EnergyAlps​
• SECOREEP, sublitted to the​‌ call Résilience et Robustesse​​ of CNRS-MITI.

9.5 Public​​​‌ policy support

9.5.4 Local Risk Report​​​‌ for the Grenoble Metropolitan‌ Area

The local authorities‌​‌ of Grenoble and adjacent​​ territories2 have launched​​​‌ a long-term initiative entitled‌ l'Atelier des Futurs.‌​‌ Its goal is to​​ reconsider public action with​​​‌ regard to the complexity‌ of current and coming‌​‌ issues (social, economic, environmental)​​ and often contradictory injunctions​​​‌ between the urgencies of‌ the short term and‌​‌ the uncertainties of the​​ long term. To be​​​‌ able to better understand‌ the changes linked to‌​‌ the climate and social​​ degradations, and the associated​​​‌ public action methods, to‌ share knowledge and experiences:‌​‌ these are the expectations​​ expressed by elected officials​​​‌ faced with the complexity‌ of territorial issues. STEEP‌​‌ was the first academic​​ partner to join the​​​‌ initiative and sign (through‌ Inria) its charter.‌​‌ We are particularly interested​​ in aspects related to​​​‌ territorial prospective, participation, and‌ risk analysis which are‌​‌ at the heart of​​ the initiative.

The first​​​‌ concrete action launched within‌ l'Atelier des Futurs is‌​‌ concerned with the creation​​ of a “Local Risk​​​‌ Report” for the area‌ (about 500,000 inhabitants), nicknamed‌​‌ RARRe (Rapport annuel sur​​ les risques et la​​​‌ résilience dans la région‌ Grenobloise). STEEP has been‌​‌ involved since the beginning​​ in 2022, to provide​​​‌ scientific and general expertise.‌ The idea of this‌​‌ action is to identify​​ vulnerabilities and especially, systemic​​​‌ links between them, as‌ well as attenuation or‌​‌ preparation measures, in order​​ to inform public policies.​​​‌ The report is planned‌ to appear on an‌​‌ annual basis. The methodology​​ used is inspired by​​​‌ the Davos Economic Forum's‌ annual Global Risks report‌​‌. Our Systemic Risk​​​‌ Fresco (see Section 10.3.2​) was used, among​‌ other approaches, to fuel​​ preparatory discussions.

Overview of​​​‌ the 6 families of​ risks identified in the​‌ l'Atelier des Futurs initiative.​​

In 2023, 44​​​‌ risks were identified as​ relevant to the Grenoble​‌ area. They are grouped​​ into 6 thematic families​​​‌ (see Figure 7):​

• Climate change, pollution, ecosystem​‌ collapse and natural or​​ technological disasters
• (Un) availability​​​‌ of ressources and (dys)​ functioning of networks
• Economic​‌ activities
• (In) ability to​​ act, anticipate and transform​​​‌
• (In) capacity to respond​ to social needs
• Social​‌ cohesion

A questionnaire was​​ created, tested, and then​​​‌ submitted to four panels​ of stakeholders (elected officials,​‌ citizens, business owners, local​​ development councils). The goal​​​‌ was to understand how​ these risks are perceived​‌ by the population, in​​ terms of gravity, likelihood​​​‌ (or being already in​ existence), possibility to act​‌ against them, the effect​​ of actions already in​​​‌ place, the differentiation between​ local and global impacts​‌ of risks, etc.

The​​ first edition of the​​​‌ RARRe was published in​ 2024, the second one​‌ in 2025. It​​ contains a description and​​​‌ documentation of the above-mentioned​ risks and an analysis​‌ of the responses of​​ the poll carried out​​​‌ based on the above​ questionnaire. In 2025, STEEP​‌ participated in the following​​ events around this report:​​​‌

• Peter Sturm participated in​ the Forum du RARRe​‌: forum for elected​​ officials on the annual​​​‌ report on risks and​ resilience of the greater​‌ Grenoble area (RARRe​​ – Rapport Annuel sur​​​‌ les Risques et la​ Résilience dans la Région​‌ Grenobloise). Side-event of​​ the Biennale des Villes​​​‌ en Transition, May​ 2025.
• Peter Sturm participated​‌ in the animation of​​ a prospective exercise of​​​‌ the Pacte Économique Local​, gathering over 50​‌ business leaders of the​​ larger Grenoble area. The​​​‌ exercise focused on risks​ and resilience and built​‌ on the annual report​​ on risks and resilience​​​‌ of the greater Grenoble​ area (RARRe –​‌ Rapport Annuel sur les​​ Risques et la Résilience​​​‌ dans la Région Grenobloise​).

