ERSS Perspectives Piece accepted .pdf (596.35 kB)
The politics of accelerating low-carbon transitions: towards a new research agenda
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 13:37 authored by Cameron Roberts, Frank W Geels, Matthew LockwoodMatthew Lockwood, Peter NewellPeter Newell, Hubert Schmitz, Bruno Turnheim, Andy JordanMeeting the climate change targets in the Paris Agreement implies a substantial and rapid acceleration of low-carbon transitions. Combining insights from political science, policy analysis and socio-technical transition studies, this paper addresses the politics of deliberate acceleration by taking stock of emerging examples, mobilizing relevant theoretical approaches, and articulating a new research agenda. Going beyond routine appeals for more ‘political will’, it organises ideas and examples under three themes: 1) the role of coalitions in supporting and hindering acceleration; 2) the role of feedbacks, through which policies may shape actor preferences which, in turn, create stronger policies; and 3) the role of broader contexts (political economies, institutions, cultural norms, and technical systems) in creating more (or less) favourable conditions for deliberate acceleration. We discuss the importance of each theme, briefly review previous research and articulate new research questions. Our concluding section discusses the current and potential future relationship between transitions theory and political science.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Energy Research and Social ScienceISSN
2214-6296Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Volume
44Page range
304-311Department affiliated with
- SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Centre for Global Political Economy Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2018-06-01First Open Access (FOA) Date
2019-06-12First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2018-06-01Usage metrics
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