Publikation - Nachhaltigkeit, ESG & gesellschaftliche Legitimität

Beteiligung der Abteilung: Prof. Dr. Ann-Marie Nienaber

Abstract:

Social-Ecological Systems (SESs) are shaped by complex interactions between natural processes, governance structures, environmental pressures, and human perceptions. To evaluate these multidimensional dynamics in diverse transboundary coastal areas, this study presents the first application of the Conservation and Human Use Index (CHUI) across ten case studies representing contrasting ecological, institutional, and socio-cultural contexts. The CHUI, grounded in the Social-Ecological Systems Framework (SESF), operationalises system performance through 134 standardised indicators spanning four equally weighted dimensions: Resource System, Environment, Governance, and Actors. Indicators were identified by scientific literature, management documents, and cross-stakeholder consultations, enabling qualitative insights to be translated into semi-quantitative metrics through a harmonised scoring protocol. Results reveal marked variation among the identified case studies, reflecting distinct combinations of ecological conditions, exposure to anthropogenic and climatic pressures, governance effectiveness, and the quality of human-nature relations. Overall, the first CHUI assessment results demonstrate the tool’s effectiveness as both a diagnostic framework and a comparative platform for identifying leverage points, guiding adaptive governance, and supporting integrated coastal management. It highlights the importance of balancing ecological protection, institutional strength, and socially legitimate processes to enhance the assessment of baseline conditions and system vulnerabilities across coastal SESs.

Citation:

Zangaro, F., Marcucci, F., Specchia, V., Ayoub, S., Bastid, P., Bužan, E., Duniš, L., Ewald, J. A., Filipović, A., Georgiou, P., Kenward, R., Kounnamas, C., Nienaber, A.-M., Schwalbe, E., Vayanou, P., Velkavrh, Ž., & Pinna, M. (2026). First application of the Conservation and Human Use Index (CHUI) for the evaluation of coastal social-ecological conditions across ten European case studies. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 14, 1843967. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2026.1843967

Beteiligung der Abteilung: Prof. Dr. Ann-Marie Nienaber

Abstract:

Coastal ecosystems are among the most biodiverse and economically valuable environments on Earth, yet they face escalating threats from climate change, development, and resource exploitation. Traditional conservation approaches have proven insufficient to address the systemic drivers of biodiversity loss, calling for transformative change that fundamentally reconfigures social–ecological systems. This semi-structured systematic literature review synthesizes current knowledge on transformative change in coastal biodiversity conservation, guided by the Social–Ecological Systems Framework (SESF) and expanded to include behavioral transformation as a central dimension. Behavioral transformation is defined as the sustained embedding of new attitudes, norms, and practices within governance, institutional, and community settings. Through a comprehensive review of academic databases (SCOPUS, Web of Science, CAB Abstracts) and gray literature, 134 studies published between 2010 and 2024 were analyzed. The synthesis identifies four interdependent pathways of transformation: (1) governance innovation and power redistribution, (2) behavioral change and stakeholder engagement, (3) socio-ecological restructuring, and (4) normative and cultural shifts in human–nature relations. Successful initiatives integrate trust-building, social justice, and participatory decision-making, linking behavioral change with institutional redesign and adaptive management. However, critical gaps remain in understanding long-term durability, equity outcomes, and scalability across governance levels. The review proposes three research priorities: (1) embedding behavioral science in conservation design, (2) employing longitudinal and cross-scale analyses, and (3) advancing adaptive, learning-based governance to enhance socio-ecological resilience.

Citation:

Nienaber A-M, Imrie-Kuzu D. Transformative Change in Coastal Biodiversity Conservation: A Systematic Literature Review of Governance, Social–Ecological, and Cultural Pathways. Sustainability. 2025; 17(24):11186. doi.org/10.3390/su172411186

Beteiligung der Abteilung: Prof. Dr. Ann-Marie Nienaber

Abstract:

Ecological objectives in environmental reports usually promise a high degree of environmental responsibilities in a company’s activities. Several studies have already highlighted that most companies do not keep their promises since stakeholders’ expectations and a company’s capabilities for internal adjustments do not always match. Thus, a company might use strategic reporting in order not to endanger its legitimacy. However, no study so far has demonstrated how companies use different legitimacy strategies in reporting their environmental objectives over time. To achieve this in our study, we focus primarily on findings from legitimacy theory in combination with the legitimacy strategies suggested by Lindblom (in: Gray, Bebbington, Gray (eds) Social and environmental accounting: developing the field, Sage, Los Angeles, pp 51–63, 2010). To test our theoretical framework empirically, we analyze 260 corporate environmental reports of German DAX companies between the years 2000–2014 by coding all disclosed objectives within these reports. Based on this longitudinal approach, we are able to identify reporting patterns of the different companies that provide insights into those companies’ environmental reporting legitimacy strategies. Overall, this study contributes to research on voluntary disclosure by showing that a comprehensive analysis of the reporting pattern of disclosed objectives allows the identification of certain legitimacy strategies.

