6 Susanne Hanger-Kopp et al.
pathways, and thus contribute to informed decision making and improved risk
management. This is particularly important considering the need for a transparent and sustainable decision- making process that leads to socially just and legitimate outcomes that are also politically and economically acceptable.
Following this introduction, Chapter 2 provides the conceptual background
for our understanding of risks and uncertainties. This framing is innovative in
its simplicity and its interdisciplinary, cross- thematic applicability. It is necessary to understand some of the terminology in the narrative chapters, but not an
essential read to understand the main messages conveyed. Our framing of risk
and uncertainty builds on the premise that risks are always context specific,
perhaps more so than the transition pathways with which they are associated,
and that risk perception plays a key role in understanding, communicating, and
mitigating risks. It is therefore important that we use clear and complete descriptions of the risks we talk about.
In Chapters 3–13 we introduce transition pathways from countries across the
globe, which derived from research processes integrating socio- economic modelling and stakeholder engagement efforts. The narratives presented here do not
cover all possible contexts exhaustively, but rather attempt to present a broad
range of pathways demonstrating the variety of actions needed at various levels
within different cultural contexts, in order to deliver on the decarbonisation
objectives of the Paris Agreement. Indeed, every country, every sub- national
region even, will have specificities that make it unique. We thus attempt to
achieve diversity in terms of political setting, socio- economic context, main
levels of governance, and technological innovation systems.
Each narrative provides the relevant context to understand the current state
of policy in the specific area discussed (‘Where are we?’), the respective aims for
the sector (‘Where do we want to go?’), and the risks and uncertainties associated with the policy choices that could get us there (‘How do we get there?’).
The inter- and transdisciplinary methods used to obtain these narratives are
kept short and distinct from the main narratives themselves, in order to create a
more fluent reading experience. The respective detailed methodological descriptions can be found elsewhere for further consultation.
The 11 narratives are organised into four Parts that represent four main
themes: (1) pathways for the transition of large- scale incumbent industry
systems; (2) pathways towards renewable electricity systems; (3) pathways for
energy efficiency in the building sector; and (4) pathways focusing on renewable
energy technologies at household and community levels. The themes indicate
the main level of analysis, but all consider (inter)action at multiple scales of
governance, particularly with respect to risk perception of relevant stakeholders.
As we will see in the next few paragraphs, some narratives fit more than one
thematic description.
Under the first theme (Part II), we explore pathways for the transition of
incumbent large- scale technology systems in Austria (Chapter 3), Canada
(Chapter 4), and the United Kingdom (UK) (Chapter 5). Many countries
across the globe still have dominant incumbent industries at the heart of their
pathways, and thus contribute to informed decision making and improved risk
management. This is particularly important considering the need for a transparent and sustainable decision- making process that leads to socially just and legitimate outcomes that are also politically and economically acceptable.
Following this introduction, Chapter 2 provides the conceptual background
for our understanding of risks and uncertainties. This framing is innovative in
its simplicity and its interdisciplinary, cross- thematic applicability. It is necessary to understand some of the terminology in the narrative chapters, but not an
essential read to understand the main messages conveyed. Our framing of risk
and uncertainty builds on the premise that risks are always context specific,
perhaps more so than the transition pathways with which they are associated,
and that risk perception plays a key role in understanding, communicating, and
mitigating risks. It is therefore important that we use clear and complete descriptions of the risks we talk about.
In Chapters 3–13 we introduce transition pathways from countries across the
globe, which derived from research processes integrating socio- economic modelling and stakeholder engagement efforts. The narratives presented here do not
cover all possible contexts exhaustively, but rather attempt to present a broad
range of pathways demonstrating the variety of actions needed at various levels
within different cultural contexts, in order to deliver on the decarbonisation
objectives of the Paris Agreement. Indeed, every country, every sub- national
region even, will have specificities that make it unique. We thus attempt to
achieve diversity in terms of political setting, socio- economic context, main
levels of governance, and technological innovation systems.
Each narrative provides the relevant context to understand the current state
of policy in the specific area discussed (‘Where are we?’), the respective aims for
the sector (‘Where do we want to go?’), and the risks and uncertainties associated with the policy choices that could get us there (‘How do we get there?’).
The inter- and transdisciplinary methods used to obtain these narratives are
kept short and distinct from the main narratives themselves, in order to create a
more fluent reading experience. The respective detailed methodological descriptions can be found elsewhere for further consultation.
The 11 narratives are organised into four Parts that represent four main
themes: (1) pathways for the transition of large- scale incumbent industry
systems; (2) pathways towards renewable electricity systems; (3) pathways for
energy efficiency in the building sector; and (4) pathways focusing on renewable
energy technologies at household and community levels. The themes indicate
the main level of analysis, but all consider (inter)action at multiple scales of
governance, particularly with respect to risk perception of relevant stakeholders.
As we will see in the next few paragraphs, some narratives fit more than one
thematic description.
Under the first theme (Part II), we explore pathways for the transition of
incumbent large- scale technology systems in Austria (Chapter 3), Canada
(Chapter 4), and the United Kingdom (UK) (Chapter 5). Many countries
across the globe still have dominant incumbent industries at the heart of their