The missing link: bringing institutions and politics into energy future studies
(2011) In Futures 43(10). p.1117-1128- Abstract
- Abstract in Undetermined
Energy future studies can be a useful tool for learning about how to induce and manage technical, economic and policy change related to energy supply and use. The private sector has successfully deployed them for strategic planning, examining key parameters such as markets, competition and consumer trends. However in public policy, most energy future studies remain disconnected from policy making. One reason is that they often ignore the key political and institutional factors that underpin much of the anticipated, wished-for or otherwise explored energy systems developments. Still, we know that institutions and politics are critical enablers or constraints to technical and policy change. This paper examines... (More) - Abstract in Undetermined
Energy future studies can be a useful tool for learning about how to induce and manage technical, economic and policy change related to energy supply and use. The private sector has successfully deployed them for strategic planning, examining key parameters such as markets, competition and consumer trends. However in public policy, most energy future studies remain disconnected from policy making. One reason is that they often ignore the key political and institutional factors that underpin much of the anticipated, wished-for or otherwise explored energy systems developments. Still, we know that institutions and politics are critical enablers or constraints to technical and policy change. This paper examines how analytical insights into political and institutional dynamics can enhance energy future studies. It develops an approach that combines systems-technical change scenarios with political and institutional analysis. Using the example of a backcasting study dealing with the long term low-carbon transformation of a national energy system, it applies two levels of institutional and political analysis; at the level of international regimes and at the level of sectoral policy, and examines how future systems changes and policy paths are conditioned by institutional change processes. It finds that the systematic application of these variables significantly enhances and renders more useful backcasting studies of energy futures. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/2261262
- author
- Nilsson, Måns ; Nilsson, Lars J LU ; Hildingsson, Roger LU ; Stripple, Johannes LU and Eikeland, Per Ove
- organization
- publishing date
- 2011
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Systems, Backcasting, Institutions, Sweden, Climate, Governance
- in
- Futures
- volume
- 43
- issue
- 10
- pages
- 1117 - 1128
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000297037000008
- scopus:80052927005
- ISSN
- 0016-3287
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.futures.2011.07.010
- project
- ADAM - ADaptation And Mitigation Strategies supporting European climate policy
- Governing transitions towards Low-Carbon Energy and Transport Systems for 2050
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 7bd9c1ac-5510-42da-975e-9279af3c796a (old id 2261262)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 14:35:08
- date last changed
- 2022-08-22 02:56:22
@article{7bd9c1ac-5510-42da-975e-9279af3c796a, abstract = {{Abstract in Undetermined<br/>Energy future studies can be a useful tool for learning about how to induce and manage technical, economic and policy change related to energy supply and use. The private sector has successfully deployed them for strategic planning, examining key parameters such as markets, competition and consumer trends. However in public policy, most energy future studies remain disconnected from policy making. One reason is that they often ignore the key political and institutional factors that underpin much of the anticipated, wished-for or otherwise explored energy systems developments. Still, we know that institutions and politics are critical enablers or constraints to technical and policy change. This paper examines how analytical insights into political and institutional dynamics can enhance energy future studies. It develops an approach that combines systems-technical change scenarios with political and institutional analysis. Using the example of a backcasting study dealing with the long term low-carbon transformation of a national energy system, it applies two levels of institutional and political analysis; at the level of international regimes and at the level of sectoral policy, and examines how future systems changes and policy paths are conditioned by institutional change processes. It finds that the systematic application of these variables significantly enhances and renders more useful backcasting studies of energy futures. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}}, author = {{Nilsson, Måns and Nilsson, Lars J and Hildingsson, Roger and Stripple, Johannes and Eikeland, Per Ove}}, issn = {{0016-3287}}, keywords = {{Systems; Backcasting; Institutions; Sweden; Climate; Governance}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{10}}, pages = {{1117--1128}}, publisher = {{Elsevier}}, series = {{Futures}}, title = {{The missing link: bringing institutions and politics into energy future studies}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2011.07.010}}, doi = {{10.1016/j.futures.2011.07.010}}, volume = {{43}}, year = {{2011}}, }