Dynamic Governance of Energy Technology Change

Dynamic Governance of Energy Technology Change
Author: Silvia Ulli-Beer
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 263
Release: 2013-12-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3642397530

Formulating effective responses to the global challenges of mitigating climate change and securing a sustainable energy future requires a clear understanding of the interdependent causalities between institutions, local decision making, strategic alliances and eco-innovations, as well as policies. It has been acknowledged that the linear “Manhattan project” model is not an adequate governance model for mastering the dynamic complexity of socio-technical transitions; therefore this book aims at advancing research on systematic transition management models. It offers qualitative and quantitative analyses of socio-technical transitions in road transportation and housing, bringing together tailored theorizing on sustainability transitions and applied system dynamics modeling. It highlights the interconnected causal feedbacks that are required to overcome the lock-in situation in road transportation and housing fueled by fossil energies. Showing which concerted actions and framework conditions are required in the transition phases in order to initiate and sustain socio-technical transition, it serves as a guide to model-based strategy making, policy design and analyses in support of sustainable futures.

Enabling Collaborative Governance through Systems Modeling Methods

Enabling Collaborative Governance through Systems Modeling Methods
Author: Carmine Bianchi
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2020-07-08
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3030429709

This volume constitutes a first approximation for the use of systems approaches and dynamic performance management as tools for collaborative governance. The chapters examine models and simulations used in some specific systems approaches, which contribute to facilitating problem focus and collective understanding of collaborative governance, especially in the area of performance management. The explicit connection between resources and outcomes promoted by this view helps managers to understand better how to improve policy and to create positive outcomes that create public value.

Electricity and Energy Transition in Nigeria

Electricity and Energy Transition in Nigeria
Author: Norbert Edomah
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 299
Release: 2020-01-24
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0429533942

Electricity and Energy Transition in Nigeria provides readers with a detailed account of the dynamics of energy infrastructure change in Nigeria’s electricity sector. The book starts by introducing the basic theories underpinning the politics of energy infrastructure supply and goes on to explore the historical dimensions of the Nigerian energy transition by highlighting the influences and drivers of energy systems change. Edomah also examines the political dynamics at play, highlighting the political actors and institutions that shape energy supply, as well as the impact of consumer politics. The book concludes by considering how all these factors may influence the future of energy in Nigeria. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of energy transitions, energy technology and infrastructure, and African Studies more generally.

Cities and Sustainable Technology Transitions

Cities and Sustainable Technology Transitions
Author: Marina van Geenhuizen
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 417
Release: 2018-06-29
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 178347677X

This enlightening book elucidates the leadership challenges of various cities in emerging transitions towards higher levels of sustainability. It examines elements of three socio-technical systems, energy, transport and healthcare, while addressing technology invention, commercialization, mass-production and adoption. The book breaks new ground in the analysis of topical issues such as local ‘cradle’ conditions, incentive schemes, niche-development, living labs, impact bonds, grass-roots intermediation and adaptive policy making. It offers a broad coverage of global systems of cities, with a particular focus on Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands, China, Korea, Japan, the US and Canada.

Sustainable Development in Changing Complex Earth Systems

Sustainable Development in Changing Complex Earth Systems
Author: Attila Kerényi
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 307
Release: 2019-11-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3030216454

This book applies system theory to analyze the operation and structure of the complex earth surface system, including the interactions between society and nature that cause environmental degradation and threats to human populations. The possible ways to harmonize the operation of a global society as a complex system using the United Nation sustainable development goals are investigated, as well as the major efforts currently implemented to achieve this objective and why many are unsuccessful. Readers will learn this material through case studies that assess the essential conditions required to occupy a planet sustainably, and examine the complex interactions between society and nature in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and outer layers of the lithosphere. The book is written for undergraduate students in geography, earth sciences, environmental sciences, and ecology, and will also appeal to environmental agency employees, nature protection representatives, teachers, and researchers.

