Governance for Sustainable Development
This interdisciplinary research programme explores how sustainable development is understood, governed and translated into policy and practice across global and local contexts. Through collaborative research spanning governance, communities, landscapes and coastal environments, the programme examines how international sustainability agendas are interpreted and implemented by organisations, policymakers and communities, generating practical insights that support resilient places and positive environmental, social and economic outcomes.
Project details
| Project lead | Dr Gregory Borne |
|---|---|
| End date | Ongoing |
| Department alignment | Cornwall Business School |
This interdisciplinary research programme explores the governance of sustainable development, examining how environmental, social and economic challenges can be addressed through collaborative decision-making, institutional innovation and environmental stewardship.
Building on research into sustainable development, reflexive governance and risk, the programme brings together empirical studies relating to local governance, community resilience and coastal environments to understand how organisations, communities and policymakers respond to complex sustainability challenges. Working closely with public, private and third-sector partners, the research generates practical insights that inform policy, support decision-making and promote sustainable futures.
The programme combines academic excellence with applied research and knowledge exchange to deliver positive outcomes for people, places and the natural environment.
This interdisciplinary research programme explores how sustainable development is interpreted, governed and implemented through collaborative approaches spanning governance, environmental stewardship, local communities and coastal systems. It examines how global sustainability discourses are understood and embedded by organisations, policymakers and communities, and how these processes influence decision-making, resilience and long-term environmental and societal outcomes.
The research investigates how governments, public bodies, businesses, communities and environmental organisations interpret and respond to sustainable development challenges. Through theoretical, empirical and applied research, the programme explores governance, collaboration and environmental stewardship as mechanisms for addressing complex environmental, social and economic issues, generating practical knowledge that supports policy, professional practice and sustainable development.
The research aims to understand how sustainable development is interpreted, governed and translated into policy and practice across different institutional, environmental and societal contexts. It explores how governments, organisations, communities and environmental stakeholders respond to complex sustainability challenges, and the factors that enable or constrain effective governance, collaboration and long-term environmental stewardship.
The programme aims to contribute new interdisciplinary insights into the governance of sustainable development by integrating perspectives from governance studies, sustainable development, environmental stewardship and collaborative decision-making. Through research spanning local governance, community resilience, and coastal environments, it seeks to advance understanding of how sustainable development is interpreted and implemented in practice, while informing policy, professional practice and future research.
The programme builds upon interdisciplinary scholarship in sustainable development, governance and environmental management. It draws upon foundational work relating to sustainable development, reflexive modernity, risk society, collaborative governance and sustainability transitions, while also engaging with research on ecosystem services, natural capital and environmental stewardship. The programme has been informed by the evolution of international sustainable development discourse and its interpretation across different governance contexts. The research draws on long standing collaboration with local government, environmental organisations, community partnerships and coastal stakeholders.
The programme contributes to Falmouth University's wider research environment through interdisciplinary collaboration, doctoral supervision and the development of live doctoral research opportunities. It informs undergraduate and postgraduate teaching within Cornwall Business School and supports collaborative research with academic colleagues, doctoral researchers and external partners. The programme also strengthens the University's knowledge exchange activities through engagement with local government, environmental organisations, businesses and community partners, while providing a platform for future collaborative research, external funding opportunities and REF impact development.
The programme adopts an interdisciplinary and mixed-methods approach, recognising that understanding the governance of sustainable development requires methodological flexibility and engagement across multiple disciplines and sectors. Research methods have included conceptual and theoretical development, ethnographic observation, qualitative interviews, focus groups, stakeholder workshops, large-scale surveys, documentary and policy analysis, case study research, social and economic valuation, and participatory knowledge exchange. Throughout the programme, research has been undertaken in collaboration with academic, professional and community partners, ensuring that methodological approaches are both academically rigorous and responsive to real-world challenges. This combination of theoretical, empirical and collaborative research has enabled the programme to generate new knowledge while producing practical insights that inform policy, professional practice and community decision-making.
The programme has evolved through a series of interconnected stages over more than two decades. Initial research established the theoretical foundations by exploring sustainable development, reflexive governance and risk within the context of international sustainable development discourse. This was followed by extensive empirical research examining governance, community resilience and environmental stewardship across a range of institutional and societal settings. As the programme matured, greater emphasis was placed on interdisciplinary collaboration, co-constructed research and knowledge exchange with external partners. More recent work has extended these foundations into applied research on sustainable communities, coastal sustainability, environmental stewardship and surfonomics, undertaken in collaboration with academic institutions, policymakers, professional practitioners and community organisations. Throughout, the programme has maintained a strong commitment to translating research into academic publications, professional outputs, stakeholder engagement, doctoral opportunities and ongoing collaborative research.
