”Temporalities in Sustainabilty Transformations”

The journal World Futures Review (published by Sage) invites the submission of research articles for the Special Issue titled “Temporalities in Sustainabilty Transformations”.

Guest editors:

• Prof. Arto O. Salonen, Department of Social Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland
• Adjunct Prof. Katriina Siivonen, Finland Futures Research Centre, University of Turku, Finland
• Prof. Petri Tapio, Finland Futures Research Centre, University of Turku, Finland

Introduction

The focus of this special issue is the importance of temporality in asking what intergenerational decision-making within the limits of planetary boundaries means in practice. How can geological time perspectives, historical understanding, and futures thinking guide individuals, societies, and humankind toward more sustainable decisions, actions and practices? How do various individual and collective memories, perceptions and anticipations impact on unfolding alternative futures of planetary wellbeing?

In the Special Issue, sustainability and temporality can be approached through a multidisciplinary lens, particularly emphasising viewpoints from futures studies, social sciences, humanities, heritage studies, the arts, natural sciences, sustainability science, and business studies.

The Special Issue “Sustainability Transformations at Different Scales and Sectors” examines the fundamental shifts that renew societal and economic systems and practices, with an emphasis on enhancing human agency and well-being. Manuscripts are invited especially according to the following themes:

1. Regenerative economy
2. Planetary wellbeing
3. Cultural sustainability transformation
4. Methods and methodology for regenerative future
5. Temporal scales in sustainability

This Special Issue is linked to the Futures Conference 2026 on “Sustainability, Temporalities and Futures” in 9–10 June 2026 in Turku, Finland: http://www.futuresconference2026.com

Submissions

The call for research articles is open exclusively to conference presenters. Articles should range from 4,000 to 8,000 words, including references. Submissions will be evaluated based on quality, originality, and significance for the journal’s readership.

Please read the guidelines for authors and submission: https://journals.sagepub.com/author-instructions/WFR

All manuscripts should be submitted by the author at https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/wfr

Key dates

• Submission of the research articles:
  1 August 2026 to 30 November 2026
• Tentative time of publication:
  June 2027

Contact details for questions:

Conference Secretariat at Finland Futures Research Centre
University of Turku
futuresconference@utu.fi

Review and decision process

Each submission is checked by the Guest Editors. At this stage, manuscripts may be desk rejected without peer review if they are out of scope for the journal or otherwise unsuitable.

After passing editorial screening, the manuscript will be peer reviewed. All manuscripts are reviewed as rapidly as possible, while maintaining rigor. Reviewers make comments to the author and recommendations to the Editors who then make the final decision on all manuscripts, including those appearing in a special issue or special collection.

The journal – World Futures Review (WFR)

WFR seeks to encourage and facilitate communication among researchers and practitioners in all related fields and from all geographic, social, political, and economic sectors. It is also intended to promote public understanding and education in the methods and use of futures research. The concern of the editors is thus not only with specific techniques and planning tools; we also wish to include analyses of the role of futures research in the larger context of decision-making. The journal shall provide a forum for all who are professionally involved with the theory, methodology, practice, and use of futures research. Website.