10.1​‌ Promoting scientific activities

10.2 Teaching - Supervision‌​‌ - Juries - Educational​​ and pedagogical outreach

10.3 Popularization‌

10.3.2 Productions​‌ (articles, videos, podcasts, serious​​ games, ...)

Articles.

• Sophie​​​‌ Wahnich wrote an article​ entitled Utopie nécessaire :​‌ Des lignes de vie​​ à tracer, published​​​‌ by Revue Projet.
• Jean-Yves​ Courtonne and Guillaume Mandil​‌ wrote an article entitled​​ Points de vigilance sur​​​‌ l'économie circulaire et recommandations​, published on the​‌ website of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes​​ region's circular economy network​​​‌ (Réseau de l'économie​ circulaire de la région​‌ Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes).

Media.

• Sophie​​ Wahnich was interviewed by​​​‌ L'Humanité, together with​ economist Jean-Marie Harribey. The​‌ interview gave rise to​​ the article Le capitalisme,​​​‌ un horizon indépassable ?​ (1/4).
• Hannah Gelblat-Laugier​‌ was interviewed on her​​ PhD work by the​​​‌ online media Curieux !​. The interview gave​‌ rise to an article​​ entitled Science can help​​​‌ rethink health in the​ face of health crises,​‌ environmental crises, and austerity​​ policies. (La science​​​‌ peut aider à repenser​ la santé face aux​‌ crises sanitaires, environnementales et​​ aux politiques d'austérité).​​​‌
• Interview with Serge Fenet​ and Pierre-Yves Longaretti by​‌ Oma-Radio about the publication​​ of the book “World3​​​‌ et le rapport Meadows,​ les limites à la​‌ croissance ; questions raisonnées​​ pour aujourd'hui” co-authored and​​​‌ edited by the STEEP​ team 17, March​‌ 25, 2025.
• Denis Dupré,​​ Serge Fenet and Peter​​ Sturm were guests in​​​‌ the radio show "La‌ Télé au placard" of‌​‌ Radio Grésivaudan, to give​​ an interview on the​​​‌ 10 year anniversary of‌ the Understanding and Acting‌​‌ conference-debate series (see section​​ 10.3.1). The interview​​​‌ is accessible here.‌
• The territorial dialogue described‌​‌ in section 6.1 was​​ covered in several newspaper​​​‌ articles:
  • The creation of‌ the Energy Policy Council‌​‌ (Conseil d'Orientation des​​ Énergie) was reported​​​‌ in
    • Le Conseil d'Orientation‌ des énergies sera lancé‌​‌ ce mercredi, Le​​ Dauphiné Libéré, 02/07/2025
    • Naissance​​​‌ du Conseil des Energies‌ Locales, Alpes et‌​‌ midi, 30/06/2025
    • Conseil d'orientation​​ des énergies un appel​​​‌ à candidatures, Le‌ Dauphiné Libéré, 23/05/2025
  • The‌​‌ construction of the territorial​​ action plan was covered​​​‌ in
    • Dialogue Territorial Energie‌ : Retour sur la‌​‌ journée de travail,​​ Alpes et Midi, 14/04/2025​​​‌
    • Dialogue Territorial Énergie :‌ Définir ensemble la stratégie‌​‌ énergétique du territoire,​​ Alpes et Midi, 10/03/2025​​​‌
  • General articles on the‌ project:
    • Les rencontres publiques‌​‌ sur l'énergie se poursuivent​​, Le Dauphiné Libéré,​​​‌ 22/02/2025
    • Rencontre publique sur‌ l'energie, Le Dauphiné‌​‌ Libéré, 24/01/2025
    • Ateliers, carnaval,​​ théâtre, conférence : février​​​‌ est en fête,‌ Le Dauphiné Libéré, 06/02/2025.‌​‌

Systemic Risk Fresco.

