Sociotechnical Transitions for Deep Decarbonization

Science Vol 357 (6357) (September 22, 2017), pp. 1242-1244

3 Pages Posted: 7 Sep 2019

See all articles by Frank Geels

Frank Geels

The University of Manchester

Benjamin K. Sovacool

Science Policy Research Unit; Boston University - Department of Earth and Environment; Department of Business Technology & Development

Tim Schwanen

University of Utrecht

Steven Robert Sorrell

University of Sussex - Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU)

Date Written: September 3, 2017

Abstract

Rapid and deep reductions in greenhouse gas emission are needed to avoid dangerous climate change. This will necessitate low-carbon transitions across electricity, transport, heat, industrial, forestry, and agricultural systems. But despite recent rapid growth in renewable electricity generation, the rate of progress toward this wider goal of deep decarbonization remains slow. Moreover, many policy-oriented energy and climate researchers and models remain wedded to disciplinary approaches that focus on a single piece of the low-carbon transition puzzle, yet avoid many crucial real-world elements for accelerated transitions (1). We present a “sociotechnical” framework to address the multi-dimensionality of the deep decarbonization challenge and show how coevolutionary interactions between technologies and societal groups can accelerate low-carbon transitions.

Keywords: climate policy, energy policy, sustainability transitions, decarbonisation

JEL Classification: O33

Suggested Citation

Geels, Frank and Sovacool, Benjamin K. and Schwanen, Tim and Sorrell, Steven Robert, Sociotechnical Transitions for Deep Decarbonization (September 3, 2017). Science Vol 357 (6357) (September 22, 2017), pp. 1242-1244, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3447276

Frank Geels

The University of Manchester ( email )

Oxford Road
Manchester, N/A M13 9PL
United Kingdom

Benjamin K. Sovacool (Contact Author)

Science Policy Research Unit ( email )

Falmer, Brighton BN1 9SL
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/373957

Boston University - Department of Earth and Environment ( email )

Boston, MA
United States

Department of Business Technology & Development ( email )

Nordre Ringgade 1
Aarhus C, DK-8000
Denmark

HOME PAGE: http://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/id(fca10105-c4eb-4f0f-99a7-a354a8a8a47a).html

Tim Schwanen

University of Utrecht

Vredenburg 138
NL-3508 TC Utrecht, 3511 BG
Netherlands

Steven Robert Sorrell

University of Sussex - Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU) ( email )

Mantell Building
Falmer
Brighton BN1 9RH UK, Sussex
United Kingdom

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
564
Abstract Views
1,233
Rank
95,769
PlumX Metrics