Resilience describes the capacity of a system to maintain its basic functions in the face of a crisis or shock.
The concept of resilience comprises two basic orientations: (1) adaptive resilience, which aims at returning to the initial state of before the crisis; (2) transformative resilience, which uses the crisis as a lever to move towards a new target state.
The second aspect is particularly important for sustainable spatial development, because (a) the many crises and shocks such as climate change cannot be viewed as temporary, and (b) because returning to the initial state is not desirable, as it cannot be labelled sustainable.
For further information please contact DDipl.Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Susanna Erker and Univ.Prof. Dr. Gernot Stöglehner
Exemplary publications
Erker, S., Stangl, R. und Stoeglehner, G. (2017a): Resilience in the Light of Energy Crises – Part I: a framework to conceptualise regional energy resilience. Journal of Cleaner Production.
Erker, S., Stangl, R. und Stoeglehner, G. (2017b): Resilience in the Light of Energy Crises – Part II: application of the regional energy resilience assessment. Journal of Cleaner Production.
Exner, A; Politti, E; Schriefl, E; Erker, S; Stangl, R; Baud, S; Warmuth, H; Matzenberger, J; Kranzl, L; Paulesich, R; Windhaber, M; Supper, S; Stoeglehner, G (2016): Measuring regional resilience towards fossil fuel supply constraints. Adaptability and vulnerability in socio-ecological Transformations - the case of Austria. Energy Policy 91: 128-137.