Systemic​​ risks emerge from interactions​​​‌ within a system in‌ which vulnerabilities are present.‌​‌ If elements of a​​ system are sensitive and​​​‌ sufficiently intertwined, disrupting one‌ or several of them‌​‌ can spread over the​​ whole system, triggering chain​​​‌ reactions and feedback. Systemic‌ thinking is not straightforward‌​‌ 63. Courses in​​ education are often specialized,​​​‌ focusing on one or‌ few themes or objects.‌​‌ Students often go from​​ one subject to the​​​‌ other, without linking them.‌ “All other things being‌​‌ equal” type reasoning then​​ implicitly arises. This kind​​​‌ of reasoning is consequently‌ blind to interactions with‌​‌ – and vulnerabilities to​​ – changes in other​​​‌ elements of a system.‌

Studying Global Systemic Risks‌​‌ logically implies systemic thinking.​​ Four PhD students of​​​‌ the team (Alexandre Borthomieu,‌ Antonin Berthe, Léon Fauste,‌​‌ and Mathilde Jochaud du​​ Plessix) created a game​​​‌ to vulgarize this kind‌ of thinking. The Global‌​‌ Systemic Risks fresco (​​Fresque des risques systémiques​​​‌ globaux) is a‌ serious game aimed at‌​‌ broadening the understanding of​​ this aspect. It enables​​​‌ participants to explore interactions‌ within a system and‌​‌ the spreading of disruptions.​​ The game is a​​​‌ visual and spatial representation‌ of the core elements‌​‌ of western societies.

A​​ session takes place in​​​‌ three stages: (i) the‌ construction of the fresco,‌​‌ (ii) the exploration of​​ breakthrough scenarios and (iii)​​​‌ a time of “return‌ to reality”. In the‌​‌ first stage, participants are​​ invited to construct a​​​‌ map of elements they‌ consider important for society;‌​‌ they are guided to​​ first think about primary​​​‌ needs, then means to‌ answer such needs (such‌​‌ as education or a​​ construction sector) and finally,​​​‌ “sectors” allowing to realize‌ these means (energy and‌​‌ materials, finance and geopolitics,​​ “the environment”). Links between​​​‌ all these elements represent‌ dependencies (see figure 8‌​‌ for a sample outcome).​​​‌

Photograph showing the outcome​ produced by participants of​‌ one workshop of the​​ Systemic Risk Fresco, after​​​‌ phase I.

In​ the second stage, the​‌ thus established map allows​​ to explore scenarios and​​​‌ questions such as how​ disruptions in one of​‌ the elements are links​​ can spread through the​​​‌ system. The goal is​ to foster insight in​‌ the systemic nature of​​ our socio-ecological system and​​​‌ to encourage participants to​ think about our needs​‌ in a new way,​​ adapted to a degraded​​​‌ environment, and then eventually​ to create or imagine​‌ more resilient alternatives. As​​ these topics are sources​​​‌ of discomfort and strong​ emotions, a workshop ends​‌ with a third stage,​​ to share feedback on​​​‌ what they have just​ experienced, as well as​‌ a time for sharing​​ emotions, which we believe​​​‌ is now essential for​ any research or knowledge​‌ creation around social and​​ environmental issues that affect​​​‌ each person in different​ ways. Moreover, we believe​‌ that this time allows​​ participants to be accompanied​​​‌ in the “return to​ reality” and to limit​‌ the feeling of powerlessness.​​

The Global Systemic Risks​​​‌ fresco has been employed​ in various workshops with​‌ different types of audience​​ (scientists, students, general public)​​​‌ and we use it​ now routinely in several​‌ courses at university. It​​ has also been demonstrated​​​‌ to members of the​ public authorities involved in​‌ the l'Atelier des Futurs​​ initiative (section 9.5.4),​​​‌ as an input to​ the preparation of the​‌ Local Risk Report for​​ the Grenoble area.

For​​​‌ more details on the​ fresco, please refer to​‌ this report.

