Understanding the feasibility of energy transitions — what is the role of political science?

Abstract

The low-carbon energy transition has advanced from a largely theoretical idea depicted in mathematical models to a process negotiated in the real world in a variety of different contexts. How can the feasibility of different technological and social changes required for low-carbon transitions be defined, assessed and compared? How can we understand the feasibility of future transitions when all the data we have to analyse them are about the past? What is the relationship between desirability and feasibility of energy transition policies? What is the role of political science in this debate for example, are there assessments of political feasibility which can contribute to the analysis of feasibility of low-carbon transitions, and how can the discipline interact with other fields of study? This panel will bring together conceptual, methodological and empirical contributions on understanding the feasibility of future energy transitions. The papers will investigate different types of evidence which can be used to understand the feasibility of the unfolding transition from a variety of different perspectives and empirical contexts.

Title	Details
When is it feasible for policies to accelerate energy transitions? The case of REPowerEU	View Paper Details
Have climate policies accelerated energy transitions? Historical evolution of electricity mix in the G7 and the EU compared to net-zero targets	View Paper Details
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The feasibility rapid energy transitions on the technology periphery: a comparative analysis Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam	View Paper Details
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