Discourses around decline : comparing the debates on coal phase-out in the UK, Germany and Finland

To accelerate sustainability transitions, policymakers have to set clear targets for the decline and phase-out of unsustainable technologies. As such decisions are contested, many different actor groups engage in the politics and discourse around decline. This chapter compares the debates surrounding coal phase-out in three countries: the UK, Germany and Finland. Despite major differences, e.g. in the relevance of coal for energy supply and jobs, we find many similarities in discourse dynamics, key arguments and the actor groups engaged. Our findings can therefore inform debates about coal and other unsustainable technologies in places where phase-outs are still pending. Our analysis advances the repertoire of comparative studies in transitions research, and shows how the technological innovation systems framework can be mobilized to also explore processes of technology decline

Unsustainabilities: A study on SUVs and space tourism and a research agenda for transition studies

While transitions research has pursued a successful research agenda around how to improve established socio-technical systems in terms of sustainability, it has missed out, among other things, on innovations that make, or keep, societies less sustainable. In our paper, we explore two innovations in different stages of development: Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and space tourism. SUVs entrench an existing socio-technical system and reproduce problematic practices, while space tourism might create a whole new, unsustainable system. We make three contributions. First, we introduce ‘unsustainabilities’ as a new term for technologies, institutions and practices that make, or keep, societies less sustainable. With this we direct attention to developments and structures that undermine ongoing sustainability transitions. Second, we distinguish unsustainabilities associated with socio-technical configurations, socio-technical systems, and meta-structures (spanning multiple systems). Third, we argue that precautionary policies will be needed in early stages of innovation, when there is still room to avoid unsustainable transitions

Schweizer Energiesystem 2050 : Wege zu netto null CO2 und Versorgungssicherheit

Eine sichere Energieversorgung in der Schweiz mit netto null Treibhausgasemissionen 2050 ist mit einem koordinierten Vorgehen über alle Energiesektoren realisierbar. Basis dafür sind ein starker Ausbau der erneuerbaren Stromproduktion im Inland und der Import synthetischer Brenn- und Treibstoffe. Eine vollständige Energieautarkie ist kaum möglich und wenn überhaupt nur mit sehr hohen Kosten

ClimPol Cluster D: Climate policies, firm strategies and technological innovation

In order to cope with the challenges of climate change, fundamental changes are needed in established systems of service provision and consumption. A key rationale for climate policy making is that it induces firms and other actors to develop new ‘climate-friendly’ technologies. The goal of this project was to study the strategies of firms, inter-firm alliances and associations in the tension field of climate policies and innovative technologies. Each of the three modules focused on a selected set of the relations depicted in the diamond. Empirical analyses were carried out in the fields of energy supply and transportation. Our results show that existing climate policies do not necessarily trigger technological innovation. In order to be effective, climate policies have to be stringent and must be embedded in long-term visions and political goals (D1). The policy challenges might be even more pronounced if radical innovations (e.g. decentralized energy technologies) shall be stimulated. For fundamentally new technologies to develop and succeed, firms from different sectors have to come together and work towards common goals. Such networking as well as knowledge creation in the field have to be supported by a variety of policies – some rather generic, some more technology-specific (D3). Climate policies, in other words, have to be complemented by sector- and technology-specific stimuli for innovation. While in the case of emerging technological fields, the effects of networking and alliance-building may be desirable for system changes, we observe the adverse effect in established sectors such as the car industry. Lobby networks and associations in established industries typically counteract effective climate policy making in order to protect existing products and market shares (D2). As a matter of fact, policy making has to tackle different fields in different ways in order to achieve the goal of fundamentally transforming existing systems towards more sustainable modes of production and consumption

The historical impacts of hydroelectric power development on traditional mountain irrigation in the Valais, Switzerland

Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holderIn many Western European mountains, ancient irrigation practices have been the basis for sustainable subsistence-based mountain agriculture, especially up to the beginning of the 20th century. These mountain zones have proved popular sites for the development of hydroelectric power (HEP). Few attempts have been made to measure the impact of HEP on traditional indigenous irrigation systems dependent on the same resource base. This article examines the physical and socioeconomic impact of HEP development on the bisse irrigation system in the Valais, Switzerland, and discusses new water resource issues, conflicts, adaptations, and innovative responses. The study shows that a two- to three-tier consultation process has led to communes and autonomous collective irrigation institutions (consortages) signing and ratifying long-term conventions that ceded water to HEP companies at the scale of watersheds. Water supplies for irrigation are protected by these conventions at the same time as changed hydrological regimes improve water security in economically viable bisses. Conventions also improved the economic security of some consortages, while at the level of individual households, HEP development allowed diversification of income generation strategies.Peer reviewe

The life cycle of technological innovation systems

ISSN:0040-162

A tale of two crises: COVID-19 and climate

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments around the world are mobilizing unprecedented public resources to mitigate economic collapse. However, these new programs run the risk of paying insufficient attention to the multiple sustainability crises we face. Climate change, in particular, threatens the very basis for continued human prosperity and requires an equal, if not greater, societal mobilization. In this policy brief, we argue that the response to the coronavirus outbreak also offers an opportunity to advance the climate agenda. Indeed, given that we have scarce resources at our disposal, it is essential that we synergize such efforts. We propose that this can be accomplished in two primary ways: (1) harnessing the disruptive forces of the COVID-19 pandemic to accelerate the decline of carbon-intensive industries, technologies, and practices, and (2) leveraging responses to drive low-carbon innovation. From these two strategies, we outline five principles of “sustainability transition policy” to serve as a guide during these challenging times