11.1 Major publications​​​‌

• 1 articleM.Michela​ Bevione, J.-Y.Jean-Yves​‌ Courtonne, B.Buclet​​ Nicolas, P.-Y.Pierre-Yves​​​‌ Longaretti and Q.Quentin​ Desvaux. Analyzing the​‌ vulnerabilities and capabilities of​​ wealth creation activities in​​​‌ the Maurienne valley in​ the French Alps.​‌Regional Environmental Change22​​64May 2022,​​​‌ 1-44HALDOI
• 2​ inproceedingsM.Mathilde Boissier​‌, N.Nils Ferrand​​, E.Emmanuel Krieger​​​‌, J.-Y.Jean-Yves Courtonne​ and P.Peter Sturm​‌. Playing with flows​​ in transition territories.​​​‌Nicolas Becu. Simulation and​ Gaming for Social and​‌ Environmental Transitions.: Proceedings of​​ the 54th Conference of​​​‌ the International Simulation and​ Gaming Association. 2023, 979-10-415-2760-1.​‌ ⟨halshs-04209935⟩ISAGA 2023 -​​ 54th edition of the​​​‌ International Simulation and Gaming​ for Social and Environmental​‌ TransitionsLa Rochelle, France​​September 2023HALback​​​‌ to text
• 3 article​T.Thomas Capelle,​‌ P.Peter Sturm,​​ A.Arthur Vidard and​​​‌ B.Brian Morton.​ Calibration of the Tranus​‌ Land Use Module: Optimisation-Based​​ Algorithms, their Validation, and​​ Parameter Selection by Statistical​​​‌ Model Selection.Computers,‌ Environment and Urban Systems‌​‌77September 2019,​​ 101146:1-13HALDOI
• 4​​​‌ articleJ.-Y.Jean-Yves Courtonne‌, J.Julien Alapetite‌​‌, P.-Y.Pierre-Yves Longaretti​​, D.Denis Dupré​​​‌ and E.Emmanuel Prados‌. Downscaling material flow‌​‌ analysis: The case of​​ the cereal supply chain​​​‌ in France.Ecological‌ Economics118October 2015‌​‌, 67-80HALDOI​​
• 5 inproceedingsJ.-Y.Jean-Yves​​​‌ Courtonne, J.Julien‌ Alapetite, V.Vincent‌​‌ Wawrzyiak and M.Michela​​ Bevione. The AF​​​‌ Filières project: application of‌ PSUT frameworks for regional‌​‌ analyses of agriculture and​​ forestry supply chains and​​​‌ footprints in France.‌ESEE 2019 - 13th‌​‌ International Conference of the​​ European Society for Ecological​​​‌ EconomicsTurku, FinlandJune‌ 2019, 1-4HAL‌​‌
• 6 articleJ.-Y.Jean-Yves​​ Courtonne, P.-Y.Pierre-Yves​​​‌ Longaretti, J.Julien‌ Alapetite and D.Denis‌​‌ Dupré. Environmental Pressures​​ Embodied in the French​​​‌ Cereals Supply Chain.‌Journal of Industrial Ecology‌​‌2032016,​​ 423-434HALDOI
• 7​​​‌ articleL.Louis Delannoy‌, P.-Y.Pierre-Yves Longaretti‌​‌, D.David Murphy​​ and E.Emmanuel Prados​​​‌. Assessing Global Long-Term‌ EROI of Gas: A‌​‌ Net-Energy Perspective on the​​ Energy Transition.Energies​​​‌1416August 2021‌, 5112HALDOI‌​‌
• 8 articleL.Louis​​ Delannoy, P.-Y.Pierre-Yves​​​‌ Longaretti, D.David‌ Murphy and E.Emmanuel‌​‌ Prados. Peak oil​​ and the low-carbon energy​​​‌ transition: A net-energy perspective‌.Applied Energy304‌​‌December 2021, 1-17​​HALDOI
• 9 article​​​‌Q.Quentin Desvaux,‌ J.-Y.Jean-Yves Courtonne,‌​‌ C.Catherine Figuière and​​ G.Guillaume Mandil.​​​‌ The transformation of Grenoble‌ Alpes Métropole’s construction industry:‌​‌ a comparative analysis of​​ transition mechanisms guided by​​​‌ action research.Géographie,‌ Économie, Société262-3‌​‌2024, 425-452HAL​​
