Ten essentials for action-oriented and second order energy transitions, transformations and climate change research
(2018) In Energy Research and Social Science 40. p.54-70- Abstract
The most critical question for climate research is no longer about the problem, but about how to facilitate the transformative changes necessary to avoid catastrophic climate-induced change. Addressing this question, however, will require massive upscaling of research that can rapidly enhance learning about transformations. Ten essentials for guiding action-oriented transformation and energy research are therefore presented, framed in relation to second-order science. They include: (1) Focus on transformations to low-carbon, resilient living; (2) Focus on solution processes; (3) Focus on ‘how to’ practical knowledge; (4) Approach research as occurring from within the system being intervened; (5) Work with normative aspects; (6) Seek to... (More)
The most critical question for climate research is no longer about the problem, but about how to facilitate the transformative changes necessary to avoid catastrophic climate-induced change. Addressing this question, however, will require massive upscaling of research that can rapidly enhance learning about transformations. Ten essentials for guiding action-oriented transformation and energy research are therefore presented, framed in relation to second-order science. They include: (1) Focus on transformations to low-carbon, resilient living; (2) Focus on solution processes; (3) Focus on ‘how to’ practical knowledge; (4) Approach research as occurring from within the system being intervened; (5) Work with normative aspects; (6) Seek to transcend current thinking; (7) Take a multi-faceted approach to understand and shape change; (8) Acknowledge the value of alternative roles of researchers; (9) Encourage second-order experimentation; and (10) Be reflexive. Joint application of the essentials would create highly adaptive, reflexive, collaborative and impact-oriented research able to enhance capacity to respond to the climate challenge. At present, however, the practice of such approaches is limited and constrained by dominance of other approaches. For wider transformations to low carbon living and energy systems to occur, transformations will therefore also be needed in the way in which knowledge is produced and used.
(Less)
- author
- organization
- publishing date
- 2018-06-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Action research, Sustainability, Sustainability transitions, Transdisciplinarity
- in
- Energy Research and Social Science
- volume
- 40
- pages
- 17 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85038953673
- ISSN
- 2214-6296
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.erss.2017.11.026
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 8c27847e-ff62-4543-af8e-7254e83af4f6
- date added to LUP
- 2018-01-05 09:50:49
- date last changed
- 2023-03-14 14:14:11
@article{8c27847e-ff62-4543-af8e-7254e83af4f6,
abstract = {{<p>The most critical question for climate research is no longer about the problem, but about how to facilitate the transformative changes necessary to avoid catastrophic climate-induced change. Addressing this question, however, will require massive upscaling of research that can rapidly enhance learning about transformations. Ten essentials for guiding action-oriented transformation and energy research are therefore presented, framed in relation to second-order science. They include: (1) Focus on transformations to low-carbon, resilient living; (2) Focus on solution processes; (3) Focus on ‘how to’ practical knowledge; (4) Approach research as occurring from within the system being intervened; (5) Work with normative aspects; (6) Seek to transcend current thinking; (7) Take a multi-faceted approach to understand and shape change; (8) Acknowledge the value of alternative roles of researchers; (9) Encourage second-order experimentation; and (10) Be reflexive. Joint application of the essentials would create highly adaptive, reflexive, collaborative and impact-oriented research able to enhance capacity to respond to the climate challenge. At present, however, the practice of such approaches is limited and constrained by dominance of other approaches. For wider transformations to low carbon living and energy systems to occur, transformations will therefore also be needed in the way in which knowledge is produced and used.</p>}},
author = {{Fazey, Ioan and Schäpke, Niko and Caniglia, Guido and Patterson, James and Hultman, Johan and van Mierlo, Barbara and Säwe, Filippa and Wiek, Arnim and Wittmayer, Julia and Aldunce, Paulina and Al Waer, Husam and Battacharya, Nandini and Bradbury, Hilary and Carmen, Esther and Colvin, John and Cvitanovic, Christopher and D'Souza, Marcella and Gopel, Maja and Goldstein, Bruce and Hämäläinen, Timo and Harper, Gavin and Henfry, Tom and Hodgson, Anthony and Howden, Mark S. and Kerr, Andy and Klaes, Matthias and Lyon, Christopher and Midgley, Gerald and Moser, Susanne and Mukherjee, Nandan and Müller, Karl and O'Brien, Karen and O'Connell, Deborah A. and Olsson, Per and Page, Glenn and Reed, Mark S. and Searle, Beverley and Silvestri, Giorgia and Spaiser, Viktoria and Strasser, Tim and Tschakert, Petra and Uribe-Calvo, Natalia and Waddell, Steve and Rao-Williams, Jennifer and Wise, Russell and Wolstenholme, Ruth and Woods, Mel and Wyborn, Carina}},
issn = {{2214-6296}},
keywords = {{Action research; Sustainability; Sustainability transitions; Transdisciplinarity}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{06}},
pages = {{54--70}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Energy Research and Social Science}},
title = {{Ten essentials for action-oriented and second order energy transitions, transformations and climate change research}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.11.026}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.erss.2017.11.026}},
volume = {{40}},
year = {{2018}},
}