Project team
Project lead - Dr Gregory Borne
I have over 25 years of experience in researching, teaching and implementing multiple dimensions of sustainable development. I have worked with international organisations such as the United Nations, as well as organisations in business, government, education and the third sector. I am the author of numerous journal articles and five books on different components of sustainability. I am currently working on my sixth book, exploring the opportunities and barriers for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals within local communities.
Read morePartners
Collaboration is a defining characteristic of this research programme. Over more than two decades, the programme has developed through partnerships with universities, local government, environmental organisations, professional bodies, businesses, charities and community organisations. Rather than viewing external organisations simply as beneficiaries of research, the programme adopts a co-constructed approach in which partners contribute to the development of research questions, project design, methodological approaches, and the interpretation and dissemination of findings. This collaborative model has strengthened both the academic quality and practical relevance of the research while supporting meaningful knowledge exchange and long-term partnerships.
The programme has also established collaborative research platforms that bring together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to address complex sustainability challenges. Through initiatives such as the Plymouth Sustainability and Surfing Research Group, alongside collaborations with organisations including Cornwall National Landscapes, the North Devon World Surfing Reserve, Sustainable Surf, Surfers Against Sewage, Seatrees, local government and professional bodies, the programme has fostered interdisciplinary research and knowledge exchange across the public, private and third sectors.
These collaborations continue to support new research, doctoral opportunities, publications, stakeholder engagement and the co-production of research with the potential to inform policy, professional practice and environmental stewardship.
Funders
The research programme has been developed over more than two decades through academic appointments, institutional research support and collaborative partnerships. Rather than being driven by a single externally funded project, the programme has evolved through a series of interconnected research initiatives, collaborative projects, knowledge exchange activities and professional engagement across multiple organisations and universities.
Outputs & outcomes
The research programme has generated a diverse portfolio of outputs reflecting its interdisciplinary, collaborative and applied nature. These include academic books, peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, professional publications, commissioned and collaborative research reports, stakeholder reports, conference papers, keynote presentations, invited lectures and doctoral research opportunities. The programme has also produced project websites, collaborative research networks and knowledge exchange activities that have strengthened engagement between academia, policymakers, practitioners and communities. Current outputs continue to develop through collaborative research projects, publications under review, new interdisciplinary partnerships and the supervision of doctoral research.
Research findings have been disseminated through academic publications, international conferences, keynote presentations, invited lectures, professional journals, stakeholder workshops, collaborative research reports and public engagement activities. Knowledge exchange has been supported through long-term partnerships with universities, local government, environmental organisations, professional bodies, businesses and community organisations. These activities sit alongside digital platforms including FURR, ORCID, project websites and Falmouth University's doctoral research programme. Throughout the programme, dissemination has been regarded as an integral component of the research process, ensuring that findings are shared across academic, professional, policy and public audiences.
The programme has generated a growing profile of public engagement and media activity. This includes contributions to the BBC documentary Surfing's Dirty Secrets, interviews with BBC Breakfast and other BBC media outlets, together with features highlighting the programme's research and publications. Research has also been communicated through Falmouth University news articles, professional organisations, partner networks, project websites and university communication platforms, extending the reach of the programme beyond academia and supporting wider public understanding of sustainable development, governance and environmental stewardship.
Impact & recognition
The research programme has contributed to environmental, social and policy discussions relating to sustainable development, governance and environmental stewardship. Through long-term collaboration with local government, environmental organisations, community groups, professional bodies and industry partners, the research has informed debates surrounding sustainable communities, local governance, protected landscapes, coastal sustainability, natural capital and the valuation of environmental resources. The programme has also supported knowledge exchange and public engagement through professional publications, stakeholder workshops, collaborative research initiatives and media activity, creating opportunities for research to inform policy, professional practice and wider public understanding.
The programme has developed regional, national and international reach through interdisciplinary collaborations, academic publications, professional engagement and public dissemination. Research has informed discussions relating to sustainable development, local governance, environmental management, coastal sustainability and the surfing sector, while long-term partnerships with universities, public bodies, NGOs, businesses and community organisations have extended the reach of the work beyond academia. Ongoing collaborations continue to strengthen opportunities for research impact, knowledge exchange, policy engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Primary beneficiaries include local government and parish councils, policymakers, environmental organisations, protected landscape partnerships, coastal management organisations, businesses, community groups, professional bodies, academic researchers and students. The programme has supported interdisciplinary collaboration, doctoral research and knowledge exchange, while contributing to the development of research, policy and professional practice across multiple sectors concerned with sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
Falmouth University news
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10 June 2026
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Sustainability and surfing: In conversation with Dr Greg Borne
15 July 2024
Dr Greg Borne, course leader for Falmouth’s new MSc in International Business Management, is a sus...
External media:
- BBC documentary Surfing's Dirty Secrets
- BBC Breakfast and other media interviews relating to sustainability and surfing
- Plymouth Sustainability and Surfing Research Group (PSSRG) website