• 10 inproceedingsL.Luciano​​​‌ Gervasoni, M.Martí‌ Bosch, S.Serge‌​‌ Fenet and P.Peter​​ Sturm. A framework​​​‌ for evaluating urban land‌ use mix from crowd-sourcing‌​‌ data.2nd International​​ Workshop on Big Data​​​‌ for Sustainable DevelopmentWashington‌ DC, United StatesIEEE‌​‌December 2016, 2147-2156​​HALDOI
• 11 inproceedings​​​‌J.Jérôme Gippet,‌ S.Serge Fenet,‌​‌ A.Adeline Dumet,​​ B.Bernard Kaufmann and​​​‌ C.Charles Rocabert.‌ MoRIS: Model of Routes‌​‌ of Invasive Spread. Human-mediated​​ dispersal, road network and​​​‌ invasion parameters.5th‌ International Conference on Ecology‌​‌ and Transportation: Integrating Transport​​ Infrastructures with Living Landscapes​​​‌Proceedings of the IENE‌ 2016 conferenceLyon, France‌​‌August 2016HAL
• 12​​ articleJ.Jonathan Lenglet​​​‌, J.-Y.Jean-Yves Courtonne‌ and S.Sylvain Caurla‌​‌. Material flow analysis​​ of the forest-wood supply​​​‌ chain: A consequential approach‌ for log export policies‌​‌ in France.Journal​​ of Cleaner Production165​​​‌August 2017, 1296-1305‌HALDOI
• 13 article‌​‌F.-R.François-Rémi Mazy and​​ P.-Y.Pierre-Yves Longaretti.​​​‌ Towards a Generic Theoretical‌ Framework for Pattern-Based LUCC‌​‌ Modeling: An Accurate and​​ Powerful Calibration-Estimation Method Based​​​‌ on Kernel Density Estimation‌.Environmental Modelling and‌​‌ Software158105551December​​​‌ 2022, 1-23HAL​DOI
• 14 articleF.-R.​‌François-Rémi Mazy and P.-Y.​​Pierre-Yves Longaretti. Towards​​​‌ a generic theoretical framework​ for pattern-based LUCC modeling:​‌ Allocation revisited: Formal foundations​​ and bias identification.​​​‌Environmental Modelling and Software​166August 2023,​‌ 105706HALDOI
• 15​​ inproceedingsE.Emmanuel Prados​​​‌, P.Patrick Criqui​ and C.Constantin Ilasca​‌. A Benchmarking Tool​​ for the International Climate​​​‌ Negotiations.AAAI-15 Special​ Track on Computational Sustainability​‌Austin, United StatesAAAI​​January 2015, 95-100​​​‌HAL
• 16 articleC.​Charles Rocabert, S.​‌Serge Fenet, B.​​Bernard Kaufmann and J.​​​‌Jérôme Gippet. Accounting​ for the topology of​‌ road networks to better​​ explain human‐mediated dispersal in​​​‌ terrestrial landscapes.Ecography​20243March 2024​‌, e07068:1-13HALDOI​​
• 17 bookZ.Zoe​​​‌ Steep, S.Sophie​ Wahnich and L.Louis​‌ Delannoy. Les limites​​ à la croissance.Meadows :​​​‌ questions raisonnées.Voix​ publiquesexcèsOctober 2023​‌HALback to text​​back to text
• 18​​​‌ articleC.Clémence Vannier​, A.Adeline Bierry​‌, P.-Y.Pierre-Yves Longaretti​​, B.Baptiste Nettier​​​‌, T.Thomas Cordonnier​, C.Christophe Chauvin​‌, N.Nathalie Bertrand​​, F.Fabien Quetier​​​‌, R.Rémy Lasseur​ and S.Sandra Lavorel​‌. Co-constructing future land-use​​ scenarios for the Grenoble​​​‌ region, France.Landscape​ and Urban Planning190​‌2019, 103614HAL​​DOI
• 19 articleC.​​​‌Clémence Vannier, R.​Rémy Lasseur, E.​‌Emilie Crouzat, C.​​Coline Byczek, V.​​​‌Valentine Lafond, T.​Thomas Cordonnier, P.-Y.​‌Pierre-Yves Longaretti and S.​​Sandra Lavorel. Mapping​​​‌ ecosystem services bundles in​ a heterogeneous mountain region​‌.Ecosystems and People​​151February 2019​​​‌, 74-88HALDOI​

