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Corporate climate futures in the making: Why we need research on the politics of Science-Based Targets

Tilsted, Joachim Peter LU orcid ; Palm, Ellen LU orcid ; Bjørn, Anders and Lund, Jens Friis (2023) In Energy Research & Social Science 103. p.103229-103229
Abstract
In this Perspective article, we call for more scholarly attention to the politics of the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Specifically, we argue for a need to examine the emission pathways and decarbonised futures that are expressed and promoted through Science-Based Targets and what futures they render more likely in the pursuit of low-carbon transitions. We highlight how the SBTi's guidance material is characterized by a narrow and linear view of science (as input) as well as a similarly narrow portrayal of decarbonised futures (as outcome), despite the negotiated character of target-setting and the open-endedness of transitions. The SBTi thus currently tends towards obscuring the politics embedded within it and promoting an... (More)
In this Perspective article, we call for more scholarly attention to the politics of the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Specifically, we argue for a need to examine the emission pathways and decarbonised futures that are expressed and promoted through Science-Based Targets and what futures they render more likely in the pursuit of low-carbon transitions. We highlight how the SBTi's guidance material is characterized by a narrow and linear view of science (as input) as well as a similarly narrow portrayal of decarbonised futures (as outcome), despite the negotiated character of target-setting and the open-endedness of transitions. The SBTi thus currently tends towards obscuring the politics embedded within it and promoting an incumbent-driven transition, thereby legitimizing a transition shaped by some of the world's largest corporations and, in this sense, shielding them from democratic control. This argument illustrates the need for more scholarly engagement with the politics of knowledge that informs the SBTi and its governance framework. On a broader note, it highlights the need for continued critical engagement with corporate climate governance as it develops and takes on more ambitious forms.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Energy Research & Social Science
volume
103
pages
103229 - 103229
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85169883253
ISSN
2214-6326
DOI
10.1016/j.erss.2023.103229
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2b5b9088-3996-4b25-8eb4-e19e4a96445a
date added to LUP
2023-08-14 11:40:25
date last changed
2023-12-08 04:01:18
@article{2b5b9088-3996-4b25-8eb4-e19e4a96445a,
  abstract     = {{In this Perspective article, we call for more scholarly attention to the politics of the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Specifically, we argue for a need to examine the emission pathways and decarbonised futures that are expressed and promoted through Science-Based Targets and what futures they render more likely in the pursuit of low-carbon transitions. We highlight how the SBTi's guidance material is characterized by a narrow and linear view of science (as input) as well as a similarly narrow portrayal of decarbonised futures (as outcome), despite the negotiated character of target-setting and the open-endedness of transitions. The SBTi thus currently tends towards obscuring the politics embedded within it and promoting an incumbent-driven transition, thereby legitimizing a transition shaped by some of the world's largest corporations and, in this sense, shielding them from democratic control. This argument illustrates the need for more scholarly engagement with the politics of knowledge that informs the SBTi and its governance framework. On a broader note, it highlights the need for continued critical engagement with corporate climate governance as it develops and takes on more ambitious forms.<br/><br/>}},
  author       = {{Tilsted, Joachim Peter and Palm, Ellen and Bjørn, Anders and Lund, Jens Friis}},
  issn         = {{2214-6326}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  pages        = {{103229--103229}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Energy Research & Social Science}},
  title        = {{Corporate climate futures in the making: Why we need research on the politics of Science-Based Targets}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2023.103229}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.erss.2023.103229}},
  volume       = {{103}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}