Unlocking energies, unpacking the entanglements and temporalities of local initiatives

Abstract

Local initiatives in the energy climate field have gained importance, visibility and support in many countries. Political agendas have been flagging localism as a key to success for energy transitions. While encouraging the involvement of multiple constituencies in energy transition processes on various scales, policy frameworks have been evolved to increasingly mirror a neoliberal agenda, relying on business models and the construction of new markets. The composition of and the direction taken by energy transition processes under such a new configuration, as well as their implications as regards to social justice and sustainability on various scales, still have to be analysed. The special issue explores these questions, as well as the multiple entanglements of local climate energy initiatives, based on a few longitudinal case studies.

Participatory energy futures as decision support on subnational scales

“…Yet in the UK climate action discussions have focussed on leaving lifestyles unchanged (Aitken, 2012). Resistance to make lifestyle changes will slow down the low carbon transition, and there have been criticisms that the ‘green’ economic growth framing of the low carbon transition may not be sustainable or able to address social injustices (Nadaï, 2019).…”