11.2 Publications of the​‌ year

11.3 Cited publications

• 36​​​‌ bookU.U. Bardi​. The Limits to​‌ Growth Revisited.Springer​​ Verlag2011back to​​​‌ text
• 37 techreportF.​Françoise Berthoud, P.​‌Pascal Guitton, L.​​Laurent Lefèvre, S.​​​‌Sophie Quinton, A.​Antoine Rousseau, J.​‌Jacques Sainte-Marie, C.​​Céline Serrano, J.-B.​​​‌Jean-Bernard Stefani, P.​Peter Sturm and E.​‌Eric Tannier. Sciences,​​ Environnements et Sociétés.​​​‌InriaOctober 2019HAL​back to text
• 38​‌ articleE.E. Bovari​​, G.G. Giraud​​​‌ and F.F. Mc​ Isaac. Coping With​‌ Collapse: A Stock-Flow Consistent​​ Monetary Macrodynamics of Global​​​‌ Warming.Ecological Economics​1472018, 383-398​‌back to text
• 39​​ bookL. R.Lester​​​‌ R. Brown. World​ on the edge: how​‌ to prevent environmental and​​ economic collapse.New​​​‌ YorkW.W. Norton2011​back to text
• 40​‌ articleM.M.A. Centeno​​, M.M. Nag​​​‌, T.T.S. Patterson​, A.A. Shaver​‌ and A.A.J. Windawi​​. The Emergence of​​​‌ Global Systemic Risk.​Annual Review of Sociology​‌4112015,​​ 65-85back to text​​​‌
• 41 inproceedingsC.Cécile​ Cordier, M.Manon​‌ Sailley, J.-Y.Jean-Yves​​ Courtonne, B.Boris​​​‌ Duflot, F.François​ Cadudal, C.Christophe​‌ Perrot, A.Aude​​ Brion and R.René​​​‌ Baumont. Quantify raw​ material flows used in​‌ animal feed in France​​ and segment consumptions by​​​‌ animal sector.3R​ 2020 - 25e édition​‌ Congrès international francophone sur​​ les Rencontres Recherches Ruminants​​​‌Paris, FranceDecember 2020​, 1-5HALback​‌ to textback to​​ text
• 42 techreportV.​​​‌Virginie Courtier and E.​Eric Guilyardi. Entre​‌ liberté et responsabilité :​​ l’engagement public des chercheurs​​​‌ et chercheuses.Avis​ 2023-44Comité d'éthique du​‌ CNRSJuly 2023back​​ to text
• 43 article​​​‌J.-Y.J.-Y. Courtonne,​ J.J. Alapetite,​‌ P.-Y.P.-Y. Longaretti,​​ D.D. Dupré and​​​‌ E.E. Prados.​ Downscaling Material Flow Analysis:​‌ The Case of the​​ Cereal Supply Chain in​​​‌ France.Ecological Economics​1182015, 67-80​‌back to text
• 44​​ articleP.Patrick Criqui​​​‌. Vers une rupture​ profonde du modèle énergétique​‌ mondial.Questions internationales​​ - La Documentation française​​​‌38Draft de l'article​ disponible sous le titre​‌ : ``Les enjeux énergétiques​​ du changement climatiques''July​​​‌ 2009, pp. 67--78​URL: http://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-00413021back to​‌ text
• 45 article J.​​ B.J. B. Dahmus​​​‌. Can Efficiency Improvements​ Reduce Resource Consumption? Journal​‌ of Industrial Ecology 2014​​ back to text
• 46​​​‌ phdthesisL.Louis Delannoy​. An exploration of​‌ the systemic risks emerging​​ from the interaction between​​​‌ energy, finance and the​ economy.Université Grenoble​‌ Alpes [2020-....]September 2023​​HALback to text​​​‌
• 47 bookJ. M.​Jared M. Diamond.​‌ Collapse: how societies choose​​ to fail or succeed​​​‌.New YorkPenguin​ Books2011back to​‌ text
• 48 bookL.​​Len Doyal and I.​​Ian Gough. A​​​‌ theory of human need‌.BasingstokeMacmillan1995‌​‌back to text