Human-Centered Digitalization and Services

Human-Centered Digitalization and Services
Author: Marja Toivonen
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 329
Release: 2019-06-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9811377251

This book provides a timely overview of the impacts of digitalization from the perspective of everyday life, and argues that one central issue in digitalization is the development of new types of services that digitalization enables, but which are often overlooked due to the focus on new technologies and devices. The book summarizes the past 20 years of research into the relationship between information and communications technology (ICT) and service innovation, and reveals that the ongoing digitalization is a qualitatively different phenomenon and represents a true paradigm shift. The all-encompassing integration and distribution of data raises critical issues such as preserving human dignity and individual autonomy; moreover, interaction practices that foster broad participation, trust, learning, and a willingness to share knowledge are called for. Citizen empowerment and multi-actor co-creation have become central to using digitalization to support the development of wellbeing and sustainability. Further, the book shows how employees and professionals can and should be involved in designing their future work, and in evaluating it. Proactiveness and participation in innovation endeavours are ways to guarantee meaningful work in an age of socio-technical transition. The book employs a variety of theoretical approaches and perspectives from diverse disciplines to illustrate these needs. In addition to theoretical analyses, some specific application areas are examined, e.g. services in health and social care, and problems linked to robots in elderly care. Given its scope, the book is highly recommended to all readers seeking an overview of the current understanding of the human side of digitalization and searching for concrete cases from different countries to illustrate the topic.

Energy Transitions and Social Psychology

Energy Transitions and Social Psychology
Author: Paul Upham
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 245
Release: 2019-02-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 042985837X

This book explains how social psychological concepts can be closely integrated with sociotechnical perspectives of energy transitions. It shows the value of actor-centred analysis that acknowledges the role of individual-level processes within their wider contexts of energy supply and use. In this way, the book connects social psychological and sociological frames of analysis, preserving the value of both, to provide multi-level, analytically extended accounts of energy transitions processes. Sociotechnical thinking is about the interactions of people and technology, including the rules, regulations and institutions involved. Such perspectives help to identify the many forms of path dependency that can make change difficult. Human behaviour plays a strong role in maintaining these path dependencies, but it can also introduce change. This book advocates a deliberately interdisciplinary research agenda that recognises the value of social psychological perspectives when seeking to create new pathways for energy supply and use. At the same time, it also demonstrates the value of sociotechnical perspectives for energy-related social psychology. Energy Transitions and Social Psychology will be of great interest to students and scholars of energy transitions, environmental and energy psychology, sustainable development and innovation studies, as well as students and scholars of environment and energy more generally.

The Sustainability Communication Reader

The Sustainability Communication Reader
Author: Franzisca Weder
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 592
Release: 2021-03-12
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 365831883X

The Textbook seeks for an innovative approach to Sustainability Communication as transdisciplinary area of research. Following the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which are intended to transform the world as it is known, we seek for a multidisciplinary discussion of the role communication plays in realizing these goals. With complementing theoretical approaches and concepts, the book offers various perspectives on communication practices and strategies on an individual, organizational, institutional, as well as public level that contribute, enable (or hinder) sustainable development. Presented case studies show methodological as well as issue specific challenges in sustainability communication. Therefore, the book introduces and promotes innovative methods for this specific area of research.

The Politics of Shale Gas in Eastern Europe

The Politics of Shale Gas in Eastern Europe
Author: Andreas Goldthau
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 214
Release: 2018-03-29
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1316880028

Fracking is a novel but contested energy technology – so what makes some countries embrace it whilst others reject it? This book argues that the reason for policy divergence lies in procedures and processes, stakeholder inclusion and whether a strong narrative underpins governmental policies. Based on a large set of primary data gathered in Poland, Bulgaria and Romania, it explores shale gas policies in Central Eastern Europe (a region strongly dependent on Russian gas imports) to unveil the importance of policy regimes for creating a 'social license' for fracking. Its findings suggest that technology transfer does not happen in a vacuum but is subject to close mutual interaction with political, economic and social forces; and that national energy policy is not a matter of 'objective' policy imperatives, such as Russian import dependence, but a function of complex domestic dynamics pertaining to institutional procedures and processes, and winners and losers.

Energy Policy Modeling in the 21st Century

Energy Policy Modeling in the 21st Century
Author: Hassan Qudrat-Ullah
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 277
Release: 2013-10-04
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1461486068

The roles and applications of various modeling approaches, aimed at improving the usefulness of energy policy models in public decision making, are covered by this book. The development, validation, and applications of system dynamics and agent-based models in service of energy policy design and assessment in the 21st century is a key focus. A number of modeling approaches and models for energy policy, with a particular focus on low-carbon economic development of regions and states are covered. Chapters on system dynamics methodology, model-based theory, fuzzy system dynamics frame-work, and optimization modeling approach are presented, along with several chapters on future research opportunities for the energy policy modeling community. The use of model-based analysis and scenarios in energy policy design and assessment has seen phenomenal growth during the past several decades. In recent years, renewed concerns about climate change and energy security have posed unique modeling challenges. By utilizing the validation techniques and procedures which are effectively demonstrated in these contributions, researchers and practitioners in energy systems domain can increase the appeal and acceptance of their policy models.