Citation:

Borgstedt, P., Nienaber, AM., Liesenkötter, B. et al. Legitimacy Strategies in Corporate Environmental Reporting: A Longitudinal Analysis of German DAX Companies’ Disclosed Objectives. J Bus Ethics 158, 177–200 (2019). doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3708-y

Beteiligung der Abteilung: Prof. Dr. Ann-Marie Nienaber

Abstract:

The global automotive industry is faced with major technological change in the field of propulsion systems. Due to low carbon emission regulations and a rising societal demand for sustainability, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are forced to innovate either in the conventional technology or in the technological alternatives such as electric drives or fuel cells. However, OEMs are only marginally switching to electromobility so far, but rather incrementally innovating traditional technologies. This behaviour can be described as sailing ship effect which contains the reaction of an old technology to a new technology by fostering innovation in the old technology. Firstly, the present study contributes to the discussion in literature on the sailing ship effect by combining its underlying ideas and consequences with the rationales of path dependence to demonstrate that such a behaviour may be individually economical rational. Based on these considerations, we respond to the call for further empirical investigation of the sailing ship effect. We show patent-based evidence that there has been a temporary sailing ship effect in the automotive industry concerning traditional and emerging propulsion systems and discuss implications for corporate technology strategy and policy.

Citation:

Sick, N., Nienaber, A. M., Liesenkötter, B., vom Stein, N., Schewe, G., & Leker, J. (2016). The legend about sailing ship effects–Is it true or false? The example of cleaner propulsion technologies diffusion in the automotive industry. Journal of cleaner production, 137, 405-413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.07.085

Beteiligung der Abteilung: Prof. Dr. Ann-Marie Nienaber

Abstract:

Der Energiesektor ist eine der bedeutsamsten Branchen im Rahmen der weltweiten ökologische Entwicklung. Daher verwundert es nicht, dass diese Branche im Interesse der Öffentlichkeit steht und Unternehmen der Energiebranche ihr ökologisch nachhaltiges Engagement als zentralen Baustein in die Unternehmensstrategie integriert haben. Aber kommunizieren diese Unternehmen auch tatsächlich transparent? In Hinblick auf die Vertrauenswürdigkeit der Unternehmen ist eine transparente und ehrliche Kommunikation unabdingbar, aber dennoch finden sich immer wieder Fälle von Greenwashing. Aufbauend auf den Ansätzen der Legitimitätstheorie, derVoluntary Disclosure Theorie und den Kommunikationsansätzen von Lindblom untersucht diese Studie, inwiefern die vier großen deutschen Energieversorgungsunternehmen, E.On, EnBW, RWE und Vattenfall, ihr Nachhaltigkeitsengagement transparent und damit nachvollziehbar kommunizieren. Der longitudinale Charakter der Studie (die Analyse geschieht über einen Zeitraum von 14 Jahren) erlaubt es, eindeutig aufzuzeigen, dass alle vier Energieversorgungsunternehmen zentrale Schwachstellen hinsichtlich ihres Kommunikationsverhaltens aufweisen. Solche Schwachstellen gilt es langfristig zu überwinden, wenn der Legitimitätsanspruch der Unternehmen auf dem Markt gesichert werden soll.

Citation:

Nienaber, A.-M., Borgstedt, P., Liesenkoetter, B., & Schewe, G. (2015). Kommunikation von ökologisch nachhaltiger Unternehmensführung im Energieversorgungssektor – Eine qualitativ-longitudinale Analyse zur Transparenz in der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung. Zeitschrift für Umweltpolitik und -recht, 28(March), 54-97.

Beteiligung der Abteilung: Prof. Dr. Ann-Marie Nienaber

Citation:

Schewe, G., Nienaber, A.-M., Buschmann, A., & Liesenkötter, B. (2012). Alles nur Greenwashing? Wie glaubwurdig berichten Unternehmen uber ihr Nachhaltigkeitsengagement? Zeitschrift für Umweltpolitik & Umweltrecht. online.ruw.de/suche/zfu/2012/01

Beteiligung der Abteilung: Prof. Dr. Ann-Marie Nienaber

Introduction:

Aufschlussreicher Blick in die Nachhaltigkeitsberichte der DAX-30-Unternehmen: Auf die stei-
gende Bedeutung der ökologischen Nachhaltigkeit reagieren Unternehmen durch schonende
Produktionsverfahren, umweltfreundliche Produkte oder Schulungen zur Sensibilisierung von
Mitarbeitern. Doch führt dieser Trend auch tatsächlich zu einer langfristigen Neuausrichtung
der Unternehmensführung?

Citation:

Nienaber, A.-M., Liesenkötter, B., Adolphs, C., & Völker, M. (2012). Green Leadership in DAX-30-Unternehmen: Eine verbindliche Neuausrichtung der Unternehmensführung?. Zeitschrift Führung und Organisation (zfo), 81(2), 86–90.