• 49​​ techreportA.Augustin Fragnière​​​‌. L’engagement public des‌ universitaires : entre liberté‌​‌ académique et déontologie professionnelle​​.Université de Lausanne​​​‌2022, URL: https://www.unil.ch/centre-durabilite/recherche-et-engagement‌back to text
• 50‌​‌ articleS. O.Silvio​​ O Funtowicz and J.​​​‌ R.Jerome R Ravetz‌. Uncertainty, complexity and‌​‌ post-normal science.Environmental​​ Toxicology and Chemistry: An​​​‌ International Journal1312‌1994, 1881--1885back‌​‌ to text
• 51 book​​I.I. Goldin and​​​‌ M.M. Mariathasan.‌ The Butterfly Defect: How‌​‌ Globalization Creates Systemic Risks,​​ and What to Do​​​‌ about It.Princeton‌ University Press2014back‌​‌ to text
• 52 article​​D.D. Helbing.​​​‌ Globally Networked Risks and‌ how to Respond.‌​‌Nature4972013,​​ 51-59back to text​​​‌back to text
• 53‌ bookJ.-M.Jean-Marc Jancovici‌​‌ and A.Alain Grandjean​​. Le plein s'il​​​‌ vous plâit : la‌ solution au problème de‌​‌ l'énergie.[Paris]Editions​​ du Seuil2007back​​​‌ to text
• 54 misc‌D.D. Korowicz.‌​‌ Trade-off: Financial System Supply-Chain​​ Cross Contagion --- a​​​‌ Study in Global Systemic‌ Collapse.2012,‌​‌ URL: http://www.feasta.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Trade_Off_Korowicz.pdfback to​​ text
• 55 bookM.​​​‌ A.Manfred A. Max-Neef‌, A.Antonio Elizalde‌​‌ and M.Martín Hopenhayn​​. Human scale development:​​​‌ conception, application and further‌ reflections."Part I‌​‌ of this book was​​ published in Spanish as​​​‌ a special issue of‌ Development dialogue in 1986‌​‌ under the title Desarrollo​​ a escala humana: una​​​‌ opción para el futuro"--P.‌ xiiNew YorkThe‌​‌ Apex Press1991back​​ to text
• 56 book​​​‌D.D.L. Meadows,‌ W.W.W. Behrens III‌​‌, D.D.H. Meadows​​, R.R.F. Naill​​​‌, J.J. Randers‌ and E.E.K.O. Zahn‌​‌. Dynamics of Growth​​ in a Finite World​​​‌.Wright-Allen Press1974‌back to text
• 57‌​‌ bookD.Donella Meadows​​, D.Dennis Meadows​​​‌, J.Jørgen Randers‌ and W. W.William‌​‌ W. Behrens. The​​ Limits to Growth.​​​‌Universe Books1972back‌ to text
• 58 book‌​‌D.D.H. Meadows,​​ J.J. Randers and​​​‌ D.D.L. Meadows.‌ The Limits to growth,‌​‌ The 30-Year Update.​​Chelsea Green Publishing2004​​​‌back to textback‌ to textback to‌​‌ text
• 59 bookD.​​ H.Donella H. Meadows​​​‌. The limits to‌ growth: the 30-year update‌​‌.White River Junction,​​ VtChelsea Green Publishing​​​‌ Company2004back to‌ text
• 60 article K.‌​‌K. Raworth. A​​ Safe and Just Space​​​‌ for Humanity: Can We‌ Live Within the Doughnut?‌​‌ Oxfam Discussion Paper 2012​​ back to text
• 61​​​‌ articleG.G.M. Turner‌. A Comparison of‌​‌ The Limits to Growth​​ with 30 Years of​​​‌ Reality.Global Env.‌ Change182008,‌​‌ 397-411back to text​​
• 62 techreportG.G.M.​​​‌ Turner. Is Global‌ Collapse Imminent?, MSSI Research‌​‌ Paper No. 4. Melbourne​​ Sustainable Society Institute, University​​​‌ of Melbourne.Melbourne‌ Sustainable Society Institute, University‌​‌ of Melbourne2014back​​​‌ to text
• 63 article​L.Ludwig Von Bertalanffy​‌. The meaning of​​ general system theory.​​​‌General system theory: Foundations,​ development, applications301973​‌, 53back to​​ text