Virtual icon Virtual Panel - Energy Transition and Sustainability

Abstract

The transition to sustainable energy is a cornerstone of global climate policy, yet it comes with significant political, economic, and social trade-offs. The rapid expansion of renewable energy requires navigating competing interests, balancing economic costs, and addressing public concerns about fairness and feasibility. At the same time, energy transitions are shaped by broader geopolitical and ideological factors, including the role of non-democratic governance structures and power asymmetries in global energy politics. As governments phase out subsidies, implement new policies, and promote green energy, understanding how societies perceive and react to these changes is critical for a successful and just energy transition. This panel explores key challenges and political dynamics in the shift toward sustainable energy. By integrating perspectives from political science, energy policy, and international relations, it provides a deeper understanding of the complexities of energy transitions. The papers in this session examine the political and economic effects of phasing out federal EV subsidies on the example of Germany, how citizens navigate trade-offs in the energy transition, and the concept of ‘Energy Orientalism’ in international energy discourse. Moreover, the studies explore public demand for non-democratic governance solutions in climate policymaking, and how the financial costs of transitioning to renewable energy shape public support for sustainability policies. The panel thus aims to foster discussion on how governments can design policies that balance environmental goals with economic realities while ensuring public acceptance and social justice in the shift to sustainability.

Title	Details
Phasing Out Green Subsidies: Evidence from the Sudden Stop of Federal EV Subsidies in Germany	View Paper Details
Navigating Trade-Offs: How Citizens Perceive and Decide Trade-Offs in the Energy Transition	View Paper Details
The Two-Sided Demand For Non-Democratic Climate Governance	View Paper Details
Cost of Transition to Renewable Sources of Energy and Support for Green Energy Transition in Croatia	View Paper Details