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Net zero and the unexplored politics of residual emissions

Lund, Jens Friis ; Markusson, Nils ; Carton, Wim LU orcid and Buck, Holly Jean (2023) In Energy Research & Social Science 98(April).
Abstract
In this perspective article, we call for more engagement with the unexplored politics of residual emissions. Residual emissions are those emissions that remain at the point of net zero, despite abatement efforts. Unlike carbon dioxide removal, which has been the focus of a lively research and policy debate, the notion of residual emissions remains relatively unexplored so far. With the mainstreaming of net zero as the long-term goal of climate policy, the politics of residual emissions are set to become a key point of contestation. Claims about residual emissions tend to revolve around notions of necessity and possibility, i.e. emissions that derive from activities deemed socially necessary yet impossible to fully abate. In this... (More)
In this perspective article, we call for more engagement with the unexplored politics of residual emissions. Residual emissions are those emissions that remain at the point of net zero, despite abatement efforts. Unlike carbon dioxide removal, which has been the focus of a lively research and policy debate, the notion of residual emissions remains relatively unexplored so far. With the mainstreaming of net zero as the long-term goal of climate policy, the politics of residual emissions are set to become a key point of contestation. Claims about residual emissions tend to revolve around notions of necessity and possibility, i.e. emissions that derive from activities deemed socially necessary yet impossible to fully abate. In this perspective article, we highlight how such claims are socially constructed and ultimately contingent on values, norms and interests. We call upon researchers to help render visible the geographically and historically contingent claims to necessity and possibility that underpin projected residual emissions. We see this as an important means to repoliticize debates about the limits and possibilities of emissions abatement, and suggest entry points for such research efforts. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Energy Research & Social Science
volume
98
issue
April
article number
103035
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85150914917
ISSN
2214-6326
DOI
10.1016/j.erss.2023.103035
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
81a637ff-5159-4229-8e41-9eb3f12c518a
date added to LUP
2023-03-09 07:58:03
date last changed
2023-10-03 11:43:15
@article{81a637ff-5159-4229-8e41-9eb3f12c518a,
  abstract     = {{In this perspective article, we call for more engagement with the unexplored politics of residual emissions. Residual emissions are those emissions that remain at the point of net zero, despite abatement efforts. Unlike carbon dioxide removal, which has been the focus of a lively research and policy debate, the notion of residual emissions remains relatively unexplored so far. With the mainstreaming of net zero as the long-term goal of climate policy, the politics of residual emissions are set to become a key point of contestation. Claims about residual emissions tend to revolve around notions of necessity and possibility, i.e. emissions that derive from activities deemed socially necessary yet impossible to fully abate. In this perspective article, we highlight how such claims are socially constructed and ultimately contingent on values, norms and interests. We call upon researchers to help render visible the geographically and historically contingent claims to necessity and possibility that underpin projected residual emissions. We see this as an important means to repoliticize debates about the limits and possibilities of emissions abatement, and suggest entry points for such research efforts.}},
  author       = {{Lund, Jens Friis and Markusson, Nils and Carton, Wim and Buck, Holly Jean}},
  issn         = {{2214-6326}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  number       = {{April}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Energy Research & Social Science}},
  title        = {{Net zero and the unexplored politics of residual emissions}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2023.103035}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.erss.2023.103035}},
  volume       = {{98}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}