Sarah Lenz (2025)
In Rainer Diaz-Bone & Guillemette de Larquier (eds.), Handbook of economics and sociology of conventions. Cham: Springer, Online first

Abstract. The article explores the application of the economics and sociology of conventions (EC/SC or convention theory) to the study of sustainability, emphasizing its utility in addressing the complexities of climate change. It aims to explore how convention theory can illuminate the diverse understandings and practices around sustainability across various social groups and institutional frameworks. By employing EC/SC, it is demonstrated how different “worlds” or conventions—such as market, industrial, and green—shape the actions and justifications of actors in relation to sustainability goals. In doing this, it discusses the historical evolution of sustainability, tracing it from its roots in eighteenth-century agriculture to its current status as a global environmental policy principle, underscored by pivotal reports like the Brundtland Report. Furthermore, it examines how sustainability has been variably integrated into economic systems, often critiqued as an “empty signifier” due to its conceptual ambiguities and the challenge of implementing it in tangible policies. The article highlights the role of convention theory in revealing how sustainability is negotiated amid conflicting economic and ecological objectives, making it particularly pertinent for analyzing policy designs, institutional responses, and governance strategies at the United Nations climate summits and beyond. This contribution could not only enrich the understanding of sustainability dynamics but also proposes EC/SC as a crucial framework for critically assessing the interplay between environmental imperatives and socioeconomic structures in the era of climate change.