Engaging inhabitants into energy transition in climate and energy model (CEM) regions: case studies of Freistadt, Ebreichsdorf and Baden

Austria has settled a target to reach 34% of renewable energy sources in final energy consumption by 2020. The Climate and Energy Model (CEM) regions are the major vehicles for implementation of this target. Until now little research was done on existing participatory governance measures in the Austrian CEM regions, which involve not only stakeholders but also inhabitants into decision-making processes on energy transition. The aim of this paper is to collect information about existing participatory governance measures in three CEMs, such as Freistadt, Baden and Ebreichsdorf, and to analyze these measures by using methodologies developed by Arnstein in his ladder of participation. Our results show that the majority of existing measures are at the level of providing information and awareness building. However, there are also some measures, such as energy groups, which allow all interested inhabitants for providing feedback about proposed in their CEM projects. Other measures, such as Helios or Badener Sonnerkraft, allow for financial participation of inhabitants in deployment of renewable energy projects in their region

Public attitudes, co-production and polycentric governance in energy policy

Highlights • Large-scale survey and comprehensive sampling of all social groups in two regions of Austria. • Results showing attitudes towards renewable energies. • Results showing level of awareness. • Results on willingness to engage into energy policy. • Recommendations on polycentric governance in energy policy

The Effects of Lesions in the Dorsolateral Pons on the Coordination of Swallowing and Breathing in Awake Goats

The purpose of this retrospective study was to gain insight into the contribution of the dorsolateral pons to the coordination of swallowing and breathing in awake goats. In 4 goats, cannulas were chronically implanted bilaterally through the lateral (LPBN) and medial (MPBN) parabrachial nuclei just dorsal to the Kölliker–Fuse nucleus (KFN). After \u3e2 weeks recovery from this surgery, the goats were studied for 5½ h on a control day, and on separate days after receiving 1 and 10 μl injections of ibotenic acid (IA) separated by 1 week. The frequency of swallows did not change during the control and 1 μl IA studies, but after injection of 10 μl IA, there was a transient 65% increase in frequency of swallows (P \u3c 0.05). Under control conditions swallows occurred throughout the respiratory cycle, where late-E swallows accounted for 67.6% of swallows. The distribution of swallow occurrence throughout the respiratory cycle was unaffected by IA injections. Consistent with the concept that swallowing is dominant over breathing, we found that swallows increased inspiratory (TI) and expiratory (TE) time and decreased tidal volume (VT) of the breath of the swallow (n) and/or the subsequent (n + 1) breath. Injections of 10 μl IA attenuated the normal increases in TI and TE and further attenuated VT of the n breath. Additionally, E and I swallows reset respiratory rhythm, but injection of 1 or 10 μl IA progressively attenuated this resetting, suggesting a decreased dominance over respiratory motor output with increasing IA injections. Post mortem histological analysis revealed about 50% fewer (P \u3c 0.05) neurons remained in the KFN, LPBN, and MPBN in lesioned compared to control goats. We conclude that dorsolateral pontine nuclei have a modulatory role in a hypothesized holarchical neural network regulating swallowing and breathing particularly contributing to the normal dominance of swallowing over breathing in both rhythm and motor pattern generation

Discourses about energy transition in Austrian climate and energy model regions: Turning awareness into action

The paper is focused on energy transition and stakeholders’ discourses about it in three Austrian Climate and Energy Model Regions (Baden, Ebreichsdorf, and Freistadt). The theoretical basis of the paper is in the theory of plural rationalities. The data were collected from in-depth qualitative interviews with different stakeholders’ groups in each region, identified through comprehensive stakeholders mapping. The data were analyzed with qualitative data analysis software NVivo to identify elements and narratives of various discourses. The key words and meanings were embedded in the coding of context for different discourses following the content analysis techniques. The results, based on word clouds, identified major elements of hierarchical, egalitarian, or individualistic discourses. Based on identified discourses, energy policy measure can be developed to turn awareness about energy transition into action and to develop compromise solutions, which address narratives of various discourses

Co-creating Policies on Societal Transformations as a Factor of Resilience of Modern Society

The goals of climate change mitigation or energy security policies might lead to societal transformations due to large-scale deployment of new technologies or changes in relations about generation, distribution and transmission of electricity. The goals are frequently developed at the national governance levels; however, their implementation takes place at the local governance level. The process of energy transition gives crucial importance to the participation of local communities and their positive attitudes. Such a process should include measures for active engagement of inhabitants and local government while providing a chance to participate in decision-making processes that affect the lives of these people. Currently, participatory governance of energy transition takes place mainly within the discussion about details of the projects and criteria for selection of possible alternatives. It does not include discussion about the need for energy transition or preferences for technologies for decarbonization of the electricity sector. This study investigated social factors linked to the transition of the Austrian energy sector towards a higher share of renewable energy sources. The empirical data show factors which influence the level of awareness about climate change mitigation and energy transition as well as differences in patterns of support for renewable energy sources from various social groups

Of transitions and models: Community engagement, democracy, and empowerment in the Austrian energy transition

Energy transition towards a greater share of renewable energy sources and even energy independence based on local generation is ongoing in several regions of Austria. The Climate and Energy Model (CEM) regions are the major vehicles of this transition, which also assumes that investment into renewable energy sources will create socio-economic benefits for local economies. However, recent experience of such CEM regions as Güssing shows the need of holistic assessment of the transition process, including elements of participatory governance such as existing possibilities for inhabitants to engage into decision-making processes regarding energy transition in their community. The results of this paper are based on case studies of three CEMs: Freistadt, Ebreichsdorf and Baden. The data are also collected with the help of in-depth qualitative interviews with key stakeholders in the region and are analyzed based on the concept framework of the ladder of Arnstein. The results show typical level and forms of inhabitants’ engagement into decision-making processes in three CEMs

Of transitions and models: Community engagement, democracy, and empowerment in the Austrian energy transition

Energy transition towards a greater share of renewable energy sources and even energy independence based on local generation is ongoing in several regions of Austria. The Climate and Energy Model (CEM) regions are the major vehicles of this transition, which also assumes that investment into renewable energy sources will create socio-economic benefits for local economies. However, recent experience of such CEM regions as Güssing shows the need of holistic assessment of the transition process, including elements of participatory governance such as existing possibilities for inhabitants to engage into decision-making processes regarding energy transition in their community. The results of this paper are based on case studies of three CEMs: Freistadt, Ebreichsdorf and Baden. The data are also collected with the help of in-depth qualitative interviews with key stakeholders in the region and are analyzed based on the concept framework of the ladder of Arnstein. The results show typical level and forms of inhabitants’ engagement into decision-making processes in three CEMs